Easy and delicious rhubarb orange muffins, with orange flavoured muffins, chunks of rhubarb (fresh or frozen) and pecans. A fabulous morning muffin!
Why I love these orange and rhubarb muffins
- I love the combination of orange and rhubarb and these rhubarb muffins have a fabulous bright orange flavour!
- You can make these rhubarb muffins with fresh rhubarb or frozen rhubarb.
- With the fruit, orange flavours and nuts, these rhubarb muffins make a great morning muffin!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Rhubarb – you can use either fresh or frozen rhubarb in these muffins. If using frozen, no need to thaw. Use from frozen.
Orange Zest and Orange Juice – as you will need orange zest, you will need at least one fresh orange, then you can juice that one orange at least. For the 2/3 cup orange juice required, you can use additional fresh oranges or top up with bottled orange juice. In a pinch, if you have no fresh oranges on hand, you could skip the orange zest and use all bottled orange juice.
Pecans – the pecans add a nice crunchy note to these muffins. You can use walnuts, if you prefer or omit completely for a nut-free muffin.
Step-by-Step Photos
- Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix together the egg, oil, orange zest and orange juice in a small bowl or 2-cup measuring cup.
- Add the orange juice mixture to the dry ingredients all at once and stir just until combined.
- Add the rhubarb to the bowl and mix it.
- Don’t over-mix the batter!
- Spoon batter into muffin cups. (Use 9 for large muffins or up to 12 for smaller muffins.)
Recipe Tips
- You can cut the rhubarb and the pecans to any size you like, either fine or larger pieces.
- I used paper muffin liners, but the release really well from the muffins, so I suspect you could easily make these muffins without paper liners and simply spray the muffin cups with baking spray.
- This recipe will make 8 large or up to 12 smaller muffins. Adjust the baking time slightly, as needed, for the size you are making.
Making ahead, storing and freezing
These muffins are best enjoyed on the day they are baked, though they will keep well for several days stored in an airtight container.
These rhubarb muffins will also freeze well up to 2 months.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Orange Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour, spooned and levelled
- 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil, or similar neutral-tasting oil
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 3/4 cup orange juice, fresh or bottled
- 1 1/4 cups rhubarb, fresh or frozen, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (regular bake setting/not fan assisted). Line 9-12 muffin cups with paper liners and set aside. (9 for large muffins (as shown in photos) or up to 12 for smaller muffins).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and pecans.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the egg, oil, orange zest and orange juice.
- Add the orange juice mixture all at once to the flour mixture and using a spoon, stir together just until the flour disappears (don't over-mix).
- Add the rhubarb to the bowl and stir briefly to incorporate.
- Using a scoop or about a 1/4-cup measure, spoon batter into muffin cups
- Bake muffins in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the centre of the muffins comes out clean.
- Allow muffins to cool in the pan a few minutes, then transfer the muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store muffins for several days in an airtight container or freeze up to 2 months.
Notes
More Rhubarb Recipes to Love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
This is the exact rhubarb muffin I’ve been making for more than 30 years! I look forward to making it every year when it’s rhubarb season!
Me too, Carolyn! It’s been a long time favourite in my house, as well :)