These bakery style jumbo White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins are tender, moist and bursting with flavor! Loaded with tart, fresh cranberries and sweet white chocolate chips, then sprinkled with crunchy coarse sugar, these muffins are impossible to resist!! They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacktime and make a wonderful holiday dessert!
*Updated*
This post was originally published in December 2015. I made edits to the photos and added a recipe video to show you how easy these bakery-style cranberry muffins are to make! However, the actual story and written words below in this post remain the same.
Happy week of Christmas, everyone!!
How is it going!? Are all the stockings hung from the chimney, presents beautifully wrapped, halls decked, and are all things merry and bright? Or, are you unfortunately like me this year? No stockings, no tree, not a strand of lights in sight and four measly decorations. But, hey, four decorations are better than none, right?
I won’t lie I didn’t even wrap anything this year. I simply decided gift cards for all. (Spoiler alert if you are related to me)
In case you are new to this blog, please don’t judge me! We have had one heck of year. Both my oldest fur-daughter and my grandmother passed away, we celebrated the 3 year anniversary of my father’s death and we moved from Florida to North Carolina.
I feel like I deserve a little slack this holiday season, am I right?
However, I did finally manage to bake something, so I feel like we should focus on the positive! I knew I had to bake you guys something special and utterly delicious for the holiday season, so I did just that! Glorious, festive muffins for all!
Bakery Style White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins
These bakery-style beauties are large, in charge, and will give any brick and mortar bakery a run for their dang money.
These oversized muffins are soft, tender, moist, and seriously scrumptious.
They are packed with tart fresh cranberries, loaded with melty, sweet white chocolate chips and finished with sparkly decorative sugar.
These cranberry muffins are beyond delicious and definitely worth waking up for! Not only would they make a perfect addition to your Christmas morning spread, but they also make a festive dessert!
And, not only are these white chocolate berry muffins divine in the taste department, they couldn’t be any easier to whip together!!
While they aren’t a one bowl type of muffin, they only require a meager two. And, no stand mixer is required! Simply mix your dry ingredients in one bowl, your wet in another, fold together, and add the cranberries and white chocolate chips. Then you are off to the races oven.
Go pour yourself a cup of coffee or eggnog, snuggle by the fire and 30 minutes later you have warm, fluffy, flavorful bakery style muffins that will make your heart go pitter patter.
Can I use fresh cranberries for baking muffins?
Absolutely! This cranberry muffin recipe utilizes fresh or frozen cranberries! For the most flavor and best taste, make sure you coarsely chop the cranberries before adding them to the muffin batter.
If you can’t find fresh cranberries, you can substitute dried cranberries in a pinch, however the taste will be slightly different! Since dried cranberries are smaller than fresh cranberries (and more fit in a cup), use 1 cup dried cranberries instead of 1 1/4 cup of fresh.
How long do cranberry muffins keep?
Baked muffins should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Properly stored, muffins will keep for up to 4 days.
Can cranberry muffins be frozen?
Cranberry muffins freeze beautifully! I always double the recipe just to have some muffins to store in the freezer for easy breakfasts on the go!
Make sure you allow the muffins to cool completely before freezing! Muffins should be stored in an airtight, freezer-safe bag and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to customize cranberry muffins?
You can easily add various ingredients to cranberry muffins to create a flavorful muffin that is perfect for you and your family!
What to add to muffins:
- Fresh Lemon – add 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of lemon zest to the batter for a burst of flavor!
- Fresh Orange – add 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of orange zest to the muffin batter for a citrusy flare!
- Chocolate Chips – substitute chocolate chips for the white chocolate!
- Toasted Coconut Flakes – add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of coconut to the muffin batter for chewy, creamy flavor.
Tips for the best Cranberry Muffins:
- You can either use fresh or frozen cranberries in these Cranberry & White Chocolate Jumbo Muffins. If using frozen, just be sure to rinse them with cold water first and then let them sit on the counter while you grab the rest of the ingredients. There is no need to defrost them first.
