Star-Topped Cranberry Muffins
These festive cranberry muffins will be the star of your breakfast table or gift basket!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup coarsely chopped cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped star fruit
- 3/4 cup sugar, divided
- 2 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chilled buttery spread *
- 1 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk (1%)
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbsp thawed orange juice concentrate
- 2 large star fruit, cut into 20 slices (for muffin topping)
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar (for cranberry butter)
- 6 Tbsp buttery spread, softened (for cranberry butter)
- 4 1/2 tsp thawed orange juice (for cranberry butter)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped cranberries (for cranberry butter)
Directions:
MUFFINS: Combine cranberries and chopped star fruit with 1/4 cup sugar; set aside.
Combine remaining sugar, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add combined buttermilk, egg and orange juice concentrate, mixing until just moistened. Fold in cranberry mixture.
Spoon into lightly buttered medium-sized muffin cups. Top each with one star fruit slice. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve with Cranberry Butter.
CRANBERRY BUTTER: Combine sugar, butter and orange juice concentrate, mixing until well-blended. Stir in cranberries. Chill.
Variations:
* Original recipe calls for 1/2 cup chilled butter, cut up (butter is not included in the nutritional analysis).
Tips:
For a holiday gift idea, wrap the muffins in colorful cellophane wrap and ribbon! (Note: If gift includes the cranberry butter, keep chilled)