Holiday Muffins You’ll Love: Cranberry Orange Protein Muffins
Introduction
Brighten up your mornings and holiday gatherings with these Cranberry Orange Protein Muffins. Delivering a perfect blend of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and a hearty dose of protein, these muffins are as nourishing as they are delicious. Whether you need a quick breakfast, snack for the kids, or a make-ahead treat for guests, this recipe is foolproof and festive—guaranteed to please a crowd and keep everyone fueled for the season’s festivities.
Why These Cranberry Orange Protein Muffins Stand Out
These muffins aren’t your average holiday bake. The pairing of fresh orange zest with juicy cranberries creates a burst of holiday flavor in every bite. With added protein powder, each muffin is more satisfying and keeps you full longer than typical muffin recipes—making them a smart, tasty choice for busy weeks or holiday brunch tables.
Building Protein into Holiday Muffins
Adding protein powder seamlessly blends extra nutrition without sacrificing taste or texture. Use a mild, unflavored or vanilla whey or plant-based protein to complement the bright cranberry-orange notes. This simple step transforms your muffins into a balanced snack that can power you through holiday errands, workouts, or long days at the office.
The Perfect Muffin Texture and Flavor
Careful mixing is key: don’t overwork the batter to keep your muffins fluffy and tender. Folding in fresh or dried cranberries just before baking ensures even distribution and prevents the fruit from sinking. A hint of orange zest in the batter and a gentle brushing of orange juice right out of the oven make these muffins truly irresistible.
Serving and Garnish Tips for Ultimate Holiday Appeal
Serve these muffins warm alongside coffee, tea, or a festive citrus punch. For special gatherings, top each muffin with a sprinkle of chopped pistachios or a dusting of powdered sugar. You can even drizzle with a light orange glaze for extra sweetness and shine, turning a wholesome recipe into a show-stopping holiday treat.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe makes about 12 generous muffins. Each muffin contains roughly 120-140 calories (depending on your protein powder and mix-ins), with over 6 grams of protein per serving—a guilt-free, crowd-pleasing option for snacking, breakfast, or holiday platters.
Cranberry Orange Protein Muffins Recap
These muffins combine festive flavors and nutritious ingredients in an easy-to-make snack or breakfast that’s perfect for sharing, prepping ahead, and fitting into any holiday meal plan.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to generate an organized shopping list—all ingredients are auto-sorted by store section. Streamline your holiday meal planning and shopping while making sure nothing is forgotten.

Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with oil spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and coconut sugar.
- In another bowl, mix the eggs, Greek yogurt, applesauce, orange juice, orange zest, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. Gently fold in cranberries and optional nuts or chocolate chips.
- Divide batter evenly among muffin cups—each should be about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. For extra citrus zing, brush hot muffins lightly with additional orange juice.
Weekly Meal Planning
These muffins are ideal for batch baking and meal prep—perfect for busy holiday weeks and healthy breakfasts on the go. Save and schedule this recipe alongside other holiday favorites to automatically build shopping lists and create a stress-free, organized meal plan.
Planning Benefits:
- Smartly combines ingredient amounts across all planned meals
- Grocery lists organized by store section for fast, efficient shopping
- No more duplicate purchases or forgotten items
- Simplifies weekly prep and helps reduce food waste
Pro tip: When adding multiple holiday bakes or meals, schedule them together to total up shared ingredients like eggs or flour—making holiday cooking easier than ever.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes





