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“Bruffin???” What’s this with you and this making up names? *shrugs* It’s one of those ‘tings (channeling her Italian family side) that it’s not quite a muffin, not quite bread. It’s good and that’s all that matters 🙂
Now this is one of those recipes that is great alongside your morning coffee, as your 10 am snack, your 2 pm – I can’t stay in this office one more minute snack or as your after dinner this is gonna make my day complete dessert 🙂

This is always something I tend to make in the fall/holiday season because it just seems “Christmasy” to me. The blend of the fresh cranberries and the hints of lemon and orange is just comforting to me. You can make this either as muffins or as a sweet bread.
These would be gorgeous if you baked them in the some of those “Bake & Give Pans” from King Arthur Flour and gave them out as Holiday gifts! I know I personally would love these! I think baked goods or anything you make yourself speaks volumes to people. It shows that you put thought into the gift and took the time to make something. And even if you didn’t want to make it, why not put together all of the dried ingredients in a jar with lid along with some ribbons and the recipe attached so people can make it themselves? I love personal touches like that!
Today we went with this in the bread form. I’ll post at the end how to make it as muffins if you want them.
PrintDay 4 – Countdown to Christmas – Cranberry Lemon Orange “Bruffins”
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Ingredients
Bruffin
- 1/2 cup sour cream (can use greek yogurt to cut calories)
- 1 cup white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- pinch salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup oil (can use natural apple sauce to cut calories
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
Lemon Syrup Glaze
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
Make the bruffin
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Beat the sourcream, sugar and eggs together in a large bowl.
- Add in the lemon zest, orange zest, vanilla and orange juice. Mix until well combined.
- Add in the flour, salt and baking powder until combined.
- Add oil and mix until the batter is smooth and uniform in structure.
- Gently fold in the cranberries.
- Spray a loaf pan with Pam (or if doing muffins, you can either use the paper liners or not. If you do not, spray each well with Pam).
- For bread bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. For muffins bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- When cooled, drizzle with Lemon Syrup Glaze.
Make the Lemon Syrup Glaze
- In a small saucepan, combine the water, lemon juice, zest and sugar together.
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes.
Hi Lori,
If I am not mistaken 1tbl orange juice means 1 tablespoon right?
Thanks
Kim
Yes. I was taught to abbreviate it that way.
Part of my plan is to revise all abbreviations to full names.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Can you tell me what size loaf pan you recommend? I have two sizes and don’t remember which one I used. This is a delicious loaf. Thanks Lori
★★★★★
I love this recipe and haven’t made it in a couple of years. Can you tell me what size loaf pan you recommend? I have two sizes and don’t remember which one I used. Thanks Lori
★★★★★
oh my gosh, you did it!!!..you posted cranberry bread that looks exactly like the bread my sister used to make years ago..Her husband went psycho cleaning out her baking cabinet (big mistake letting him near it :-(..He threw a lot of her recipes away!!!!..Yes!!..and her cranberry, zucchini and pumpkin cookie recipes went bye bye…it’s been so long, she doesn’t even remember making them every year..course, it coulld be sometimers disease too..lmbo..:D..so anyway, i can’t wait to make this!!..i just know it is going to taste like hers, only better..:-)..<3
Hey Ms. Maggie 🙂 OMG he threw out recipes??? I would have gone ballistic and it would not have been pretty! Well I hope this is exactly what you’re looking for. I LOVE this recipe so much! It’s one of my favorites for the holidays!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Thank you for the lovely recipe. Have a Great Sunday and Week.
Thank you so much Liz! You have an amazing Sunday and fantabulous week as well!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★
I am going to try them…they look great!
I’ve made these countless times! They are so amazing! Tart but sweet at the same time! LOVE THESE!!!
So happy that you loved them Marty! To hear that thrills me!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Barbara,
Thank you! They are tart from the lemon and cranberries but the orange zest and juice balance it out. Plus the lemon simple syrup is HEAVENLY on it! Add a light dusting of coarse sanding sugar to them before you bake them to add a great crunchy sweet layer on top!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
I just made these last night! These are so good and MOIST! I mean super, super moist! I loved the fact that I could use up my left over cranberries from Thanksgiving too! I’ll be definitely be making these to give out for holiday gifts!
That’s so awesome to hear! Ohhhhhhh great suggestion for holiday gifts! Can I be on your holiday gift giving list? 🙂
Best Kitchen Wishes!