Description
Brighten your holiday table with these delightful cranberry cupcakes, bursting with tart cranberry flavor and topped with a creamy, luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any festive occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (from about 1 orange)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and orange zest.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the fresh cranberries.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the muffin tin for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until well combined and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Once the cupcakes are completely cool, frost them generously with the cream cheese frosting.
Notes
- For an extra festive touch, sprinkle some fresh cranberries or a dusting of powdered sugar on top of the frosting.
- Ensure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for the smoothest frosting.
- If you don’t have fresh cranberries, frozen ones will also work. Thaw them before adding to the batter.
- Prep Time: PT25M
- Cook Time: PT20M
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg