Keto Cranberry Muffins with Orange Glaze

These keto cranberry muffins are tender, moist, and filled with tart cranberries and bright orange flavor. Made with finely milled almond flour and cream cheese, they make a delicious low-carb breakfast, brunch treat, or sugar-free holiday dessert.

Fresh orange zest and orange extract complement the cranberries without adding the extra carbohydrates found in orange juice. Once the muffins have cooled, you can finish them with an optional sugar-free orange glaze that makes them feel especially festive.

Although cranberry-orange muffins are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you do not have to wait for the holidays to enjoy them. Since the recipe works with either fresh or frozen cranberries, these muffins can be made throughout the year.

Fresh cranberry season always causes a little excitement in my kitchen. My family knows how much I enjoy creating keto cranberry recipes, so bags of cranberries have a way of finding their way into my freezer.

That cranberry abundance is exactly how these low-carb cranberry muffins were born.

Cranberry And Orange Are A Perfect Pairing

Cranberry and Orange Are a Perfect Pairing

Cranberries have a naturally tart flavor that works beautifully with fresh orange zest and orange extract. The orange adds a bright citrus finish without overpowering the cranberries.

This combination makes the muffins especially fitting for Thanksgiving brunch, Christmas morning, or a holiday baking table. They are also easy enough to prepare for a regular breakfast or afternoon snack.

The muffins are flavorful on their own, but the optional sugar-free orange glaze gives them a pretty finish and a little extra citrus flavor.

These low-carb cranberry muffins are light and fluffy and come together quickly.

The best part is that cranberries are low in carbs and high in fiber, and because they pack so much flavor, a little goes a long way. 

They clock-in at only 2.2 grams of net carbs per serving!

Are Cranberries Keto-Friendly?

Fresh and frozen cranberries can be included in a keto diet when they are used in reasonable portions and paired with low-carb ingredients.

Their naturally tart flavor means you do not need a large amount to enjoy plenty of cranberry flavor. In this recipe, the cranberries are distributed throughout 24 muffins, helping keep the carbohydrate count manageable.

Be sure to use plain fresh or frozen cranberries without added sugar. Sweetened dried cranberries are much higher in carbohydrates and are not a suitable substitute for this recipe.

Fresh or Frozen Cranberries Both Work

One of the best things about these keto cranberry muffins is that you can make them with fresh or frozen cranberries.

During cranberry season, fresh berries are a wonderful choice. You can also stock up and freeze extra bags so that you can make the muffins later in the year.

There is no need to thaw frozen cranberries before adding them to the batter. Fold them in straight from the freezer. Thawing them first can release extra moisture and cause the berries to bleed into the batter.

Why These Almond Flour Cranberry Muffins Stay Tender

Almond flour muffins can sometimes become dry or crumbly, but the cream cheese, butter, and eggs in this recipe help create a moist and tender texture.

For the best results, use finely milled almond flour rather than almond meal. Almond meal is coarser and can produce a heavier muffin.

Measuring and sifting the almond flour also helps remove lumps and allows it to blend more evenly into the batter.

The cream cheese, butter, and eggs should be at room temperature before mixing. Ingredients that are close to the same temperature combine more smoothly and help create a more even muffin batter.

Ingredients Needed For These Keto Cranberry Orange Muffins

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The complete measurements and instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For the cranberry muffins, you will need:

• Finely milled almond flour, measured and sifted
• Granulated sugar substitute
• Fresh or frozen cranberries ( no need to defrost if using frozen)
• Coconut flakes (optional)
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Orange extract
• Fresh orange zest
• Large eggs
• Unsalted butter, room temperature

For the sugar-free orange glaze, you'll need

• Confectioner's sugar substitute
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Heavy whipping cream
• Orange extract
• Fresh orange zest

How To Make These Keto Cranberry Orange Muffins

These muffins come together easily, making them perfect for the holiday season.

You'll start by combining the dry ingredients, the finely milled almond flour, as well as the orange zest, baking powder, and salt.

I always recommend measuring and sifting the almond flour for a consistent texture every time.

Then, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, you'll combine the softened cream cheese, orange extract, and sugar substitute.

I should add that my favorite sugar-free sweetener is granulated monk fruit sweetener.

Once that is well mixed, you'll add the eggs one at a time, being sure to scrape the bowl a couple of times in the process.

Then, you'll add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine until fully incorporated.

Next, you'll fold in the cranberries. If you are adding the coconut flakes, you will also add them now.

You can use fresh and frozen cranberries in this recipe, and you do not have to defrost if using frozen.

However, the one caveat is that you want to use fresh or frozen fresh tart cranberries since dried cranberries are typically very high in sugar. 

The bright, tart flavor of cranberries pairs well with orange extract, although I have also used lemon.

I also included a recipe for a glaze made with a confectioner's sugar substitute; I like using Lakanto powdered or Swerve Confectioners.

Doing so will produce a lighter muffin. I encourage you to visit our Keto Baking Tips for more of my tried-and-true ketogenic baking advice.

Best Sugar Substitutes For This Recipe

When choosing the best sweetener, for these sugar free cranberry muffins, I have several options for you to choose from.

I really like Monk Fruit Sweetener because the texture is spot on and because there is barely any aftertaste. Plus, it uses only natural ingredients.

