Orange Juice Muffins
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Are you craving some fresh orange muffins? This orange juice muffins recipe is particularly fun to make because you can prep ahead and bake them in minutes the next morning. They make such a bright and sunny breakfast, especially during the winter months when citrus is at its best.
These moist muffins are a nice treat for breakfast, brunch, or even a lunch box surprise!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These muffins are light and have a mild citrus flavor.
- These muffins are especially good with tea. Pairing a nice tea with citrus muffins always makes a morning better.
- These muffins are a delicious way to use fresh orange juice and orange zest, giving them a fresh and natural orange flavor.
- You can prepare the dry ingredients ahead of time, which makes them perfect for busy mornings.
Ingredients for the best orange muffins
- Fresh orange juice
- Orange zest from fresh oranges
- Dry ingredients (all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt)
- Eggs at room temperature
- Unsalted butter
- Buttermilk
- Tiny bit of butter or margarine for serving
Equipment and Kitchen Tools
- Microplane zester for zesting oranges
- Muffin pan or muffin tin
- Paper liners to line the pan
- Wire rack for cooling
- Toothpicks
- Electric mixer or hand mixer
Tips for the Best Results
- Use good-quality fresh orange juice (like Florida OJ) and orange zest for the best flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense muffins.
- Bring eggs to room temperature before mixing for a smoother batter.
- If adding extras like chocolate chips or dried cranberries, fold them gently into the batter.
- Cover leftover muffins with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add a handful of dried cranberries for a version similar to cranberry orange muffins.
- Add a simple orange glaze made with powdered sugar and orange juice concentrate for a bakery-style finish.
FAQs About This Recipe
Mix the dry ingredients ahead of time, but add the wet ingredients right before baking for the best moist crumb and light texture.
Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them for longer storage.
These are delicious on their own or with a light spread of unsalted butter. They are also a perfect way to enjoy an afternoon snack.
Avoid overmixing the batter, and be sure to mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately before combining.
Yes, a light glaze topping or sprinkle of coarse sugar gives a bakery-style finish to the top of the muffins.
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More delicious muffin recipes
If you love fruit muffins, be sure to check out these too:
- Strawberry Muffins – Delicious muffins made with fresh strawberries!
- Mixed Berry Muffins – Red, white, and blue muffins – great for a holiday!
- Easy Pineapple Muffins – These beautiful sunny citrus muffins are a perfect way to start the day.
- Sweet Banana Muffins – Perfect banana muffins with a light cinnamon crunch topping.
- Blueberry Muffins – One of our favorites made with fresh blueberries!
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These are just so good!
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What is your favorite fruit muffin?
Orange Muffin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons orange juice
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375°,
- 2. Mix together butter, sugar and eggs in a bowl and blend well.
- 3. Add dry ingredients, orange zest, orange juice, and buttermilk. Mix well.
- 4. . Prepare the muffin tin with butter or line with baking cups.
- 5/. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Ooo those look yummy!
We make a lot of banana oat muffins!
I’ve been looking for a good citrus muffin recipe for Easter. I’m pinning these!
I hope you enjoy it Jean! Thanks for stopping by!
How nice that your son is home!
They look delicious and fresh. I think my favorite muffin is raspberry – something about it cheers up those tough (computer/kid/weather-related) mornings.
Yes I am so happy to see him. Raspberry muffins sound great – I have never made them but will have to try making them sometime.
Hi Raquel! I love this orange muffin recipe for a bright and sunny breakfast! Thank you so much for sharing at Best of the Weekend and pinning to our board. Enjoy a wonderful weekend!
I’ve been in a muffin mood lately too. They are great for breakfast or to stick in the kids’ lunches. I’ll have to try orange muffins now! Pinning this for later!
Yes, they are great for kids’ lunches! Thanks for stopping by!
Every time my grown son comes home, I love to make things to send home with him… and my son would really love these, too! Thank you for sharing these at the Show Stopper link party!
Me too Gloria, although I did not send anything this time…now I feel guilty LOL! Thanks for your comment!
Orange muffins sound so good right now 🙂
Thanks CJ!
We definitely have “those mornings” here too. Like today! The new zester looks fun. And we totally have all these ingredients!
They are a fun way to start a morning!
can these be frozen
Yes, just seal in an airtight container or freezer bag.