White chocolate cranberry crumb muffins are a taste of the holidays and the best breakfast ever this time of year!
Does it seem to you that time is moving faster? Not that we’re getting older and have more perspective on how long or short a year really is, but that the earth is actually spinning faster on its axis making days shorter and time fly by.
I should note that I don’t actually know how time works so maybe the earth’s spinning doesn’t have anything to do with how long our days are. . .science isn’t my thing. . .
But this all feels very true to me! Last Christmas feels like three weeks ago and, as happens every year, I don’t have enough time to bake everything on my list. Unless I skip Christmas shopping this year but my sister would not be pleased.
So a little tea and snack break is in order today so I can catch my breath before the holidays begin in force. I’m munching on one of these cranberry white chocolate crumb muffins and sipping some extra hot tea and moving things from my 2017 Christmas baking list to a new one for next year.
When I’ll be even older. Gulp.
Does anyone know how I can catch that Benjamin Button disease?
As I’ve said it before and will say many times again: muffins are just cake that it’s socially acceptable to spread butter on. And a fluffy baked good slathered in butter solves most of life’s problems.
If you find yourself needing a little break from the holiday madness, I urge you to make some of these muffins for yourself. Take a few minutes to breathe and get baking! Nothing soothes the nerves like the smell of muffins piping hot right from the oven.
Especially if those muffins smell like Christmas, which these do because of the cinnamon and ginger (and, duh, cranberries).
White chocolate cranberry crumb muffins. You need a batch today!
White chocolate cranberry crumb muffins are a taste of the holidays!
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Finely grated zest of half an orange
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or other nuts
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with cupcake liners and set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and orange zest in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the butter, sugar, milk, and egg in a medium mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Mix the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until just barely incorporated, then fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups.
- Combine the all ingredients except butter in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture forms clumps about the size of peas. Set aside.
- Divide topping evenly over the muffins and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until they’re lightly browned on top and a cake tester inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to col completely. (Muffins can be stored, covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 2 days.)
Muffins adapted from Epicurious
Topping adapted from Food and Wine
David | Spiced says
So I have no idea how I missed this recipe on Monday. (Bloglovin, you failed me.) But I’m glad I saw it now because MUFFINS! I love the white chocolate addition to these, and I’m all about those flavors and seasonings. This sounds like the holidays in a muffin pan to me! Also, I had to laugh at your comment about the world spinning faster as I just read an article (like this morning!) that the earth is actually spinning slower and scientists say that will lead to more earthquakes next year. I have no idea about that stuff, though. I just prefer to bury my head in a cake…or in this case, a big basket of muffins. With butter. Because butter. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, Kelsie!!
Kelsie says
No way. The earth can’t possibly be spinning slower! But just in case scientists are right I guess I’m glad I left southern Cali :). Thank you, David! Happy Thanksgiving to you and the fam, too!
lynne hoareau says
I do need a batch today….and probably knowing me, a batch everyday thereafter.
Kelsie, these are beautiful and scream Christmas ! Cranberries, white chocolate, a little cinnamon, pecans, a hint of orange…OMW just so so lovely. I will be making these for sure…now to go and buy the white chocolate 🙂
Hope Cookie enjoyed one 🙂 Have a fabulous week my friend.
Kelsie says
Haha! Muffins every day is a good thing :). Thank you, Lynne! You have a fabulous week too!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
cranberries can be a bit tart, and white chocolate can be a bit sweet, so these sound perfectly balanced. and you can bet that i shamelessly use muffins as a way to get my cake fix in (;
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you, Heather! Happy Thanksgiving!
Carlee says
This would be perfect for our Christmas brunch. We love having everyone over to enjoy the morning and eat plenty of food. I’ll put these on the list. (Oh, and time is definitely moving faster. I need about three more hours each day!)
Kelsie says
Thank you, Carlee! Happy Thanksgiving!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Time is going way too fast!! My birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I SWEAR I just celebrated it. Slow down!! You know I’m a fan of white chocolate with cranberry, so these muffins are obviously perfection in my books. Loving that crumb on top!!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Katherine! Hope you’re having a great week!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
I totally have a million things I will want to make before Christmas….but I know I won’t have the time. Ughhh. But these muffins look killer! Yum!! Xoxo 🙂
Kelsie says
It’s coming too fast isn’t it? Happy Thanksgiving, Kelly!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
Time is flying!!! I’ll be fine as long as I have these gorgeous looking muffins or cake (ha!) by my side. I can’t wait to make them!!! YUM!!! Happy Thanksgiving Kelsie, my sweet, sweet friend!! 🙂
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you, Kim! You have a happy Thanksgiving too, my dear!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
I totally agree! Time is going by way too fast! I swear, it was only yesterday that I watched Elf, and now I’m watching it again! Where did the year go?! These muffins look delicious, Kelsie. Love white chocolate with cranberries! I have a recipe for white chocolate and cranberry tea biscuits in the works. The combo is so addictive! Happy baking! Hope you find the time to squeeze everything in!
