Mini muffins offer major flavor

McClatchy Newspapers

Like a choir of holiday angels, cranberries wear the halo of good health.

But are all cranberries created equal?

Fresh cranberries are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium. They’re high in fiber and phytochemicals. By contrast, a large portion of the calories from dried cranberries come from sugar.

But even fresh cranberries are too tart to eat without a bit of sweetener. So don’t shy away from dried. Instead, look for a product that has been sweetened with natural sweeteners such as apple juice instead of corn syrup.

An easy way to enjoy cranberries is to sprinkle “craisins” in your baked goods. Investing in a mini-muffin pan is a small price to pay if you can avoid the holiday bulge.

The Star’s Cranberry Orange Mini Muffins is a versatile holiday-inspired recipe.

Serve the mini muffins straight up, for breakfast or lunch, or split open and garnish to create a festive party appetizer.

CRANBERRY ORANGE MINI MUFFINs

Makes 36 muffins

1 cup dried sweetened cranberries

1‚Ñ4 cup boiling water

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1‚Ñ2 teaspoon baking soda

1‚Ñ4 teaspoon salt

2 egg whites

1‚Ñ4 cup canola oil

2‚Ñ3 cup orange juice

Grated zest of 1 orange

3‚Ñ4 cup sugar

Place cranberries in a small, deep bowl; pour boiling water over cranberries and stir to coat. Set aside and allow cranberries to plump, about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line miniature muffin pans with paper baking cups or spray cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Combine egg whites, oil, juice and zest in a medium mixing bowl. Add sugar and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix just until flour is moistened.

Drain cranberries and add, stirring just until blended. Do not overmix.

Fill miniature muffin cups about 3‚Ñ4 full of batter. Bake 10 to 11 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to stand 10 minutes, then remove to a rack. Serve warm.

Serving tip: For Cranberry-Smoked Turkey Appetizers, top each split cranberry orange mini muffin with about 1‚Ñ2 teaspoon whipped, light cream cheese, softened, 1 teaspoon Spicy Cranberry Sauce and 1‚Ñ4 to 1‚Ñ2-slice deli-style smoked turkey folded to fit.

Leftover tip: Assemble the number of appetizers you desire, cover and refrigerate remaining Spicy Cranberry Sauce to serve as an accompaniment to roast turkey, ham or other holiday dinner.

Nutritional analysis

Per muffin: 62 calories (25 percent from fat), 2 grams total fat (trace saturated fat), no cholesterol, 10 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram protein, 49 milligrams sodium, 1 gram dietary fiber.