Sunday, November 9, 2008

Cranberry-Nut Muffins

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

Fresh cranberries are here! The kissin cousin of the blueberry, cranberries can be frozen and stored for later use. Just spread them out on a cookie sheet and leave for several hours or overnight, store in air-tight plastic bags or containers. I am squirreling away as many as I can to enjoy later. I went a surfing thru the net for a cranberry-nut bread and came across this recipe, from the The Francis Malbone House Bed and Breakfast in Newport, Rhode Island, which I then adapted to my own taste. Enjoy!

Cranberry-Nut Muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a muffin tin.

Combine dry ingredients, set aside. Cream together butter and sugar. Add milk and eggs and stir well. Add dry ingredients and stir until blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.

Sprinkle tops of muffins with chopped nuts and granulated sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Quick bread recipes can be baked in loaf pans or muffin tins. Adjust baking times accordingly. For a bread pan, set oven at 350 and bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Note: Bake up your fruit breads early and freeze for the holidays, I have made mine a month before Christmas, wrapped in wax paper and foil and stored in the fridge. They make wonderful gifts for family and friends.

23 comments:

Balisha said...

I looked at cranberries the other day, but I didn't buy any. Now I have to go back to the store. These look wonderful. If I ate from your table...I would be 400 lbs. LOL

Peter M said...

Umm, i've had muffins similar to these at Tim Horton's (Cdn. coffee shop) and they even put some jam in the middle!

Lucy said...

I've been squirreling away cranberries too, just love them!! These muffins look sooo good, now that my oven is up & running, I must make these!

Theresa said...

I'll take whatever the Food Critic doesn't want, please, please, please!!!

Usha said...

The cranberry muffins look absolutely wonderful, thanks for the tip on freezing cranberry, will give it a try :-)

OhioMom said...

Balisha

What saves me is having two grown men who sometimes share with me :)

Peter

I am on a real muffin kick lately, they are great for popping in hubby's lunch.

LOL Lucy .. since the season is so short, now is the time to squirrel them away.

Theresa .. you may lose a finger around this house, the food critic ate them warm from the oven, then the son of the food critic woke up!

Usha .. you are welcome, make sure to add them to your baked goods frozen, do not thaw :)

Veronica said...

I love when cranberries are back at the supermarket! I made some cranberry scones this weekend. Your muffins look great! I would love one with a cup of tea right now.

shambo said...

I love fresh cranberry bread or muffins and yours look so good! I'm another one that stocks up on bags of fresh cranberries during the holidays. I don't think the dried berries hold a candle to the fresh ones when it comes to baked goods. I love that burst of sour!

Darius T. Williams said...

These look really good!!!

-DTW
www.everdaycookin.blogspot.com

giz said...

I'll bet these muffins are just the bomb - I'm imagining a combination of sweet and tart and I think I need to expand my horizons and get some fresh cranberries.

OhioMom said...

Veronica, so do I. There is such a short window when they are available, which is why I stock up now :)

Sue .. a burst of sweet and sour is a good way to describe cranberry baked goods.

Thanks Darius :)

Giz, you absolutely must try/use fresh cranberries, they are so good.

Grace said...

i love the tartness of fresh cranberries, and i think they're a wonderful muffin ingredient. your little morsels look particularly moist and lovely. :)

******* said...

These are right up my alley. Can you send some over? ;)

Priscilla said...

those muffins look so good! cranberries cooked in a bread is the best!

OhioMom said...

Thank you Grace, I love the tartness when you bite into them too.

Maryann, anytime :)

Thanks Priscilla :)

Just the Right Size said...

I'm sad to say I don't really care for cranberries in baked goods. I don't know why....BUT give me a big-ol-bowl of Cranberry Jezebel Relish and I could eat the whole thing!

The Blonde Duck said...

I love cranberries! Those look wonderful.

OhioMom said...

LOL Kathy, that's okay .. viva different tastes :)

BD .. thank you :)

Anonymous said...

Hi! My name is Denise and I am from the Cleveland area also. I love our town. this recipe looks amazing. It is on my list for this weekend! I am so glad I found your blog!

OhioMom said...

Hi Denise

Welcome to a fellow Clevelander :) I was born and raised here, never lived anywhere else .. I love our small little town. Hope you enjoy the muffins and thanks for stopping by.

Tasty Trends said...

i have never had cranberry muffins...this sounds perfect for thanksgiving!

Kevin said...

I really like the sound of cranberry muffins! They look great!

OhioMom said...

TT I love cranberries in baked goods, thanks :)

..and thank you Kevin :)