- While I recommend using buttermilk or whole milk in these muffins for the moistest texture, you can substitute almond milk or 2%. However, I do NOT recommend skim milk! If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, make your own! For homemade buttermilk, combine 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar.
- I used decorative sugar for topping the muffins before baking, which is completely optional, but highly recommended! Decorative sugar is simply coarser, and has a larger crystal than granulated sugar. You should be able to find decorative (or sparkling) sugar in the baking isle of most major grocery stores.
- While these Bakery Style Cranberry Muffins are best eaten the same day they are prepared, they can be stored at room temperature (in an airtight container) for up to 4 days. These muffins freeze well (and can be frozen for up to 3 months), so I recommend making a double batch and keeping some in the freezer!
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your jumbo muffin pan and mix together these marvelous Bakery Style Cranberry & White Chocolate Jumbo Muffins. They are good for the soul and for your belly. Plus, your family will love you for it!
Until next time, Cheers – to soulful baking.
XOXO
Cheyanne
Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
The best White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins Recipe, plus step by step video 👇
Bakery Style Cranberry & White Chocolate Jumbo Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 Cups All Purpose Flour – leveled
- 4 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs – room temperature
- 1 Cup Milk (preferably Buttermilk or Whole)*
- ½ Cup Canola Oil (can substitute Vegetable Oil)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 ¼ Cups Cranberries , fresh or frozen* – coarsely chopped (about 4 ounces)
- ¾ Cup White Chocolate Chips
- Coarse Decorative Sugar – for topping, optional*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray the cavities of a jumbo muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and set aside
- In a large sized bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl whisk together the sugar and eggs. Add in the milk, oil and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined and pale yellow in color.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to gently mix everything together, being careful to mix until flour is just combined. *The batter should still be lumpy*
- Gently fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
- Pour the muffin batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each tin all the way to the top. Sprinkle the tops of batter with decorative sugar.
- Transfer muffins to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Without opening the oven door, reduce heat to 375 degrees F and continue baking for 25 minutes, or until tops are slightly golden brown and the centers are set. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can either use fresh or frozen cranberries in these muffins. If using frozen, just be sure to rinse them with cold water first and then let them sit on the counter while you grab the rest of the ingredients. There is no need to defrost them first.
- While I recommend using buttermilk or whole milk in these muffins for the moistest texture, you can substitute almond milk or 2%. However, I do NOT recommend skim milk!
- I used decorative sugar for topping the muffins before baking, which is completely optional, but highly recommended! Decorative sugar is simply coarser, and has a larger crystal than granulated sugar. You should be able to find decorative (or sparkling) sugar in the baking isle of most major grocery stores.
- While these muffins are best eaten the same day they are prepared, they can be stored at room temperature (in an airtight container) for up to 4 days. These muffins freeze well (and can be frozen for up to 3 months), so I recommend making a double batch and keeping some in the freezer!
Nutrition
©No Spoon Necessary. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to reference this recipe please do so by linking directly to this post.
49 grams of sugar in 1 muffin?! Yikes! Definitely going to cut the sugar in half for this recipe
Hi Kristen, the nutritional information is only an approximation based on 6 jumbo muffins, which is the equivalent of 12 regular sized muffins. The nutritional information can vary greatly depending on the brands of ingredients used and your precise measurements. Of course, feel free to cut the sugar in half! However, please note the muffins will be much more tart in flavor. Cheers!
Can you make these with dried cranberries?
Hi Cait,
That’s a great question! While I have only tested, developed and made the recipe as written, I don’t see why you couldn’t substitute dried cranberries for fresh if you prefer a chewy cranberry texture in your muffins. However, there is a difference in measurement between dried and fresh (you will have way more dried cranberries in a cup than fresh), so you will need to adjust that measurement. I would use between a heaping 3/4 – 1 cup of dried vs 1 1/4 cup fresh cranberries. If you try the recipe with dried cranberries I’d love to hear how they turn out! Cheers!!
Hi, Cheyanne.
First of all, I want to greet you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Your Cranberry & White Chocolate Jumbo Muffins sure looks delicious! A big plus because it is super easy to make. AND IT’S JUMBO!!
