I love this doughnut muffin recipe from King Arthur Flour because not only does it leave itself open to adaptation, but it pretty much encourages it. I used it as a jumping off point to make orange donut muffins and I have to say that when you factor everything into the delicious recipe equation, I love it at least as much as I love orange yeast rolls. You start with a recipe for a perfectly vanilla, slightly crumbly muffin that is reminiscent of cake donuts, and then you can add whatever suits your fancy.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Muffins
- Butter – Use real butter.
- Vegetable oil
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Orange zest
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Table salt
- Vanilla
- Orange extract – Optional.
- All-purpose flour
- Buttermilk
Glaze
- Butter
- Orange zest
- Powdered sugar
How to Make Buttermilk Orange Donut Muffins
- Line a muffin tin with liners. I usually get about 15 muffins.
- Zest the orange and set aside. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, oil, and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and orange zest and beat until smooth. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Alternately add the flour and buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour, mixing completely after each addition.
- Scoop the batter into the lined muffin tins (I used a 1/4 cup cookie/ice cream scoop and it worked perfectly) and bake.
- When the muffins are cool, melt a little butter in a small mixing bowl. Add the zest of another orange. Slowly whisk in some powdered sugar, beating thoroughly to eliminate any lumps. When you’ve added 1 cup of powdered sugar, it should look like moist frosting. Whisk in a few tablespoons of buttermilk until a smooth glaze consistency is reached.
- Grab each cooled muffin by the bottom and dip it into the glaze. Allow the glaze to set up before serving (or don’t…we’re talking about glazed donut-like things here…it’s hard to go wrong). Makes 12-15 muffins.
Storing and Other Tips
- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container and enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.
- Other flavors: lemon or cinnamon sugar would be delicious here!
- If you need a gluten free version, King Arthur Flour says to simply substitute their gluten free flour blend for the all-purpose flour.
Buttermilk Orange Donut Muffins
The classic flavors of an orange roll come together with the rich texture of a cake donut and the ease of a quick bread in these delightfully sweet muffins.
Servings muffins
Ingredients
Muffins
- ¼ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs large
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon orange extract optional
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose white flour lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with the back of a knife
- 1 cup buttermilk
Glaze
- ¼ cup butter melted
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Muffins
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Line a muffin tin (recipe yields 15 standard-size muffins, so plan accordingly) with cupcake liners and set aside.
- Zest the orange and set aside.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, oil, and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and orange rind and beat until smooth.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla (and orange extract, if using) and beat until smooth. Alternately add the flour and buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour, mixing completely after each addition.
- Scoop the batter into the lined muffin tins (I used a ¼ cup cookie/ice cream scoop and it worked perfectly).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes or until the muffins are golden on top. Remove from oven and cool completely on cooling racks.
Glaze
- When the muffins are cool, melt ¼ cup butter in a small mixing bowl. Add the zest of another orange. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time, beating thoroughly to eliminate any lumps. When you've added 1 cup of powdered sugar, it should look like moist frosting. Whisk in a few tablespoons of buttermilk until a smooth glaze consistency is reached.
- Grab each cooled muffin by the bottom and dip it into the glaze. Allow the glaze to set up before serving.
Notes
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- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container and enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.
-
- Other flavors: lemon or cinnamon sugar would be delicious here!
-
- If you need a gluten free version, King Arthur Flour says to simply substitute their gluten free flour blend for the all-purpose flour.
Nutrition
Calories: 181kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 252mg, Potassium: 39mg, Fiber: 0.001g, Sugar: 20g, Vitamin A: 247IU, Calcium: 51mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Calories: 181kcal
Cost: $5
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Questions & Reviews
These look great! Perfect timing too because I was looking for something to make for an Easter luncheon. I may have to make a double batch after reading all these notes. 🙂 Thanks for the post.
Looks delish! Perfect for Easter breakfast. Thanks!
If I made this in a loaf pan how long would it need to bake do you thnk?
I honestly don’t know–you’d just have to try it out and keep an eye on it. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Can these be frozen…without the glaze? And then glazed after they’ve defrosted?
For sure!
These sound delicious! And I am totally this stressed out person on making everything perfect and homemade. It’s not only killing me, but now I have 3 out of 4 of my adult children moved back home. They may have moved back because they are all out of work, but I’m suspicious it’s my bad habit of overdoing everything. I think I’ll take your lead and relax a bit.
I have made orange rolls once a week for the past 9 months. It has been a huuuuuuuuuuge pregnancy craving for me. That and limeade (citrus much?) But now that I’m 41 weeks, and my kids are home all day for spring break, I have no more energy to make orange rolls. But my craving is still there with a vengeance. Thanks OBB, for once again providing the very recipe I had no idea I needed! They are in the oven as we speak and smell divine. I’m seriously so excited right now, it’s kinda pitiful.
Bless you, Shannon!! I kind of stop functioning like a normal human being after 36 weeks and I only made it to 41 weeks once. It wasn’t pretty. 🙂
I had to update……my husband took one bite and raved about how good they were. Then he suddenly and suspiciously remembered a potluck brunch he had going on this morning, so he requested the entire batch, schmoozing me with the whole “they’ll be such a hit!” They all walked out the door before they even had time to cool completely. I just finished baking batch 2 because I couldn’t bear to miss out! They really are that delicious. I was pleased with how light and fluffy they were. Yum! And yes, my function levels vary at this stage in the game. Yesterday was a lay around and moan type of day. Why oh why oh why does pregnancy have to last soooooooo long?! Thanks for all the yummy treats that make it all a bit easier!
Wow, he owes you a major foot rub after that!
These look fantastic! I can think of so many fun variations too! What a great recipe. Thank you!
I can’t wait to try these! My mouth is watering just looking at the pictures!
Those look amazing!
What size scoop do you use for the batter? Looks like the perfect amount and the one I have is way too small!
It’s this 1/4 cup scoop and I love it!
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Steel-Scoop-Tablespoon/dp/B00004UE65/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1364560594&sr=8-7&keywords=cookie+scoop
Hope that helps! 🙂
Thank you!
Holy cats! Now you’ve gone and done it! I loooove orange rolls but I don’t looooove working with yeast. Boo. This recipe solves that problem like nobody’s business! These are a must for me!
BTW, one of my readers pinned your Baked Creamy Chicken Toquitos, whipped them up, loved them, and I featured those yummy toquitos here: http://ipinnedit.com/recipes/this-weeks-pinner-of-the-week-is-jenifer-morris/ You guys are so awesome!
Thanks, Deon! 🙂
Um, I have to agree. We have so many OBB recipes we love, but the taquitos are definitely a family favorite (like birthday dinner request favorite).