Cranberry-Orange Whole Grain Muffins

By norsegal8

These tender muffins, studded with cranberries and nuts and scented with orange are 100% whole-grain, and they taste great! This traditional Thanksgiving flavor combination, in muffin form, makes a delicious, healthy start to your day of feasting.

Ingredients

• Muffins
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) King Arthur Traditional Whole Wheat Flour or King Arthur 100% White Whole Wheat Flour
• 3/4 cup (2 5/8 ounces) quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) buttermilk powder or nonfat dry milk
• 2/3 cup (4 5/8 ounces) sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries,* chopped
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
• 1 tablespoon orange zest (finely grated orange peel)
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (6 ounces) milk
• 1/3 cup (2 1/4 ounces) vegetable oil or melted butter
• Glaze
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) orange juice
• 3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) sugar or 1 cup (4 ounces) confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preparation

Step 1

*For a sweeter muffin, substitute 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease the wells of a muffin tin, or line with papers, and grease the inside of the papers.

Muffins: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, then stir in the cranberries and nuts. Whisk together the orange zest, eggs, milk, and oil or melted butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until blended; don't beat, or your muffins will be tough! Fill the muffin cups or liners about 3/4 full.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until they're golden brown. Remove them from the oven, leave them in the pan for 5 minutes, then take out of the pan and transfer them to a rack to finish cooling.

Glaze: In a small saucepan or the microwave, stir together the glaze ingredients. Bring just to a boil, to dissolve the sugar. Dip the tops of the warm muffins into the glaze. Yield: 12 muffins.