Festive Spiced Cranberry Muffins

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Festive Spiced Cranberry Muffins

Like you need an excuse to indulge at Christmas, but these scrumptious festive muffins will certainly tick all the boxes for the perfect seasonal breakfast or tea time treat. Using Jordans Organic Granola, mixed spice, cranberries and orange they not only a taste of Christmas but will fill the house with a wonderful Christmassy smell. Bake up a batch on Christmas Eve, and leave one out for old Saint Nick!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups Jordans Organic Granola
  • ½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp each nutmeg, cinnamon, ground allspice
  • 1/8 tsp each ground cloves, ground ginger
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (if available, add also 1 tbsp of molasses)
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 very ripe banana, mashed
  • ½ cup dried cranberries (for topping)
  • Finely grated rind and juice from 1 small orange (for topping)
  • 200 g cream cheese (or one block) (for topping)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (for topping)

PREP TIME: 20 MIN

LEVEL: Easy

COOKING TIME: 25 MIN

SERVES: 8

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Line 8 muffin holders with paper muffin cases.
  • Mix together the cooled melted butter, milk, vanilla extract and eggs.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, spices, sugar, cranberries and Jordans Granola, breaking up any large clusters.
  • Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with the mashed banana, being careful not to over mix. Spoon into the prepared muffin tin and bake for 25-30 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. The temptation to eat them now will be immense... But hold out for the topping. Here's how to make it;
  • Put the cranberries into a saucepan with the orange juice and simmer gently until the liquid has evaporated. Cool completely.
  • Once nice and cool, stir them into the cream cheese with the vanilla extract.
  • Use to top the cranberry Christmas muffins, then decorate with the orange zest.
Cook's Tips: The secret of successful muffins is to make sure that you don't over-mix the wet and dry ingredients. These yummy muffins are lovely on their own, so if you don't fancy the topping fear not. They taste just as good without it. Another time, use dried cherries instead of cranberries, though you'll need to chop them in half. Fab for Christmas morning, too! Suitable for freezing.