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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Whole Wheat Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

    LAST UPDATED: September 27, 2023 PUBLISHED: August 2, 2018 By Pam Greer 16 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These easy Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins will become a family favorite! 

    They make great after-school snacks, an easy Halloween treat, or a Thanksgiving dessert option!

    A platter with three cranberry pumpkin muffins and a blue jar filled with black-eyed susans.

    I have decided that I don't bake nearly enough muffins.  They are usually easier than a cake and come with built-in portion control. 

    I also like that it is pretty easy to make some healthy substitutions with muffins.  You definitely can't beat their grab-and-go awesomeness!

    So, expect to see lots more easy, healthier muffin recipes on this site.  I already have an Apple Strudel one picked out for this weekend!

    Tray with 12 orange muffins on a white background

    I don't know about you, but when the end caps at the grocery store start filling up with cans of pumpkin, I stock up. 

    It's like I'm afraid there is going to be some great catastrophe and I'll be left with no cans of pumpkin. 

    For the record, I do the same thing with cranberries, because how else am I going to make Brandied Cranberries, Cranberry Liqueur or Cranberry Negronis?

    Does anyone else have hoarding issues with pumpkin and cranberries?

    Ingredients.

    • All-purpose flour - I use King Arthur unbleached.
    • Whole wheat flour - I use whole wheat pastry flour, if you don't have whole wheat, you can just substitute more all-purpose flour.
    • Spices - ground ginger, ground cinnamon, salt, ground cloves.
    • Other dry ingredients - baking soda, baking powder, granulated sugar, light brown sugar.
    • Wet ingredients - canned pumpkin, buttermilk canola oil, egg.
    • Sweetened dried cranberries.
    6 orange muffins on a vintage platter

    Instructions.

    These Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins are easy to prepare!

    • You combine your dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
    • Cream the sugar and the wet ingredients in your favorite stand mixer or hand mixer.
    • Add the flour ingredients and beat to just combine and fold in cranberries.
    • Place paper cupcake liners coated with cooking spray in a muffin pan.
    • Bake, cool and enjoy!
    Orange colored muffins with vase of black eyed susans

    Easy Healthy Substitutions

    I found this recipe at Cooking Light, however I made a few healthier changes to it.   

    The original recipe called for 1 ½ cups of all purpose flour.  I used 1 cup all purpose and ½ cup of whole wheat pastry flour.  You can read - 5 of the Healthiest Flours to get an idea of why whole wheat flour bumps us these muffins.

    I also decreased the granulated sugar from one cup to ½ cup.  They were still plenty sweet and I'm going to make them again with just ¼ cup.

    I think these would also be good with some fruit substitutions.  Dried apricots or dried blueberries would be good, even raisins.  You'll have to let me know if you make them with any substitutions!

    This is definitely one to add to your healthy pumpkin muffin recipes!

    More healthier muffin recipes.

    Apple Muffins with Oats
    Healthy Apple Muffins with Oats
    Everyone loves this Healthy Apple Muffins with Oats.  Shredded apples makes them so moist! 
    Click here to see the recipe
    Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with Oats and Chocolate Chips
    Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with Oats and Chocolate Chips
    These Pumpkin Muffins with Oats and Chocolate Chips are so delicious, you won't believe they're healthy! 
    Click here to see the recipe
    Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Glaze
    These Apple Streusel Muffins with Maple Glaze are whole grain muffins filled with apples, a crumb topping and a sweet maple glaze.
    Click here to see the recipe

    Recipe.

    **As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 30 votes

    Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

    These Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins are a healthy after school snack, or Halloween or Thanksgiving treat! 
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 12
    Calories 163kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup canned pumpkin
    • ½ cup low fat buttermilk
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil
    • 1 large egg
    • ⅔ cup sweetened dried cranberries chopped
    • cooking spray

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375. 
    • Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife.  Do the same with the whole wheat pastry flour.  Whisk the flours with the next 6 ingredients to combine. 
    • Combine the granulated sugar and the next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.  Beat for about 3 minutes at medium speed.  
    • Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture.  Beat at low speed until just combined.  Fold in cranberries. 
    • Place 12 cupcake liners in a muffin tin and spray lightly with cooking spray.  Divide batter evenly into the cups.  
    • Bake for 25 minutes, or until muffins spring back when lightly touched. 
    • Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. 

    Notes

    These would also work with raisins or dried apricots!

    Equipment

    muffin pan
    cupcake liners
    Stand Mixer

    Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 3205IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1.1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angelina says

      August 15, 2018 at 10:25 pm

      These look scrumptious! Thanks for sharing with Thursday Favorite Things - I'm featuring you tomorrow! Angelina @ Petite Haus.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 16, 2018 at 6:25 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    2. Marjie says

      August 08, 2018 at 2:14 pm

      I always buy lots of pumpkin. You can never tell when you might need a pumpkin pie. Or maybe pumpkin bread, or now maybe you need these muffins! I love the addition of cranberries to these. And while I like less sweet muffins, I might just be tempted to drizzle a little glaze over the top....

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 09, 2018 at 8:13 am

        These would be perfect with some glaze on top!

        Reply
    3. Tina Culbertson says

      August 07, 2018 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      I'm embarrassed to say that one year I bought so much pumpkin that a few cans expired. These muffins would be lovely to take to a Fall gathering.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 07, 2018 at 3:56 pm

        I've done the same thing!

        Reply
    4. Valentina says

      August 02, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      oooh, I would love one of these for breakfast with my coffee, So funny, I do the same with the pumpkin -- I totally stock up for fear it'll all go away after the holiday's. And sometimes it does, so I'm always happy to have it in my pantry. 🙂

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 5:03 pm

        I still have 3 cans from last year, that I need to use up before I stock up again!

        Reply
    5. Emily Hill says

      August 02, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      I'm totally ready for fall now that I've seen these cranberry pumpkin muffins. YUM!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 5:04 pm

        Me too!

        Reply
    6. Jessica Formicola says

      August 02, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait for alllll things pumpkin! Adding these to my must-make list!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 5:04 pm

        You'll have to let me know what you think.

        Reply
    7. Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says

      August 02, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      I also stock up on pumpkin and cranberries! I love this combo you've got here. And, thank goodness for instant portion control, Lol!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 5:04 pm

        Portion control is the only thing that saves me!

        Reply
    8. Daniela says

      August 02, 2018 at 3:35 pm

      I love that you decreased the amount of sugar. I always find muffins too sweet, and I would be interested in trying them out with just 1/4 cup as well. I also love the flavor combo!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 3:42 pm

        It's a great flavor combo.

        Reply

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    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

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