Blood Orange Marmalade Swirl Muffins
RECIPES & BAKING
Blood Orange Marmalade Swirl Muffins
Soft vanilla muffins rippled with Tarocco Blood Orange Marmalade, golden, fragrant and best eaten warm with butter melting into the crumb.
Quick Answer
These easy blood orange marmalade muffins are made by loosely swirling Tarocco Blood Orange Marmalade through a soft vanilla and yoghurt muffin batter. The marmalade creates bright citrus ribbons through the crumb, with a little extra brushed over the warm muffins for a glossy finish.
These muffins look as beautiful split open as they do whole, with golden domes on top, curls of orange peel and glowing seams of marmalade running through the crumb.
They are simple, homely and a wonderful way to show off the depth of flavour in The Artisan Kitchen Tarocco Blood Orange Marmalade.
The trick is not to mix the marmalade completely into the batter. A few gentle folds leave distinct ribbons of fruit running through each muffin.
Recipe at a Glance
Blood Orange Marmalade Swirl Muffins
Makes: 12 muffins
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 20 to 22 minutes
Oven: 180°C (160°C fan)
Tin: 12-hole muffin tin
Ingredients
250g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp salt
100g caster sugar
Zest of one blood orange, finely grated
2 large eggs
150g natural yoghurt or sour cream
100ml milk
100ml vegetable oil or melted butter, cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 to 6 tbsp The Artisan Kitchen Tarocco Blood Orange Marmalade, plus extra for glazing
Method
1. Prepare the Tin
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt, sugar and blood orange zest.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk the eggs, yoghurt, milk, oil and vanilla until smooth.
4. Make the Batter
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
5. Swirl in the Marmalade
Warm the marmalade slightly so it loosens. Dollop spoonfuls into the batter and fold through just once or twice with a knife to create ribbons rather than blending it fully into the mixture.
6. Fill the Muffin Cases
Divide the batter between the muffin cases. For extra effect, add a small swirl of marmalade on top of each muffin.
7. Bake
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until golden and risen. A skewer should come out clean apart from a little sticky marmalade.
8. Glaze
While the muffins are still warm, brush the tops with a little extra warmed marmalade to give them a light glossy glaze.
9. Serve
Serve warm, split open with a pat of butter melting into the crumb.
Sarah’s Kitchen Note
The important thing here is not to overmix either the muffin batter or the marmalade. Stir the batter only until it comes together, then fold the marmalade through once or twice. Those distinct ribbons of blood orange are exactly what you want when you split the muffins open.
Why Blood Orange Marmalade Works in Muffins
Blood orange has a wonderfully fragrant citrus character with a little more depth than a straightforward sweet orange. In a soft vanilla muffin, the marmalade provides concentrated fruit flavour, gentle bitterness from the peel and bright seams of citrus throughout the crumb.
Brushing a little more marmalade over the muffins while they are warm intensifies the fruit flavour and gives the tops a beautiful light glaze.
Optional Twists
Nutty crunch: Sprinkle flaked almonds or pistachios over the tops before baking.
Extra citrus: Add a little additional orange zest to the batter for a stronger citrus note.
Dessert style: Serve the muffins warm with mascarpone and a spoonful of marmalade for a simple pudding.
Shop the Recipe
The Artisan Kitchen Tarocco Blood Orange Marmalade
A deeply fragrant blood orange marmalade with beautiful citrus character, equally at home on the breakfast table or folded into baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put marmalade in muffins?
Yes. Marmalade can be gently swirled through muffin batter to add citrus flavour and pockets of fruit. Avoid mixing it completely into the batter if you want visible ribbons of marmalade in the finished muffins.
How do you keep homemade muffins soft?
Mix the wet and dry ingredients only until combined and avoid overbaking. The yoghurt or sour cream in this recipe also helps give the muffins a soft, tender crumb.
What goes well with blood orange marmalade?
Blood orange marmalade works particularly well with vanilla, dark chocolate, almonds, pistachios and creamy ingredients such as yoghurt and mascarpone.
Recipe by the Chef Behind The Artisan Kitchen
Sarah Churchill
Chef and founder of The Artisan Kitchen, Sarah Churchill creates the recipes and award-winning preserves featured throughout the site. Her approach is rooted in seasonal fruit, traditional preserve making and using jam and marmalade as ingredients well beyond the breakfast table.
