Orange-Currant Muffins with Citrus Sugar Topping
These tender, citrus-scented muffins combine the bright flavor of orange juice concentrate and fresh orange zest with sweet currants throughout. The sparkling orange sugar topping adds a delightful crunch and extra burst of citrus flavor. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack, these bakery-style muffins are easy to make and deliver consistent results. The addition of orange juice concentrate provides more intense orange flavor than fresh juice alone, while the currants add chewy sweetness that complements the citrus beautifully.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawedfresh orange juice1:2
less intense flavor
- 2 teaspoons orange peel, grated
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 2 ¼ cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup currants or raisinsraisins1:1
either works well
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange peel, grated
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven to 400 degrees and grease bottoms only of 12 medium muffin cups or line with paper baking cups
- 2
Beat milk, oil, juice concentrate, orange peel and egg in large bowl until blended
- 3
Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once just until flour is moistened
- 4
Fold in currants and divide batter evenly among muffin cups
- 5
Mix remaining sugar and orange peel and sprinkle over batter in cups
- 6
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown
- 7
Immediately remove from pan
Tips
Don't overmix the batter - stir just until flour is moistened for tender muffins.
Grease only the bottoms of muffin cups to help muffins rise evenly.
Remove from pan immediately to prevent bottoms from getting soggy.
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months
Can be made night before - store covered
Serve warm or at room temperature
Common Mistakes
Don't overmix batter to avoid tough muffins
Don't grease sides of cups to prevent odd shapes
Substitutions
less intense flavor
FAQ
Can I use fresh orange juice instead of concentrate?
Yes, but use twice the amount and reduce milk slightly. The flavor will be less intense than with concentrate.
What if I don't have currants?
Raisins work perfectly as a substitute, or try dried cranberries for a tart twist.
How long do these muffins keep?
Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.