Cranberry Orange Pecan Muffins in a Mug

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My all time favorite muffin.

In a mug.

With a cute, Christmas-inspired sweater cozy.

Just cover with me sprinkles and call me a cookie!

It doesn’t get much tastier than this.

Or simpler.

Because I am sharing an easy recipe that practices an

art form that I am very, very good at.  

The art of being a Lazy Gourmet.  

🙂

The Lazy Gourmet’s Cranberry Orange Muffins in a Mug

Big Lots has become my go-to friend this holiday season.

I love their vast assortment of decor, food products and

gifts – and I could go on and on. 

Take a look at these cute decor items…

For a Christmas party this past weekend, I made an

incredible White Chocolate-Macadamia Bread Pudding

using a Panetone, which is an Italian fruitcake.

The reasonable value helped me keep the cost of the dessert dish

down so I could make two – one for the party and one for the hosts. 

While I was there, I happened to spot these.

I know.

Heavenly right?

White Mugs with little Christmas sweaters.

😀

I had to have two. Or six.

I lost count as I was grabbing them.

I just knew they would be ideal to take a Christmas

food gift to my neighbors.

Now this is where the Lazy Gourmet in me comes into play.

I grabbed several packages of this…

Cranberry-Orange Muffin Mix.

Let me start by just saying this… I love to bake.

I especially love to bake during Christmas.

I don’t like to bake during Christmas when my kitchen is spotlessly

clean and I have to photograph it for an upcoming blog tour. 

I knew I could add a little more love and a few more ingredients –

and my Lazy Gourmet Secret would never be revealed. 

To two muffin mixes, I added about a 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 

the zest of a medium orange as well as the juice. 

I also added a 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla. You could even

add some additional dried cranberries if you had them available. 

It took almost two packages of batter to fill two mugs, and I had

enough leftover batter to make a few extra mini muffins.

I buttered and floured the inside of each mug and filled them a

little more than halfway.  The package said the baking temp 

was 400 degrees, so that is what I set my oven to.  I baked

the muffins about 40 mins, but you need to watch them as

all ovens vary.  Make sure you do a “clean knife” test 

to check for doneness. 

I whipped together a simple cream cheese frosting, and

added a touch more of the orange zest for a citrus flavor.

Red and green sprinkles gave them that perfect Christmas touch!

I packaged these “Muffins in a Mug” with some gourmet

coffee and a cute Christmas card in a basket.

It made the perfect gift!

The little mug sweaters are removable.

*****( make sure you remove the sweaters prior to baking)

I love the cute, white button.  

Even if you don’t want to use these cups for baking muffins, just

think how awesome they would be on Christmas morning? 

 

 

Thanks for letting me share my “Lazy Gourmet”

Muffin Recipe with you.

 

 

xxoo, Barb

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minutes of your day here with me. 

 

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