Kelsie says
Right? SLOW DOWN, time! Thank you, Leanne!
Emma says
I love muffins for the fact they make basically eating cake for breakfast perfectly acceptable! I’m loving the cranberries in here at the moment I just can’t get enough of them.
Kelsie says
Exactly! Cake for breakfast is always good!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
Life is speeding by at a break-neck pace for me. The holidays and everything else comes faster every year! These muffins are the perfect way to put the breaks on and take a breather. They look delicious!
Kelsie says
Totally agree! I can’t keep up with how fast time moves! Thank you, Marcie!
The Home Cook's Kitchen says
yes! time goes too fast, I was just saying that to my husband the other day! can’t believe another year is almost over and we just hit our 2 years in America anniversary! say what! these muffins look fantastic, I can’t say that my holiday season is going to be overly hectic this year, but I’d defintely be down for some festive baking!
Kelsie says
Two years? Awesome! Thank you, Georgie!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
YEP! We were just talking last night about how we were just buying last year’s Christmas tree, and now it’s upon us, again! I could use a dozen of these beauties to quell those jitters! Thanks for sharing!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Annie! Where the heck is time going? Have a great week!
hummingbirdthyme says
I love this recipe especially because I’m so about white chocolate these past few months! I’ve been thinking of using it in addition to (or instead of) bittersweet chocolate for some of the Christmas collection. They look and sound divine! Thanks for the recipe!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Laura! I totally support subbing in a little white chocolate :). I’ve been obsessed with it lately too!
Milena | Craft Beering says
Mmmm, you want to catch Benjamin Button decease so you can bake that much longer, right? I think it was supposed to be a genetic disorder. If it weren’t though, I’d love to get it too, in about ten years from now, then be healed right as I get down to twenty-five.. and grow old again…Every year I would bake a batch of these muffins on the anniversary of getting the Benkamin Button decease. I am thinking you should make a dessert in honor of Stephen King…
Kelsie says
I’m going to cross my fingers that it’s not genetic! Haha! I think you have the right idea :). Thank you, Milena! Have a great week!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Time moves entirely too fast! I was just telling my husband last night I can’t believe his birthday is in a few days and he will be… (it rhymes with lordy. Shh don’t tell anyone). Makes me thankful I’m 6 years his junior. Lol! But still, time is the devil! 😉 Aaaanyways. These muffins!! They are FAB! I have a similar recipe, but mine aren’t crumb muffins, so you win!! I NEED these. Immediately! Cheers, doll – to a happy Thanksgiving!
Kelsie says
We’ll keep that between us :). Thank you, Chey! Happy Thanksgiving and happy early birthday to Boy!
gardeningfoodie says
Oh so true Kelsie….baking does soothe the nerves especially during these rushed days, and these beautiful muffins make the perfect breakfast or tea time treat for the crazy days. I love the cranberry and white chocolate combination…so festive and pretty.
Have a great week 🙂
Kelsie says
Baking is the best! Thank you, Ashika!
thebakingskillet says
The earth is 100% spinning faster. I can’t believe Christmas is here but ooo i am so excited. And the fact that you have broken out the bag of cranberries is making me feel so festive! Love these Kelsie. I have to try them.
Kelsie says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so! Thank you, Jenny! Have a great week!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
Oh you’re so right, Kelsie. Time has been moving outrageously fast lately. I disagree with your statement that it might be related to our aging. I don’t think this is a good theory. I’d rather believe something is wrong with the Earth making it spin too fast. I think this totally makes sense (If I ever get a Nobel prize for this theory, I’ll mention you in my speech). Anyway, Christmas is inevitably approaching, and I baked my first Christmas cookies for the blog this weekend. I hope I have enough time to try all the ideas this season. I’m often a little sluggish at first, but then, few weeks before Christmas, I normally get inspired…with no much time left hah. I’m not a huge fan of muffins (I can eat one, but I will always prefer a cake if had a choice). But I love this white chocolate cranberry combo, and I need this combo this year. Maybe in the form of pancakes or bread pudding, mmm?
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m rooting for you to win that prize :). Thank you, Ben!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
YES! Time is flying by waaaaay to fast and every year it seems faster. Slow down, will ya, ya know?? Love white chocolate + cranberry. Not only do these look pretty, I bet they taste even better! Happy Monday, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Dawn! Have a great week!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
These look so lovely Kelsie!! Perfect for breakfast, this time of the year! I am glad I can use frozen cranberries as well…since fresh aren’t easily available here!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Deepika! Have a great week!