Sweet, tart and soft cranberry orange cream cheese muffins with crumb topping will become your favorite muffin to make for the holidays. They are irresistible with an orange cream cheese center that keeps these muffins soft and moist. These easy muffins make a delicious snack or sweet breakfast!
There is something about the cranberry and orange pairing that is just so GOOD! The tart cranberries and citrus orange flavor is truly the perfect combination. Add in a cream cheese filling and crumb topping, and you have one amazing muffin. These muffins are similar to my peach cheesecake muffins, but with a winter flare!
I have to admit, these cranberry orange muffins walk a fine line between muffin and cupcake. They are sweet, and fluffy like a cupcake. But instead of frosting, there is a cinnamon crumb topping. In my mind, these count in the muffin category. Whatever you want to call them, they are the perfect sweet treat during the fall and winter months!
Why you will love these cranberry orange cream cheese muffins with crumb topping.
Perfectly Balanced: These muffins are perfectly balanced between the sweet and tart. The cranberries do not overpower the muffins, nor does the sugar flavors taste overwhelming.
Soft and Fluffy: These muffins so soft and fluffy. Almost leaning to cupcakes! The Cream cheese center helps keep these cranberry orange muffins extra moist.
Seasonal Ingredients: Take advantage of the fresh cranberries and oranges in season by making these beautiful and tasty muffins. They the perfect treat to make in the winter to utilize the fresh ingredients available at the grocery stores.
Ingredients needed to make these cranberry orange muffins.
All-Purpose Flour: No fancy flour needed to make these muffins. All-purpose flour works best when baking these muffins. Although I have not tested it with this recipe, you could try a 1:1 ratio gluten-free flour if you need these to gluten free.
Baking powder & soda: The leavening agents used to help these muffins rise!
Salt: Enhances the flavor of the muffins.
Vanilla extract: Gives the muffins a nice vanilla flavor to the batter.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds not only sweetens the muffins but also helps with the light and fluffy texture.
Milk: Adds moisture to the batter. You can use regular milk or a dairy free alternative, such an almond or oat milk.
Orange Juice & Zest: Adds in the citrus orange flavor to these winter muffins.
Eggs: Creates structure for the muffins.
Oil: Adds moisture to the muffins.
Greek Yogurt: Another layer of moisture as well as some added protein to the muffin. Use a plain Greek yogurt or use a dairy-free yogurt if needed.
Cranberries: Fresh cranberries work best in these muffins. But you can use frozen if needed! No need to thaw, just fold the frozen cranberries right into the batter.
Cream cheese filling: The cream cheese center is made up of cream cheese, sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract.
Crumb Topping: Cold butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon and a pinch of salt makes the crumb topping baked right on top of the muffins.
Tips and tricks when making these muffins
- Be careful not to overmix the batter after adding in the dry ingredients! It is ok if there are still a few lumps in the batter.
- There are 3 components to this recipe: the batter, the cream cheese center, and the crumb topping. I love them all together, but if you are looking for a shortcut or to reduce the sugar, you could skip the cream cheese center. The muffin batter is so fluffy and delicious, it can hold up on its own.
- Watch your bake time carefully. Due to external factors, there is not a set bake time that will work for everyone. Start low and check on the muffins. They are done when a toothpick comes out clean.
- I prefer to store these in the fridge in an airtight container and just warm them up in the microwave when ready to eat. They will last 3-4 days in the fridge.
If you give these cranberry orange cream cheese muffins with crumb topping a try, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
And be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.
From my kitchen to yours, happy baking! I hope you love these winter muffins as much we do!
Cranberry Cream Cheese Muffins with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
- 1/2 C. Cooking oil such as canola, vegetable oil, or avocado oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 C. Milk
- 1/2 C. Sugar
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 C. All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. Baking soda
- 1/4 C. Orange juice
- 1 Tbsp. Orange zest
- 1 C. Fresh Cranberries
Cream cheese filling:
- 4 Oz. Cream cheese softened
- 1/4 C. Sugar
- 1 tsp Orange zest
- 1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
Crumb Topping:
- 3 Tbsp. Butter cut into small cubes
- 1/4 C. Brown sugar
- 1/2 C. All-purpose flour
- 1 /2 Tbsp. Cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- reheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Mix and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, oil, Greek yogurt, milk, sugar, orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract. Whisk together until smooth or use a hand mixer to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold the cranberries into the batter. Let the batter sit while you make the cream cheese filling and crumb topping.
- To make the cream cheese filling, beat the cream cheese sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract using an electric mixer until smooth.
- To make the crumb topping, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt to a medium bowl. Mix together. Add in the cold butter and cut into the flour mixture with either a pastry cutter or a fork Continue to cut the butter until it is broken down into small pieces.
- Place muffin liners in a 12 tin muffin pan. Fill each one about halfway with the batter. Add a little less than 1 tablespoon (divide up between all 12 muffins) of the cream cheese to the middle of each one. Top the muffins with remaining batter. Sprinkle the crumb topping over each muffin evenly. Bake 5 minutes at 400 degrees F, then reduce heat to 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes more or until the batter is set. Let cool slightly and enjoy!
