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Orange Cardamom Muffins Recipe

4.6 from 91 reviews

These Orange Cardamom Muffins combine zesty orange flavor with the warm, aromatic spice of cardamom for a delightful and cozy treat. Perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or a comforting snack, these muffins are moist, fragrant, and topped with sparkling sugar for a subtle crunch. Easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection, they bring a sophisticated twist to classic muffins.

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
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom (use 1 1/2 tsp for a stronger flavor)

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Topping

  • 3 tbsp sparkling sugar (or regular sugar)

Instructions

  1. Preheat 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 sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, orange juice, orange zest, and ground cardamom until smoothly combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
  4. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Fold gently using a spatula just until no dry flour remains; be careful not to overmix to keep the muffins tender.
  5. Fill Muffin Tins and Add Topping: Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin top with sparkling sugar to add a sweet, crunchy topping.
  6. Bake the Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until the muffins are risen and golden brown around the edges. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no wet batter.
  7. Cool and Serve: Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely or enjoy warm.

Notes

  • To refresh day-old muffins, microwave for 20 seconds to revive the aroma and softness.
  • These muffins freeze well for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
  • Using sparkling sugar on top adds a delightful crunch and appearance, but regular sugar can be used as a substitute.
  • For enhanced cardamom flavor, increase the ground cardamom to 1 1/2 teaspoons.

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