These delicious, fluffy cranberry muffins have flaky coconut and a hint of lime zest! Prepare them in one bowl and enjoy for a healthy snack.
There is just something so good about a muffin fresh from the oven, am I right? We love a fresh Healthy Blueberry Muffin, a Cinnamon Rhubarb Muffin, or one of these coconut cranberry muffins!
Typically cranberry muffins contain lemon or orange zest, and guess what? Lime zest is dang good, too.
And to give these muffins a little tropical twist, we’ve added flaked coconut in and on the muffins.
They are fluffy, tart, citrussy and slightly sweet…just perfect with a cup of hot coffee or tea.
Reasons you’ll ♡ these coconut cranberry muffins
Recipe video
Wondering how this coconut cranberry muffin recipe comes together? Watch the 1 minute video below to see how it happens! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later!
Let’s talk ingredients
For this delish cranberry muffin recipe, you’ll need:
- flour- you can use all purpose, a mix of whole wheat and all purpose, or white whole wheat flour. Gluten-free and other alternative flours have not been tested.
- coconut oil– or you can swap for vegetable oil
- baking powder, soda + salt
- eggs– these have not been tested with egg alternatives, but it may be possible.
- greek yogurt– to make these nice and moist
- maple syrup– to sweeten. Honey works as well, and while I haven’t tested coconut or brown sugar, I think they would work.
- cranberries– fresh or frozen, and in a pinch, you can use dried cranberries
- lime zest– which brings that citrussy zing without any of the sourness the juice adds
- coconut– I used sweetened shredded coconut but I think unsweetened would also be fine.
Muffins work so well for meal prep and are fridge and freezer-friendly. Here are some tips for this cranberry muffin recipe: Find my favorite muffin tins, microwave-safe bowl and muffin liners in my shop!Meal prep tips
Can I use dried cranberries?
While I love using fresh or frozen cranberries (they add a little juicy pop to the muffins), you could swap for dried cranberries instead.
Can I swap the coconut oil?
Yes, if you don’t have coconut oil, you can use vegetable oil in place.
Can I make these cranberry muffins with gluten-free flour? Almond flour? Coconut flour?
Unfortunately I have not tested and can’t say for sure if these will work. If you give them a try, please let us know in the comments how they turned out.
More muffin recipes!
- Low Carb Cauliflower Pizza Muffins
- Lemon Chia Yogurt Muffins
- Carrot Lentil Protein Muffins
- 7 Healthy Baked Oatmeal Muffins
- 7 Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins
This post was originally published in 2015. It has been tweaked, rephotographed and republished in 2020.
Coconut Cranberry Muffins (1 bowl)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted; 52 g)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt (300 g)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup (138 g)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour (250g; fluffed, spooned & levelled; see * note)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (plus extra for sprinkling on tops)
- 1 lime (zested)
- 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tray with muffin papers and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the coconut oil. Add in the yogurt, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, coconut and lime zest. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in the cranberries. Batter will be quite thick and that's OK.
- Spoon around 3 tablespoons per muffin. Sprinkle tops with a little extra coconut if desired.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Mine were perfect in 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool 10 or so minutes in the muffin pans before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Storage
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Kerry-Ann @ CommutingKitchen
I made these today with gluten free measure for measure flour (king arthur) and they were AWESOME! I usually gravitate toward your savory recipes, but am so glad I tried these. Forget tea or coffee, how about a spicy jalapeno mojito for afternoon “tea”? 🙂
Leah
Awesome recipe! I made with whole wheat flour and half the sugar the first time and they turned out fabulous!
Denise
Yay! So glad you liked them Leah, and thanks for reporting back 😉
Shev
These muffins sound amazing. I don’t have cranberries though, think it’ll work with craisins?
Denise
Hi Shev! Craisins should work just fine. Hope you like the muffins!
Denise
Those modifications sound delicious, Sue! I lived in Aussie land for almost 2 years, beautiful country!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Perfect muffins Denise! The combination of cranberry, lime and coconut sounds very tropical and delicious.
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel
Well don’t these just look perfect and amazing! Seriously loving the winter/summer flavor combo! 🙂 I just want to pull off and eat all those coconutty muffin tops!
Denise
I love muffin tops!! Have you seen that Seinfeld episode? Thanks, Jess!
Nora
Ah yes, the April snowstorms… We didn’t have so much of a storm, but definitely snowy rain the other day. So annoying 🙁
Love how you combined wintery and summery flavors in these delicious looking muffins! And I’m in love with the pictures!
Denise
Hi Jess. I’m a muffinaholic, too! As evidenced by the fact that I ate most of these muffins myself 🙂
Denise
Ha ha, or ‘it’s cold, I want soup, but it’s time to prep all those summer recipes’! Thanks, Ashley 🙂
CakeSpy
These sound great. Coconut and lime, I have seen. But adding cranberry makes it a completely new and novel thing. Awesome!! These look like the perfect breakfast.
Denise
Thanks CakeSpy! Cranberry is sooo good with the lime and the coconut (and now all I can hear in my head is that song!)
Leah | So, How's It Taste?
I’d really enjoy a few of these with that flavor combo. They seem so easy, too!
