Keto Cranberry Muffins, A Seasonal Treat

My recipe for keto cranberry muffins combines the flavors of fresh cranberries and cream cheese for one delightful muffin.

These cranberry muffins are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or anytime you want a keto-friendly treat!

Keto cranberry recipes like these muffins allow you to enjoy cranberries on a low-carb diet.

They can be made with either fresh or frozen cranberries, which makes them not only delicious but packed with good-for-you antioxidants.

When fresh cranberries make an appearance while in season, my family goes into a bit of a frenzy. It seems everyone who visits me feels compelled to bring me a bag or two of fresh cranberries.

Probably because they know I will make good use of them to make a low-carb cranberry recipe. 

This unexplained generosity is the reason it’s not uncommon for me to have up to ten bags of frozen cranberries in my freezer.

I am not the least bit exaggerating. What’s a girl to do with the abundance of cranberries?

Of course, I’ll create new recipes for you. And this is how my recipe for low-carb cranberry muffins was born.

I have a complete list of Keto Cakes that, as a fan of muffins, cupcakes, or cakes, you will also enjoy.

Make sure you also check out our Keto Cream Cheese Recipes for other delicious recipes that feature cream cheese.

Keto Cranberry Muffins

I suspect all that experimenting is what encourages my family to keep that freezer nice and full.

So, if you’ve tried this recipe for keto cream cheese cranberry muffins and it’s caused you to fall in love with baking again, I guess you can thank my family for this.

There is something quite special about biting into a low-carb cream cheese muffin that’s packed with juicy cranberries.

The combination of cream cheese, almond flour, and cranberries makes for the perfect little healthy muffin.

I especially enjoy serving these as a quick breakfast or for a lazy brunch with the family. But who am I kidding? These keto cream cheese cranberry muffins are welcome at any time of day.

So, don’t make the mistake that they are only a morning option.

These cranberry muffins are light and fluffy and come together quickly. The best part is that cranberries are low in carbs and high in fiber, and because they pack so much flavor, a little goes a long way. 

And these low-carb cranberry muffins have only 2.2 grams of net carbs per serving.

Ingredients Needed For Low-Carb Cranberry Muffins

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The following are the ingredients needed to make gluten-free cranberry muffins:

Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the page, along with the nutritional facts.

• Finely milled almond flour, measured and sifted
• Granulated sugar substitute
• Fresh or frozen cranberries ( no need to defrost if using frozen)
• Coconut flakes (optional)
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Orange extract
• Orange zest
• Unsalted butter, room temperature

Keto Orange Glaze

• Confectioner’s sugar substitute
• Lemon juice
• Heavy cream
• Orange extract
• Orange zest

How To Make Keto Cranberry Muffins

These muffins come together easily, making them perfect for the holiday season.

You’ll start by combining the dry ingredients, the finely milled almond flour, as well as the orange zest, baking powder, and salt.

I always recommend measuring and sifting the almond flour for a consistent texture every time.

Then, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, you’ll combine the softened cream cheese, orange extract, and sugar substitute.

I should add that my favorite sugar-free sweetener is Lakanto’s monk fruit sweetener.

Once that is well mixed, you’ll add the eggs one at a time, being sure to scrape the bowl a couple of times in the process.

Then, you’ll add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine until fully incorporated.

Next, you’ll fold in the cranberries. If you are adding the coconut flakes, you will also add them now.

You can use fresh and frozen cranberries in this recipe, and you do not have to defrost if using frozen.

However, the one caveat is that you want to use fresh or frozen fresh tart cranberries since dried cranberries are typically very high in sugar. 

The bright, tart flavor of cranberries pairs well with orange extract, although I have also used lemon.

I also included a recipe for a glaze made with a confectioner’s sugar substitute; I like using Lakanto powdered or Swerve Confectioners.

Doing so will produce a lighter muffin. I encourage you to visit our Keto Baking Tips for more of my tried-and-true ketogenic baking advice.

Best Sugar Substitutes For Sugar-Free Cranberry Muffins

When choosing the best sugar-free sweetener, I have several options for you to choose from.

I really like Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener because the texture is spot on and because there is barely any aftertaste. Plus, it uses only natural ingredients.

This is a great one, especially if you are new to sugar substitutes, because it mimics sugar the most, in my opinion.

I’m also partial to Swerve, an erythritol blend, although you should keep in mind that it does have a bit more of a cooling aftertaste that some people dislike. 

Alternatively, you could also use a stevia- and erythritol-based brand like Pyure. 

This is if you prefer to use stevia in your baked goods. If you go this route, you need to reduce the amount by half since it is twice as sweet. 

Lastly, if you can’t easily find a more natural sugar substitute, you can also use Splenda with great success.

I know not everyone would agree with me here, and I respect that, but in my book, it’s still better than regular sugar.

However, when it comes to the keto orange icing, you will have to use a confectioner’s sugar substitute. Both Lakanto and Swerve have great ones. 

Benefits of Cranberries

Rather than fight my family’s need to hoard cranberries, I’ve just learned to leave a dedicated area for them in my freezer. Not to mention that it allows me to enjoy keto cranberry recipes all year long.

So these days, when my family shows up with yet another bag of cranberries, I cheerfully shove them in a corner of my freezer.

But why so much excitement over these bright red berries? Maybe it’s because they are packed with flavor and nutrition.

The truth is, no one really knows how cranberries became part of our holiday culture here in the States, but historians speculate that it had something to do with the Native Americans, who used cranberries widely.

They not only used cranberries for food but even for medicine and as a way to dye their clothing. Pretty genius, huh?

Well, I don’t mind seeing cranberries as medicine, but you won’t see me dyeing any cloth with them, because this girl would rather see them in a keto cream cheese muffin.

Cranberries are considered healthy due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. Do you know that cranberries are considered a superfood?

That’s because they have been linked to lowering the risk of urinary tract infections, aiding in boosting the immune system, decreasing blood pressure, and even preventing certain types of cancer.

Moreover, cranberries are anti-inflammatory, full of phytonutrients, and antioxidants, and packed with vitamin C.

Why Stock Up On Cranberries?

I suspect that my family’s fascination with cranberries has more to do with their deliciousness, but I’m thrilled that every serving of my low-carb keto cranberry coconut muffins provides some added nutrition.

Thankfully, cranberries are also low in carbohydrates and can, therefore, be used safely in a low-carb diet, a win-win in our family.

If you are a fan of cranberries, you should also check out my keto cranberry orange bread and my keto cranberry orange cream cheese cookies. These make a lovely seasonal addition to any family gathering. 

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I sure hope you will give this cranberry keto muffin recipe a try. Once you do, make sure you remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s what encourages this girl to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

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