This is a great one, especially if you are new to sugar substitutes, because it mimics sugar the most, in my opinion.

I'm also partial to Swerve, an erythritol blend, although you should keep in mind that it does have a bit more of a cooling aftertaste that some people dislike. 

Alternatively, you could also use a stevia- and erythritol-based brand like Pyure. 

This is if you prefer to use stevia in your baked goods. If you go this route, you need to reduce the amount by half since it is twice as sweet. 

Lastly, if you can't easily find a more natural sugar substitute, you can also use Splenda with great success.

I know not everyone would agree with me here, and I respect that, but in my book, it's still better than regular sugar.

However, when it comes to the keto orange icing, you will have to use a confectioner's sugar substitute. Both Lakanto and Swerve have great ones. 

The Coconut Is Optional

The original version of these muffins includes unsweetened coconut flakes. The coconut adds a little texture and another layer of flavor, but it is not necessary for the recipe to work.

You can leave the coconut out without changing the amount of the other ingredients. Omitting it will give you a more traditional cranberry-orange muffin.

When using coconut, be sure to choose unsweetened coconut flakes. Sweetened coconut contains added sugar and is not considered keto-friendly.

Small Details That Improve the Muffins

Measure and sift the almond flour. Almond flour can settle and develop lumps. Sifting it helps create a lighter, smoother batter.

Use room-temperature ingredients. Softened cream cheese and butter will combine more easily. Room-temperature eggs are also less likely to cause the butter mixture to separate.

Add the eggs one at a time. Mix well after adding each egg and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

Do not thaw frozen cranberries. Add them directly from the freezer to prevent excess moisture from entering the batter.

Fold the berries in gently. Mixing too aggressively can break the cranberries and turn the batter pink.

Divide the batter evenly. This recipe makes 24 standard muffins, so you will need two lined 12-cup muffin pans.

Cool completely before glazing. If the muffins are warm, the glaze will melt and soak into the tops.

The Sugar-Free Orange Glaze

These muffins are delicious without a glaze, especially when served for breakfast. However, the sugar-free orange glaze makes them look and taste more festive.

The glaze combines confectioners' sugar substitute with lemon juice, heavy cream, orange extract, and fresh orange zest.

The lemon juice balances the sweetness, while the orange extract reinforces the citrus flavor in the muffins.

Use a powdered sugar substitute for the smoothest glaze. A granulated sweetener will not dissolve properly and may leave the glaze with a gritty texture.

Wait until the muffins have cooled completely before drizzling the glaze over the tops.

Can I Make Lemon Cranberry Muffins Instead?

Yes. Cranberries also pair beautifully with lemon.

Replace the orange extract and orange zest in the muffin batter with lemon extract and fresh lemon zest. You can make the same substitution in the sugar-free glaze.

This creates a slightly sharper citrus flavor while keeping the recipe low in carbohydrates.

How to Store the Muffins

Store the keto cranberry muffins in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

They can also be frozen for up to three weeks. Place the muffins in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking together.

For the best appearance, freeze the muffins without the glaze. Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator, then add the glaze before serving.

Benefits of Cranberries

Rather than fight my family's need to hoard cranberries, I've just learned to leave a dedicated area for them in my freezer. Not to mention that it allows me to enjoy keto cranberry recipes all year long.

So these days, when my family shows up with yet another bag of cranberries, I cheerfully shove them in a corner of my freezer.

But why so much excitement over these bright red berries? Maybe it's because they are packed with flavor and nutrition.

The truth is, no one really knows how cranberries became part of our holiday culture here in the States, but historians speculate that it had something to do with the Native Americans, who used cranberries widely.

They not only used cranberries for food but even for medicine and as a way to dye their clothing. Pretty genius, huh?

Well, I don't mind seeing cranberries as medicine, but you won't see me dyeing any cloth with them, because this girl would rather see them in a keto cream cheese muffin.

Cranberries are considered healthy due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. Do you know that cranberries are considered a superfood?

That's because they have been linked to lowering the risk of urinary tract infections, aiding in boosting the immune system, decreasing blood pressure, and even preventing certain types of cancer.

Moreover, cranberries are anti-inflammatory, full of phytonutrients, and antioxidants, and packed with vitamin C.

Why Stock Up On Cranberries?

I suspect that my family's fascination with cranberries has more to do with their deliciousness, but I'm thrilled that every serving of my low-carb keto cranberry coconut muffins provides some added nutrition.

Thankfully, cranberries are also low in carbohydrates and can, therefore, be used safely in a low-carb diet, a win-win in our family.

More Keto Cranberry Recipes

Cranberries can be used in much more than traditional cranberry sauce. Their tart flavor works especially well in sugar-free breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, and holiday desserts.

After trying these muffins, be sure to explore our complete collection of keto cranberry recipes for even more ways to enjoy fresh or frozen cranberries while keeping your carbohydrates low.

The following are some other reader favorites:

• Keto cranberry orange bread
• Keto cranberry orange cookies
• Keto cranberry cake
• Keto cranberry sauce

Be sure to explore our complete collection of keto cranberry recipes for even more ways to enjoy fresh or frozen cranberries while keeping your carbohydrates low.

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