Fresh Cranberry & Orange Muffins

When it comes to desserts, most of you know that I’m not exactly overwhelmed with a childlike glee. However, when the occasion does strike for a dessert around these parts, it’s typically accompanied by adjectives such as “not-too-sweet” or “just sweet enough.” But it’s my opinion that whether or not you clamor for desserts most of the year, when the Christmas tree is lit and it’s cold enough that you do that awkward thing where you pull your shirt up to cover the tip of your nose, it’s almost a requirement to bake something a little sweet.

These muffins satisfy the not-too-sweet requirement by bringing fresh cranberries into the mix. As we all know, fresh cranberries are quite tart. However, when they are surrounded by the coconut sugar in this recipe as they bake, they sweeten up just a touch while still maintaining that tart bite cranberries are known for and that gives the muffin the perfect balance. I will tell you the truth (and at Christmas you tell the truth)–sorry, I just watched Love Actually–if you are a fan of the sticky, sugary, frosting-covered, sweetness–these may not be the muffins for you. But if you love balanced tart and sweet flavors together, you’ll beyond adore these.