Perfect with a cup of tea to start the morning. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
OMG! Cranberry and white chocolate is like the flavor of true love in my book – the complete unapologetic sweetness of white chocolate with the tart cranberry is like perfection. These muffins, therefore, are exhibits of perfection!
These muffins are totally drool worthy! I love that epic bite at the beginning of the video – my girl!! Perfect breakfast or afternoon pick me up for the holidays!
I declare these – the official holiday muffin! Happy Holidays, my dear! xoxo
Totally love the cranberry white chocolate combo Chey! These muffins would be a hit for Christmas morning. As usual you knocked it out of the park again with the video! Hope you and Jeremy have a wonderful Christmas together and a happy and healthy New Year!! XO
Eeee these speak to my heart. Not only do I LOVE jumbo muffins (to me, jumbo is basically standard size), but I love, LOVE the cranberry and white chocolate flavour combo. PINNED!! I want one of these for breakfast tomorrow!!
Sorry to hear about your rough year. I totally get you when you say baking makes you feel better though. And man, if any recipe can help, it would be this one. These look great!
These muffins are gorgeous, doll!! I would love one of these anytime in the day! You have been through a lot this past year, but you are such a strong and optimistic woman….it’s truly inspiring! If I hadn’t followed your blog and known about the sad life events you have faced, I would never know you had gone through them because you’re just always so positive and radiating optimism. Keep doing your thing girl, because you are awesome! I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your hubby and family <3
You most definitely deserve some slack for the holidays! I was late to the baking train myself – I just wasn’t feeling it this year. Buuut I did manage to get some cookies baked! These muffins are gorgeous! Cranberry and white chocolate is one of my favorite flavor combos, so these are right up my alley! Merry Christmas, Cheyanne 🙂
You definitely deserve some slack this holiday season!! But I’m glad you got around to sharing these gorgeous Cranberry White Chocolate Jumbo Muffins because they look seriously amazing. Glad you got back to your roots with some good old baking for the soul – I’m sure it resulted in wonderful baked goods 🙂 happy holidays!!
I feel you, this year has been super challenging for me too…I only just bought my first gift today :/ And I am also with you on the ‘baking for the soul’, it is just so nice to get lost in the kitchen. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and feel re-energized for the New Year! Hugs!
These would be perfect for breakfast (or lunch or dinner…). I love cranberries and white chocolate anything and I love that you used fresh cranberries! So glad you baked these up for us. Pinned. Take care.
Hey Chey!! you need a lot of slack this season and for the next 12 months to come! I love how good these recipe sounds!!! your pictures are fabulous as ever!! Happy Xmas!!!!
You achieved your goal and then some with these ‘something special, something blog worthy, something utterly delicious’ muffins. I’ve been thinking about you a lot…I know it’s been a very rough year (understatement) but you always manage to leave me, your reader and friend, feeling encouraged by your zeal and ability to march on and do what you love…which is to share your gifts…which are many. I wish you a beautiful and peaceful new year, my luv. I look forward to all that is new from you in 2016! xoxoxo
White chocolate and cranberry is the best combo! Especially in muffins, and these look amazing Cheyanne! So delicious and perfect for the festive season! Sorry to hear about all you’ve been through this year, I am sending you lots of love. I really hope you have an amazing 2016! <3 xxx
Baking for the soul is the best kind of therapy. Hope 2016 is a better year for you *hugs* Love these gorgeous muffins! The white chocolate and cranberry combo is perfect for this time of year! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Love it! I always think you may as well have a giant muffin or not bother at all. These look wonderful! Love that crunchy high top!
