This recipe is from my mom, who got it from a friend of hers. You don’t have to search for flavor: the citrus runs right off of the little muffin plate and into your mouth. The secret? A whole orange, quartered and put in a blender with the wet ingredients.
These were my favorite muffins growing up and have turned into a staple in my kitchen. If you know me personally, you’ve probably eaten an orange muffin (or seen me eating them two at a time; in which case, my apologies for not offering you one).
OUTRAGEOUS Orange Muffins
(Makes one dozen)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Blend on high (in a blender) until smooth:- 1 whole orange (quartered or in eighths—cut any way you like, really)
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter (melted) or oil
Mix in a large bowl:
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 scant tsp salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
Combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and add:
- ½ cup raisins
Grease muffin tins with butter or oil, or use muffin liners.
Bake for 15–18 minutes at 375°.
Some helpful secrets:
- The orange juice can be fresh-squeezed, from a carton, or from concentrate—use what’s already in your kitchen.
- This is one recipe where either butter or oil is fine. I often use olive oil, and the muffins are delightful, though butter is delicious…
- Try substituting a bit of the flour for flax meal, oat flour, or other whole grain flours for extra heartiness.
- To plump up your raisins, let them soak for fifteen minutes in really hot water. You’ll look like a professional baker.
- Feel free to add dried cranberries or walnuts or other caprices to your own muffins.
- I just tried making these with fresh blackberries and marionberries instead of raisins, and they were killer!!!
- Want to go vegan?? Replace egg with flax meal (mix three tablespoons hot water with one tablespoon ground flax meal, let sit for five minutes, then add to blender); use oil instead of butter (coconut oil is especially yummy).
- This recipe easily doubles, which is great for lazy cooks or big families.
***
If you like this recipe, you might also like…
Oooh, I saw Cindi at My Convertible Life made these and loved them. Will give them a try!
Awesome! Let me know how it goes and if you have any innovations!
Pingback: Two Decadent Make-Ahead Brunch Recipes | momsicle
These were the best muffins I’ve ever made. I couldn’t believe it called for the whole orange—and all whole wheat. Just the best! I am seriously amazed! (And, the whole family loved them, too!)
Pingback: Whole Pear, Dried Cherry Blender Muffin Recipe | momsicle
I made chocolate orange – substituted 1/4 cup cocoa and used choc chips – my fav flavour combination is orange and chocolate! So delicious – not quite as healthy, but we enjoyed them. Also tried with cranberry!
LOVE this idea! If you take some pics, I would love to shout you out and put up the chocolate-orange muffin recipe, Carolyn!
Made them. LOVED them. As promised, they are super moist and ridiculously delicious! Thank you!
Yay! Thanks, Debkanya! If you try chocolate chips instead of raisins, or another variation, let me know! 🙂
Beautiful and simple recipe. I used olive oil and added chocolate chips to fulfil chocolate craving. Super light and satisfying muffins. Thanks Evelyn
Oh yum! So glad that the chocolate chips worked out–it’s making me crave orange and chocolate right now…
Very good muffins recipe
Thanks, Paul! Glad you tried them!
great recipe! I love them! 🙂
Thanks! I’m so glad!
should I peel the orange ? can’t wait to try these…
No–just cut the orange and throw the whole thing in. Isn’t that great? Sorry it took me a few days longer than I wanted to reply!
Pingback: 19 Things to Do with Overripe Fruits and Veggies Before You Throw Them Out - The Warm Up
These muffins are superb healthy .
Thanks
Wow, what a great recipe. We loved these lovely subtle orange muffins. I used a blood oranges so the batter turned out purple. When they cooked they were a lovely golden color on the outside and green on the inside. So cool, perfect for St. Patrick’s day. Thank you for sharing a recipe that we will enjoy again. BK
Love the idea of blood oranges! Thanks for sharing!