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Cranberry Walnut Muffin Tops

February 4, 2016 By Jelli 30 Comments

Crispy, buttery goodness hiding moist, crumbly insides studded with fruit and nuts. Yes, the muffin top is clearly the best part of the muffin. Today I’m teaching you the ropes to create perfectly domed and delicious cranberry walnut muffin tops without any fancy gadgetry or specialized “muffin top” bakeware. It’s so easy I can’t believe I’ve wasted so many years eating the entire muffin.Cranberry Walnut Muffin Tops Recipe | Jellibeanjournals.comMuffin tops, I’d love to be your Valentine!

First, let’s talk about what happens to the bottom of the muffin. I browsed around online and the majority of the “muffin tops recipes” entailed baking muffins and then decapitating them. Not my style, so I set off on a mission to find a better way to bake muffin tops.

Before I stirred together the batter for these cranberry walnut muffin tops I prepared two baking pans to experiment toward a goal of muffin top perfection: a traditional rimmed cookie sheet and a muffin tin. I sprayed each baking pan with non-stick spray, preheated the oven, and started the muffin mixing process.Cranberry Walnut Muffin Tops Recipe | Jellibeanjournals.comOnce the cranberry walnut muffin batter was ready, I used a cookie scoop to drop batter onto the cookie sheet, about two tablespoons per scoop. Then I continued and scooped the same amount of batter into each muffin cup. Just for the record, this recipe yielded about 24 muffin tops. In my book, that’s a lot better than twelve standard muffins. Double the snacking pleasure!

I popped the pans into the oven and eagerly watched in mouthwatering anticipation to see which method baking method would result in the beautifully domed, crunchy-on-the-outside muffin top goodness I was after.

And the clear-cut winner…..bake perfect muffin topsBaking muffin tops on a rimmed cookie sheet!

Not only were the muffin tops baked on a cookie sheet fluffy and tender underneath their beautifully domed and crispy exterior, but they were easy to remove from the pan too. The muffin tops that baked in the muffin tin wound up more like short mini-muffins rather than the luxuriously perfect muffin tops I was after.Cranberry Walnut Muffin Tops Recipe | Jellibeanjournals.comBottom line, if you’re hoping to bake perfect muffin tops, bake them on a cookie sheet!

And add fruity goodness with a couple of handfuls of dried cranberries. Oh, and maybe a sprinkling of hearty walnuts too. Yep, folks, we’ve just entered muffin top euphoria. So, so good! Actually, so good my kids, who’d originally wanted to bake these to give to the neighbors, wanted to hoard them all for themselves. Didn’t happen, but they sure tried.

Let’s bake now, shall we?!

Cranberry Walnut Muffin Tops
 
Print
Cook time
10 mins
Total time
10 mins
 
Author: Jelli
Serves: 24 muffin tops
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cup flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Grease two rimmed cookie sheets with baking spray or a silicon baking mat.
  3. Combine dry ingredients (flour, salt, and baking soda) in a medium bowl and whisk together to blend. In another bowl combine wet ingredients (eggs, butter, and buttermilk) and sugar. Pour wet into dry and combine with the least number of strokes possible. Add in the cranberries and walnuts and orange zest, if using, just to combine. A few lumps here and there will lend to tender muffins. We don't want rubber muffin tops, folks!
  4. Using a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop, dish out 24 muffin tops onto your prepared cookie sheets.
  5. Bake 10 minutes or until golden. Keep a close eye on these, as they'll go from golden to overdone in a very short amount of time.
  6. Remove to a cooling rack and enjoy with a steamy mug of coffee.
3.3.3077

Cranberry walnut muffin tops recipe | Jellibeanjournals.comIf you love breakfast like I do, be sure to check out more tasty recipes like this in the breakfast archives.

Other tasty muffins from around the blogosphere:

  • Skinny Double Chocolate Banana Muffins from Joyful Healthy Eats
  • Morning Glory Breakfast Muffins from Natural Girl Modern World
  • Refrigerator Raisin Bran Muffins from Living Well Spending Less

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, muffins, Quick breads

About Jelli

Jelli is a blogging veteran and avid baker who’s been selling sweets to feed her chocolate addiction for 8+ years. When the polka dotted apron’s hanging up, she’s a full-time mama to three kidlets enjoying the crazy days of motherhood and pumping out brownie recipes from her sunny Costa Rican kitchen.

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Comments

  1. Kelly says

    February 5, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Oh my goodness, Jelli! These look incredible! Love that you made muffin tops – totally my favorite part! The cranberry walnut combo sounds delicious!

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 7, 2016 at 10:59 am

      Muffin tops have just begun in my kitchen. Can’t wait to try all kinds of new varieties to share with you Kelly. Glad you like them! Thanks so much for taking a second to stop by today.

      Reply
  2. Susannah says

    February 5, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    Muffin tops are the best part of the muffin. I really should make just them. 😉

    Reply
  3. Chellie says

    February 5, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    Such an amazing idea! Made my mouth water. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 7, 2016 at 10:57 am

      You betcha, Chellie! I can’t wait to make them again next week. Muffin tops are the best snack ever.

