Old-Fashioned Orange Muffins

I made this recipe back at the end of January, when things were really cold and boring.  Everything including the weather had been kind of blah.  I decided we needed some color, flavor and fun in our lives.  So I put the Valentine decorations up early.  Nothing like a giant red glittery heart on the front door to bring a little cheer to the neighborhood.  And nothing makes the house more homey than the smell of something yummy baking in the oven.  These Old-Fashioned Orange Muffins have a sweet, cake-like texture and they are chock full of orange zest, for a fresh orange flavor.  Citrus fruit is in season right now, and the oranges are bright, juicy and beautiful.  Perfect for bringing some sunshine inside on a dreary cold day! 

A sweet, cake-like muffin with lots of citrus flavor!

A dusting of powdered sugar
makes the perfect garnish.

A bright treat on a dreary day...

Share the sunshine with your family and friends!

Old-Fashioned Orange Muffins


2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup orange juice
zest from two oranges (I use the Microplane for this)
powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.  Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar.  Add the eggs, vanilla, orange juice and orange zest.  Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth.  Fill each muffin liner half full with batter.  Bake 25 minutes, or until the tops are a light golden color and a tester comes out clean.  Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool slightly before lightly dusting the tops of the muffins with powdered sugar.

Prep Time:  Approximately 20 minutes     Cook Time:  Approximately 25 minutes

Yields 20 standard size muffins