Seeing cranberries in baked goods make my mouth automatically water. I love the tartness they provide. These muffins look scrumptious, and I love how easily they come together! I am glad soul baking is bringing you comfort. I’m wishing you a better, happier 2016. You deserve it!! xoxo
I love cranberry muffins but have never thought about adding white chocolate to them. Brilliant my friend. That’s why we complement each other cos you think of important things like adding chocolate (even if it is the white stuff and not my favorite dark brown stuff). Although, I forgive you since you are allergic and could keel over if you touch it. hahahahahaha! Okay, that might be a little extreme but it was funny. The freaking styling on your photos are killing me too. So gorgeous and I’m insanely jealous. I need to start spending more time practicing and studying photography because mine sucks so bad. Not creative at all but guess I can just leave all that to you. I usually make a cranberry orange bread to serve with Xmas breakfast but I’m making these beauties instead. P.S. I think gift cards are a grand idea 🙂
So glad you got your bake on here, these look lovely. Dense and filled with one of my all time fav fruits the cranberry! Plus white chocolate and these sugar crusted beauties would do well to come on over to my place. I’m all ready for them. Now.
Cheers to a new and amazing 2016 for you and Boy Chey, you deserve it! Happy Holidays!
No worries, on Christmas Chey… sometimes that’s just how life is. No judgement. AT ALL. I think there’s a lot of pressure come Christmas time to do it all. It’s hard. Not only do we come this time time of year, with an already full life, but then we add to it all the things that the season brings. Do what is right for you. That is all that matters. If it means no tree.. then so-be-it!
What fun you got your bake on! Yeee Haaaw, my dear! What fun messin it up in the kitchen! That’s the beeest part! Buttermilk, fresh cranberries AND white chocolate?! Girrrrl you are packin it in with these jumbo (Texas sized) muffins! These sound just delicious… I want to go bake em now, but I’m afraid I’m baked out!! (I can’t believe I just said that!). xo
Baking has always been therapeutic for me. Loving these muffins. Hard to beat cranberries and white chocolate together and so perfectly festive, too 🙂 Have a wonderful holiday, Cheyanne!
One, these muffins look and sound perfect! Two, I totally did gift cards for lots of people this year too. And three – baking for yourself is just the best. I’ve done that this holiday season and it’s just good for the soul!!
if I’m honest I have to admit you had me at ‘jumbo’ — have a wonderful week Cheyanne!
You have had one hell of a year, my dear, and I can totally empathize with you. <3 This year Alex's dog died, we moved, I started a new job and got a new medical diagnosis. We also didn't put up Christmas decorations this year. I feel your pain sister. If you ever want to call and vent or cry you know I'm here for you {BIG HUG}.
It's NEVER too late to get your bake on! So happy you finally did. 🙂 These muffins are STUNNING and I think I'm going to have to use my Williams-Sonoma 1-to-1 GF flour so I can make them as is for myself. Love you Cheyanne!
I love that — soul baking. I did plenty of that too just because. There’s something about doing it without having to be in a frenzy photographing the baked goods afterward, ya know? 🙂 Thank you for baking these gorgeous muffins for us, and the white chocolate cranberry combination is so classic and delicious! Here’s to 2016 being a much better for you. 🙂
I hear you on the missing Christmas spirit. I am trying but it has been a really rough year for me too, so I am not feeling it so much either. Baking always helps! These muffins are gorgeous, and I love the white chocolate cranberry combination!
Yay for muffins, Cheyanne! These look wonderful – love the cranberry and white chocolate combination – and I love that they are jumbo – more for me! Sorry you’ve had such a tough year – here’s to 2016 – may it be safe, happy and prosperous for all!
Even though we’ve had a Christmas tree and lights, I understand you. Besides, those elenents are lovely, but the most important thing is to spend this time with the beloved people, right? There’s one thing though – you can still send me my Christmas gift. Don’t worry about wrapping it up (and gifts for other bloggers)! These delicious muffins could be a great choice. Thanks:)
Sorry, you’ve been through a lot this year girl! Hope the new one brings positive moments only! And I agree about gift cards! They seem to be the best gift, when I don’t want to go shopping! Love these muffins! Gorgeous!
Even with everything you have going on and have gone through, your posts still shine through with positive thoughts – love that about you! And love the look of these Perfect For Christmas Morning muffins! xoxo
You have had quite the year and you’ll get no judgments from me, girlfriend! I have zero decorations up in my house too because between work being brutal and family issues what they are, I just don’t have the energy. I have been stress-baking up storm and now I need to put these muffins on my list! love white chocolate and cranberry and these ginormous muffins are absolutely perfect! I can’t wait to see your cocktail too! Cheers!
