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Orange and Cardamom Muffins Recipe

4.7 from 107 reviews

Delightful Orange and Cardamom Muffins that combine the zesty brightness of orange with the warm, aromatic spice of cardamom. These moist, flavorful muffins make a perfect breakfast treat or an afternoon snack, featuring a lightly crisp top sprinkled with sparkling sugar.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • Zest of 1 large orange, finely grated

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom (use 1 1/2 teaspoons for a more pronounced cardamom flavor)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Topping

  • 3 tbsp sparkling sugar (or regular sugar)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a muffin tin or line it with muffin liners to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, orange juice, and finely grated orange zest until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt evenly.
  4. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Gently fold the batter together using a spatula until just combined with no dry flour visible, being careful not to overmix to keep muffins tender.
  5. Fill Muffin Tin and Add Topping: Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin compartments. Sprinkle the tops with sparkling sugar for a subtle crunch and sparkle.
  6. Bake the Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes or until the muffins have risen, edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean without wet batter.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove muffins from the oven and let cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely or serve warm for best flavor.

Notes

  • For a stronger cardamom flavor, increase the cardamom to 1 1/2 teaspoons as noted.
  • Using sparkling sugar adds a pretty, crunchy topping, but regular sugar works if unavailable.
  • Ensure not to overmix the batter to keep muffins light and tender.
  • These muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
  • Enjoy warm with butter or plain as a delightful snack.

Keywords: orange cardamom muffins, citrus muffins, breakfast muffins, spiced muffins, easy muffin recipe