      Reply
  4. Chelsea @ Life With My Littles says

    February 6, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Genius! I’m glad you did some experimenting so we don’t have to! These look so good! I worked at a bakery that had muffin tops and they were always my favorite. Now I can make some at home!

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 7, 2016 at 10:57 am

      Thanks, Chelsea. I’m curious, how did the bakery where you worked make muffin tops?

      Reply
  5. Alli says

    February 10, 2016 at 9:48 am

    I’m suddenly glad that I didn’t rush out and buy a muffin top pan. I had no idea I could make them on a cookie sheet. Your muffin tops look awesome! I can’t wait to make a batch.

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 10, 2016 at 10:07 am

      Alli, you know, I didn’t even know muffin tops pans existed until I started looking for a good muffin tops recipe. Here in Costa Rica I’d have never found one anyway and it goes against everything I believe in to ruin a beautiful muffin by slicing off the top, so I just HAD to find a way to make it work. So happy that all it takes is a cookie sheet! Hope you try muffin topping soon. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jenn @ EngineerMommy says

    February 10, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    I love muffin tops, and these look pretty tasty! Cranberry and walnut are a good match! I have to make more time for baking!!

    Reply
  7. Liz Mays says

    February 10, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    I’d love to try making some of these for breakfast. It’s really cool that you can easily make them on a cookie sheet!

    Reply
  8. Valerie@Occasionally Crafty says

    February 10, 2016 at 2:26 pm

    These sound amazing- and I love that you’re not wasting the “muffin” part! Thanks for experimenting for us!

    Reply
  9. Heather lawrence says

    February 10, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Oh this is too good! Whenever we make muffins for the kids they eat the tops and leave the rest wasting an entire muffin.
    I need to make these and get them at their own game!

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:41 am

      Great idea, Heather. Your kids will be happy and you won’t have to toss any muffin in the trashcan. Enjoy!

      Reply
  10. Amanda says

    February 10, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    I always prefer the top of the muffin (I sound like I should have been on Sienfield, huh?) and these look absolutely delish. Love the cranberry walnut flavor combo–yum!

    Reply
  11. Tori Gabriel says

    February 10, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    You are so right! The muffin top is definitely the best bit (not that eating it all is that big a hardship). It never occured to me you could make just the top! I am so making these!

    Reply
  12. coolchillmom says

    February 10, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    I never knew you could only do the muffin top! Jackpot! Looking desperately for my cookie sheet!

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:37 am

      Love the enthusiasm! You may never bake whole muffins again, wink wink.

      Reply
  13. Angelic Sinova says

    February 10, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    Oh my, those cranberry walnut muffin top look so yummy! What a clever idea. I’ll definitely have to make myself a batch of them soon <3

    Reply
  14. Mimi "MimiCuteLips" Green says

    February 10, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Looks yummy, I am a muffin lover. I eat one every single day for breakfast. I’ve never tried cranberry though, I will give it a try.

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:36 am

      Muffins every day for breakfast?! Can I come to your table tomorrow morning? 🙂 Hope you love the cranberry addition.

      Reply
  15. Rebecca Swenor says

    February 11, 2016 at 3:23 am

    Okay I have to admit I love this idea of the muffin tops because that is indeed my favorite part of the muffins. This cranberry walnut muffin top recipe I will have to try for sure. They looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  16. Jaime Nicole says

    February 11, 2016 at 4:51 am

    What a cool recipe! I never thought to just try and make muffin tops – we will definitely give these a try this weekend!

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:36 am

      Be sure to report back, Jaime, on how the muffins tops turned out! I know you’ll love them.

      Reply
  17. Kiwi says

    February 11, 2016 at 7:32 am

    Look at this presentation! Delish and this would be a good snack!

    Reply
  18. Terri Beavers says

    February 11, 2016 at 7:34 am

    Well now yummy. I love anything with cranberries in them and luckily so do the kids. I can’t wait to try these although they look too pretty to eat. But. I. Will. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jelli says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:34 am

      Promise, they’re not too pretty to eat! Once you smell the orange zest and sweet bread scent wafting through the air you’ll be happy to dig in!

      Reply
  19. Jeanine says

    February 11, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Yum. Cranberry walnut what a great combo I’ve never really tried before. These look so good, I will have to give these a try. I could sure go for one or two now!

    Reply
  20. Dallas-Fort Worth Health and Fitness Blog says

    February 11, 2016 at 11:10 am

    These muffins sound delicious. I never thought of making muffin tops similar to cookies. I’ll have to try these.

    Reply
  21. Cara (@StylishGeek) says

    February 12, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    I’m guilty of favoring muffin tops, so this recipe is so perfect for me because I actually did not know how to make muffin tops! Thanks for sharing! Will definitely give it a try!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Jelli! I snagged the best guy around, birthed four tiny kidlets, scribble down too many dessert recipes, love Jesus, and grow veggies in my front yard. Read More…

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