Denise
Thanks, Leah! They are SO easy!
[email protected]
Girl these muffins are seriously making me hungry at this odd hour!! I wish I had them with a glass of milk!!
Denise
Ha ha, Thanks, Ami! I would share, but I ate them all 😉
Teresa
These sound wonderful. I like your combination of flavours. It’s full on spring here in Vancouver, but we’re still awaiting spring produce. In some ways, it’s the hardest time, because you know it’s all going to be there soon – just not quite yet.
Denise
Thanks, Teresa! I’m in Calgary, and when I go to Vancouver in the spring, it feels like a whole different world…flowers, green grass, and no snow! I’m definitely ready for some warm weather!
Janice @Kitchen Heals Soul
Such a great idea! I’ve never put coconut in muffins, but I love coconut so seems pretty brilliant and they are so pretty too.
p.s. I am sooooooo over winter. Honestly the thought of going through next year’s winter already makes me cringe and panic a little because this winter was so awful. I just don’t know if I can go through it again, you know?
Denise
Thanks, Janice! Glad I’m not the only one who is over winter. Are you in the East? We had a pretty mild winter, but the easterners….yikes!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
Love these, Denise. The mixture of tart cranberries with lime and coconut sounds just great. I love how you mix up different fruit combinations in your muffins. Looking forward to trying these. And I hope you don’t get another snow storm – spring should be here for everybody by now!
Denise
Aggh it’s snowing right now!! Just in time for Easter, LOL…it’s OK, we’re used to it here. I can’t wait till I can move somewhere warmer! Thanks, Geraldine!
Renee
Oh my gosh, these are a combination of all my favorite flavors. I’ll be making these for sure!!
Denise
Thanks, Renee! Hope you like them!
marcie
I love this combination, Denise! Lime is totally underrated…it’s so great in baking. And with the cranberries and coconut — extra delicious! This muffin looks part macaroon cookie, which is one of my favorite things ever!
Denise
I loooove lime and I’m so excited that it’s socially acceptable to use lime again (ha ha, not like lime could ever be ‘out’, but you know what I mean! Lemon/lime everything right now!) Thanks, Marcie!
Catherine
Dear Denise, these muffins are beautiful! I have to try these soon. I can’t wait for berry season either…thank goodness for frozen fruit. This is a must-try. Pinned for later. xo, Catherine
Denise
Thanks Catherine! I am so excited for fresh berries, the expensive ones we can get in the winter just don’t compare!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen
Love these, Denise! I think I have a bag of frozen cranberries in my freezer, and these muffins would be the perfect use for them. The lime-cranberry-coconut combo sounds incredible!
Denise
Thanks, Kristine! Frozen berries are so handy, and you don’t even have to thaw them!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel
I totally hear you. I am just hoping we don’t get another dump of snow! Love all of the flavours in these!
Denise
Aaaah we’re getting a dump of snow this week-end, supposedly! Of course on the long week-end…but this is just something that has to happen every year, apparently! Thanks, Ashley!
Danielle
I love the lighting in these pictures, Denise! They are so gorgeous! These muffins sound so good too, they’re full of my favorite things. Pinned 🙂
Denise
Thanks so much, Danielle! I had about 2 minutes to snap my photos as the sun disappeared, so I’m glad I got a few photos!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)
The flavor combo in these muffins is absolutely sublime! I’m in love!
Denise
Thanks so much, Jocelyn!
Zainab
Oh gosh these muffins look amazing. I love the winter-summer flavor mix here!
Denise
Thanks, Zainab! When is summer again? 😛
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
The best kind of muffins are winter/summer muffins 🙂
Denise
Ha ha, I’m glad we agree on that, Medha!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
I just love the lighting in these photos Denise! So pretty! And the flavors in these muffins are right up my alley : )
Denise
Thanks so much, Natalie! It was one of those awkward lighting situations that turned out for the best for me 🙂
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet
Spring transition is tough – we’re getting days in the 70’s followed by days in the 40’s- make up your mind, weather! By the way, your muffins remind me of that song “put the lime in the coconut and drink ’em both up…” 😉 Great combo!
Denise
Me too, April! I keep hearing it over and over in my head as I was typing it all up 😉
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I am so ready for the cold weather to end! Luckily it’s warming up here a little this week, can’t wait! These muffins look amazing, Denise! So perfect to ring in the spring-ish weather with. Love the lime and coconut combo, too!
Denise
Nice, I hope you get some warm weather! It’s snowing here, as predicted 😛 As long as Mother Nature gets it all out of her system! I’m ready for tulips and fresh berries!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg
Denise – March is never on my Top 5 Favorite Months. Ever. It’s such a bizarre weather month. I can’t say that April isn’t just as strange, but at least it’s warmer and leads to growth and life. 🙂 We just got snow again yesterday in Connecticut. I’m beyond over it. These muffins look AMAZING! Usually when we go out for dinner, I order seltzer with cranberry juice and a lime. The flavors are really my favorite. Adding coconut into the mix is such a wonderful idea. I love these. 😀
Denise
March totally seems to drag on forever, doesn’t it? I’m glad it’s officially April now…let’s get some warmer weather! Thanks, Erin!