Sunrise Zest Muffins

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 25 min
🍽 Serves: 12
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Welcome to the delightful world of Sunrise Zest Muffins! These vibrant muffins are like a burst of sunshine in your kitchen, combining the warmth of spices with the freshness of orange and the earthiness of roots. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or a cheerful snack, they’re a must-bake for any muffin enthusiast.

Ingredients for Sunrise Zest Muffins

All-purpose flour forms the base structure of the muffins, giving them their classic crumb texture. Granulated sugar sweetens the mix just enough to highlight the natural sugars in the veggies. Baking soda helps the muffins rise, ensuring they’re light and fluffy.

Salt enhances the flavors while ground cinnamon and ground ginger add warmth and spice, making each bite comforting. Shredded unsweetened coconut adds a subtle tropical note and chewy texture.

Chopped walnuts provide a satisfying crunch and a touch of richness. Grated carrots and grated sweet potatoes keep the muffins moist and add a natural sweetness. Orange juice and orange zest bring a fresh, zesty brightness that lifts the whole muffin.

Large eggs bind everything together, while vegetable oil keeps the muffins moist and tender. Finally, vanilla extract rounds out the flavors with its sweet, aromatic notes.

Tips & Tricks

  • Grate the carrots and sweet potatoes finely for a smoother texture.
  • Toast the walnuts beforehand to enhance their flavor and crunch.
  • Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor impact.
  • If you don’t have paper liners, grease the muffin tin well to prevent sticking.

Serving Suggestions

These muffins are delightful on their own, but try serving them with a dollop of cream cheese or a pat of butter for extra indulgence. Pair with a glass of cold milk or a warm cup of herbal tea for a comforting treat any time of day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute the vegetable oil with another oil?
Yes, melted coconut oil or canola oil works well as substitutes.
How do I store these muffins?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them.
Can I use a different nut instead of walnuts?
Absolutely! Pecans or almonds would be great alternatives.

Sunrise Zest Muffins Recipe Walkthrough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Grab a muffin tin and line 12 cups with paper liners. This little step makes cleanup a breeze and helps the muffins release easily once baked.

In a large bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. This ensures everything is evenly distributed before adding the chunky bits.

Next, stir in the coconut, walnuts, grated carrots, and sweet potatoes. Mixing them in now means they’ll be evenly spread throughout the muffin batter, giving you a bit of everything in each bite.

In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: orange juice, orange zest, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Make sure the eggs are well beaten and the oil is fully incorporated.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently stir until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough muffins, so stop as soon as you don’t see any dry flour pockets.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Aim to fill each cup about 3/4 full to give them room to rise without overflowing.

Pop them in the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes. Keep an eye on them towards the end. You’ll know they’re ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. This helps them set up a bit before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy the aroma wafting through your kitchen!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Bright citrus flavor combined with warm spices.
  • Packed with veggies but still feel indulgent.
  • Easy to make and perfect for meal prep.
  • Great way to use up leftover carrots and sweet potatoes.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup peeled and grated sweet potatoes
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tbsp orange zest
3 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
3. Stir in the coconut, walnuts, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
4. In another bowl, combine the orange juice, orange zest, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
7. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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