I woke up, stretched, got a cup of hot hazelnut coffee (love my husband!) and then it struck me... Why were all the windows white? I opened the door to take a peak, it happened: The First Winter Snowfall. Of course this wouldn't hold me back, I could overcome the mounds of snow quickly covering my porch and driveway. Even my cat, who thinks he is a mountain lion, decided to run out and, for the first time in his life, experience snow.
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Maui the "Mountain Lion" |
And then it hit me, Fresh Winter Muffins! I remembered I bought some cranberries, and being me I never find it hard to find anything one can dream of in my pantry. And so I said, "Aimee, why not make a Cranberry Orange Muffin" to make today melt into sheer joy?!
So literally not but 20 minutes from waking up, I pulled out my tools and whipped up some fresh breakfast:
Cranberry Orange Muffins
What You Need:
3 1/2 cups Flour
2 Sticks Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Orange Extract
Zest of 1/2 Orange
1 cup Fresh Cranberries
2 Eggs
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Milk
To start add the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat together. Add the eggs, milk, and extract and blend. Next, add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Fold together lightly so not to over mix.
In a food processor add the cranberries and 1/3 cup sugar. Pulsate 4-5 times to chop. Mix into the muffin batter.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until golden brown tops. These are awesome served with butter and a dusting of powdered sugar!
I didn't dust these ones with sugar until after the photo, and they were so adorable because they had a fresh layer of "snow"!
Just to say it, these look amazing with the snowy background, so while looking for my mountain lion pet, I took my fresh baked muffins out to snap a few shots with pine trees in the background. Now with my coffee, muffins, and husband in hand, I will say today was a great success, even if the original to do list was left behind! And I had to post another picture as the sugar made these perfect!
May the snow melt with your warm baking treats!!
XOXO,
Cranberry muffins! Thanks for reminding me. Yours look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe sugar/snow dusting is perfect!
ReplyDeleteOHHH!! Thanks!! I am going to share with my neighbors... their kids were pointing while I stood in the snow photographing my breakfast lol!! I guess this is outside of the norm haha!
ReplyDeleteI love cranberry orange muffins! These were the perfect choice for your snowy morning!
ReplyDeleteStunning! Your cat is so adorable and this was a GREAT post. Your muffins look delicious! The way you described your morning was heartwarming! I wish I could buzz it more than once!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Ann, I appreciate it :) My cat is crazy huh? lol We were trying to teach him how to raise the roof!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the perfect day! Baking muffins on a snowy day, that's what I call fun! These look wonderful, especially with the snowy background, I love it!
ReplyDeleteWow - already a snowfall? I'm not quite ready, but I know I'll be baking up a storm to keep the house warm once it does hit! Enjoy your snow and these amazing muffins =)
ReplyDeleteThanks ;) WHile a pittsburgh girl, I am currently living in Salt Lake City. Here it snows from October -- May. If you like to ski, its heaven. If you're me, its an excuse to bake :)
ReplyDeleteAimee. Great article and beautiful looking muffins. My fave! I am going to try your recipe today! Thank you and enjoy the snow! Tell Steve hello!
ReplyDeleteIs this with 3.5 cups of flour or 3, 1/2 cups of flour? Because with 3.5 cups of flour I have a very dry batter. Is there a way to fix this or is it supposed to be that way? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteif your batter is dry, i'd add a bit of milk. I wonder why it was dry for you. Let me know if you altered it at all, and if that worked out for you!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Aimee
Allison-
ReplyDeleteI am curious if your muffins worked. I hope they did, I'm thinking about you!!
Best,
Aimee
Hi Aimee-
ReplyDeleteI ended up adding another cup of milk to my batter and the consistency seemed right. I baked them up and they were pretty good but I think I should have added a little more of the cranberry mixture. I'm not sure what I did wrong to begin with but I'd like to try them again.
Thanks!
Aliison: I am so hopeful the next batch is for the better. Maybe use 1/2 cup less flour next time. I have a Chemistry Minor so baking problems spark my interest to the next level! I am curious if there is an altitude or maybe even humidity difference that caused the minor differences? Sometimes it is teh weirdest theings that casue the strangest results. Being a dry batter for you, I would def cut the 1/2 cup flour, so total only use 3 cups.
ReplyDeleteLet me know!
I love the combination of orange and cranberry and the "snow" covered muffins photo is fabulous! I get a cozy feeling all over :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anita!!!!! These were just what a snowy day needed ;). Glad your back and hope all is well!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Ps: you are so right !!!! That powdered sugar snow does give such a cozy feeling!!'nnn
Deletei'm craving these so bad right now!!!!
ReplyDelete