You baked! You baked! I’m so excited!! And now I want you to bake more, because these are so beautiful and they’re mile-high, Cheyanne. They’re a perfect flavor, too. I love those little white chocolate nuggets amid all the muffin goodness!
Gorgeous muffins girlfriend. Perfect for Christmas morning or any winter morning for that matter. Love cranberries!!! So festive. Hope and pray you can find some rest in this season…I’m hoping to find that too. We both know it’s not about the gifts or the packaging, I’m doing lots of gift cards too And it’s just what I can do. So cheers to you and Boy, wishing you both a very Merry Christmas and peace in the New Year! XOXO
I’m not even close to being ready for Christmas….I’ve been doing too much baking! Now I need to go make these muffins! How can I pass these up? They look delicious! Enjoy the holidays and don’t forget to take sometime for yourself!
Lol, Baking is so much better than decorating, if you ask me, Kathy!! Too bad we don’t live near each other… we could bake together! 🙂 Thank you so much for the kind comment! Wishing you a wonderful holiday as well! <3
girl, after the year you’ve had, you don’t even need to say a word. . the fact that you are posting here is mind blowing for me. . I hope you are able to find some time during the holidays to rest and relax . . Happy holidays!!! and hey, gift cards are the best!!! 🙂 I LOVE these muffins!!!!
🙂 Thank you so much, Alice! I am so glad we “met”, you are always so kind and supportive!! I hope you have a wonderful vacation and a fabulous holiday, my friend! Cheers! <3
I will take jumbo muffins over regular ones any day! Cranberry and white chocolate sound phenomenal together!
Wishing you a better year during 2016. Keep your chin up and know that you are surrounded by a community of people who adore you!!
Right?! Who doesn’t want a jumbo muffin… well, aside from a crazy person? 😉 Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Jen!! You totally put a smile on my face! Cheers, to you, girlfriend!
Ahhhh, muffins are my fave Christmas morning breakfast! I wish I’d thought to make my muffins jumbo sized though…!
Always next time to jumbo-size your muffins, Emma!! 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment, girlie! Cheers!
These are definitely large and in charge Cheyanne! Cranberries and white chocolate are a favorite combo of mine, so these will absolutely be whipped up at my house! Yes, 2015 sounds like it was not the best for you, but I’m saying a little prayer 2016 will be full of love and joy for you and Boy! XO and always all the best! Mary Ann
Thank you so much, Mary Ann! I love that we muffin twinned today! Muffins for everyone! 😉 Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the prayer, my friend!! Cheers and hugs to you! XO
The muffins look amazing and being jumbo doesn’t bother me at all! 🙂 I hope you don’t mind me asking but what is a fur-daughter? I even googled that but didn’t find anything. I wish you a better 2016.
Lol, right?! YES to jumbo! Fur daughter is how I refer to my female dogs! lol. Maybe I should have put that in parenthesis? 😉 Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Adina!! Warm wishes to a fabulous Holiday and a Happy New Year! <3
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I should have thought of that! Fur! Everyday I learn something new! 🙂
You’ve definitely had a rough year, so you are totally excused from no Christmas decorations! Hopefully 2016 will be a happier and better year for you, friend. Now onto these muffins…WOW! Jumbo muffins are my favorite because that just means you get more of all the deliciousness! I love the combination of cranberries and white chocolate! Just perfect, Cheyanne! Pinned! 🙂
I totally agree, jumbo are my favorite too, because who doesn’t want MORE muffin?! (<-- not to be confused with muffin top. lol) Thank you so much for the kind words and the pin!! Cheers, my friend! 🙂
I am sorry you have had such a rough year, but I hope 2016 will be an easier one for you.
At least you managed to do some holiday baking – I haven’t gotten then far really, although that is all going to change tonight.
Thank you so much, Dannii! Hope you have fun with your holiday baking!! Warm wishes to you for a fabulous Christmas and a Happy New Year! <3