Easy Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe for Kids

Disclosure: This “Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe” blog post, sponsored by Ocean Spray, contains sponsored and affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.

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I have to admit… when I was a kid, I always passed on the cranberry sauce at the Thanksgiving table. That tin can-shaped mound of maroon looked less than appetizing. And, I let that cloud my judgment of everything cranberry for many years. But when I tried my first Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail in my teens, my world opened to the bright taste of cranberry. And, I was hooked!

So, when Ocean Spray invited Priscilla and me to join them at New York City’s Rockefeller Center to celebrate the first day of Fall and the bicentennial of the first cultivated cranberry harvest, I was giddy with excitement. And, I’m excited to share our cranberry adventure with you.

Cranberry Learning + An Easy Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe

But first, let me share the deliciousness our Ocean Spray adventure inspired… Cranberry Orange Muffins!

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Cranberry Orange Muffin Ingredients

Of course, the best orange cranberry muffins start with the best cranberries. But this cranberry muffin recipe make things super easy with flavor-packed dried cranberries. So, no need to worry about having fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries. This recipe uses dried cranberries (Ocean Spray calls theirs Craisins), which have more flavor and a longer storage life, too.

And, tart cranberries pair perfectly with another bright flavor… orange citrus! Some cranberry orange muffin recipes use fresh orange juice for the orange flavor, but this one takes it up a notch with bold orange zest instead.

Aside from the hero ingredients, you only need some pantry staples: 1 cup sugar, 2 sticks unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 ¼ cup cup sour cream. (The sour cream makes them the perfect moist, rich texture!)

We skipped nuts with this muffin recipe, but you could add some walnuts or pecans if your family likes them. Just watch close while baking as they may alter baking time.

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How to Make Cranberry Orange Muffins

The kids will love to help make cranberry orange muffins. Of course, measuring and pouring ingredients is always a great learning opportunity for kids. But this muffin recipe offers awesome sensory experiences, too.

Have your kids notice the bright citrus scent while zesting the orange. Then, have them help rub the orange zest into the gritty sugar. Finally, have the kids help you check the cranberry muffins in the oven as they bake, using their eyes to check that they’re golden brown and using their nose to smell the delicious cranberry scent. 

And, my kids always love helping to run the stand mixer, too. The stand mixer makes things so much easier, but if you don’t have one, you can use a big old mixing bowl and a hand mixer or even just stir the batter real good with a whisk or rubber spatula.

We baked our batch of orange cranberry muffins in a standard muffin tin. But you could use a jumbo muffin pan to make jumbo muffins or a mini muffin pan to make mini muffins instead. You will just have to experiment a little with the total time in the oven.

Your Cranberry Orange Muffins are done when golden-brown and a toothpick poked in comes out clean. We used paper liners, but if you didn’t, transfer them from the muffin pan to a wire rack to cool fully.

These Cranberry Orange Muffins will stay fresh for around 4-5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. But, this muffin recipe freezes great, too; just put your muffins in the freezer in a 2-gallon freezer bag. Then, pull a couple out at a time and microwave them for a minute or so to thaw.

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Full Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe:

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Now, Check Out Our Crazy-Fun Cranberry Learning in NYC

We had so much fun joining Ocean Spray in New York City. Ocean Spray set up a “Cranberry Classroom” for visitors to learn everything imaginable about the cranberry — complete with a 1,500 square foot cranberry bog right in the middle of Rockefeller Center!

Throughout the day, wandering tourists, local families, and NYC professionals chatted with real cranberry growers and experienced “The Most Beautiful Harvest” through virtual reality.

When we visited the “Cranberry Classroom,” we were met with yummy cranberry snacks and treats, like celery sticks topped with cream cheese and Ocean Spray Craisins Dried Cranberries and turkey wraps with cranberry sauce for dipping

Then, Priscilla got to explore the taste, health, and heritage of cranberries through a series of super-fun educational activities.

First, Miss P entered “History Class” where she learned about the 200-year history of the cranberry.

Next, she made her way to “Technology Class” to experience a cranberry bog and cranberry harvesting through virtual reality.

Finally, Priscilla got to experience some hands-on “Heritage” learning by getting in some hip waders and heading into the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog!

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her smile so big. She exclaimed, “I want to be a cranberry farmer when I grow up!”

A special thanks to Ocean Spray for inviting us to their “Cranberry Classroom” to learn more about the incredible cranberry!

Who knew there was so much learning to be had based on one simple berry? I encourage you to explore the history and science of cranberry harvesting with your kids! Then, try our yummy Orange Cranberry Muffins recipe afterward to make a sweet afternoon snack the kids will love!

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Cranberry Orange Muffin Ingredients & Supplies on Amazon:

Now, get the ingredients and tools you need to make your own Cranberry Orange Muffins right on Amazon…

Ocean Spray Craisins, Dried CranberriesDomino Premium Pure Cane Granulated SugarDavis Double Acting Baking PowderGold Medal All Purpose Flour, 3 LbWatkins All Natural Original Gourmet Baking VanillaGefen Pure Baking Soda, 12ozMorton Iodized SaltOXO Good Grips Etched ZesterMixing Bowls and Baking Tools SetCUSIMAX Stand Mixer with 5-QT Stainless Steel Bowl, Tilt-Head Kitchen Electric MixerNon-Stick Silicone Muffin PanGifbera Bright Rainbow Standard Cupcake Liners

 

And, find all of our favorite cooking and baking tools in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Fun Finds for Kids in the Kitchen

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More Kid-Friendly Recipes from B-Inspired Mama:

• Cute Citrus Sunshine Snack for Kids
• White Chocolate Banana Muffins Recipe
• Quick Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Muffins Recipe

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Disclosure: This “Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe” blog post, sponsored by Ocean Spray, contains sponsored and affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.