Holiday Appetizers – Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Orange Muffins

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I make sixteen different holiday appetizers for our annual Christmas party. One of my favorites is my Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe.

holiday appetizers

It’s that time of year again! Our Christmas Party is in eleven days and I need to start cooking like a crazy woman! On the menu this year I have sixteen holiday appetizers and 6 desserts to make for about 200+ guests. Piece of cake, right? Ok, maybe not.

Today I have joined some fabulous bloggers as we are sharing our favorite holiday appetizer recipes. I have to admit that after looking at some of the recipes listed below, I think I am going to make some changes to my menu! These are all fabulous!

holiday appetizers recipe

Today I am sharing what I think is probably one of my all-time favorite holiday appetizers. These little sandwiches are Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Orange Muffins. I serve them with mayonnaise and cranberry sauce and they are so delicious. Yum!

cranberry orange muffins

I need to say one thing right now and it’s very important. It’s my tip of the month and you all need to be buying fresh cranberries and filling your refrigerator with them! Cranberries have a very short season and you are going to want to be able to make my cranberry scones. So buy the fresh cranberries and just toss them in your freezer. I have ten bags in my freezer and I am not done buying them.

orange cranberry recipes

These muffins are very easy to make. I love the method to mix the cold butter with the dry ingredients. Just put your cold butter in a food processor with the dry ingredients and turn it on until the butter is well mixed. This method is so much easier than using a pastry blender or spoon.

smoked turkey muffins

We have a green egg and we smoke our turkey. It’s not hard to do and the end result is fantastic. To learn how to smoke a turkey, click here.

cranberry orange muffins

If you are wondering about the bows, I love tying these bows on the muffins. They make the muffins look so festive!

Can I Use Dried Cranberries?

If you can’t get frozen cranberries, soak 50g dried cranberries in water, cranberry juice, apple or orange juice for 20 to 30 minutes before baking.

Can I Freeze the Muffins?

Cool muffins completely before wrapping and freezing. To freeze, wrap securely in foil or freezer wrap, or place in freezer bags. Label all packages with the name of the recipe and the date. Use within the recommended storage time for the best flavor and texture. Baked products should be stored at 0°F or lower. Muffins can be stored frozen for up to 3 months.

Do I need to thaw frozen cranberries?

You do not need to thaw frozen cranberries before using them in a recipe. They are better than fresh berries in muffins, quick bread, and other baked goods because they heat through during cooking, but their color doesn’t bleed into the food as much.

smoked turkey cranberry

 

Yield: 12 large muffins

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Cranberry Orange Muffins

I make these every year for our holiday
party. I usually slice them and fill with smoked turkey. Some years I have even
tied bows around the sandwiches ... very festive but time-consuming!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 4 TBL (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Grated zest of one orange
  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped cranberries

Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 350. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray.

    Sift the dry ingredients together into a large bowl.

    Using a pastry blender or food processor, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.

    Add the egg, orange zest, and orange juice, and stir by hand until evenly moistened. Fold in the cranberries.

Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tins and bake until done, about
20 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.




best holiday appetizers

Be sure and click the links to see some of these fabulous holiday appetizer recipes!

And today I’m joining some of my blogging friends who are also sharing their Holiday Appetizer recipes with you! Just click on the links below the pictures to be taken to their full recipe.

Baked Brie Phyllo Cups with Walnuts & Fig Jelly at The Happy Housie
Classic Cheese Ball Recipe at A Pretty Life
Cheesy Butternut Squash Bites at Jenna Kate at Home
Fresh Cranberry Salsa at We’re the Joneses

Easy Holiday Party Appetizer at a Rooms FOR Rent
Baked Goat Cheese Bites at Modern Glam
Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Orange Muffins at My 100 Year Old Home
Caprese Salad Skewers at Cherished Bliss

Easy Cranberry Brie Tarts at The DIY Mommy
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board at Cassie Bustamante
Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts at Life is a Party
Swiss Cheese Bacon and Beer Dip at Clean & Scentsible

Snowman White Cheese Ball at Tatertots and Jello
3 Ingredient Stuffed Mushrooms at My Sweet Savannah
Easy Christmas Pinwheels Festive Holiday Appetizer at This is Our Bliss
Festive Bacon Wrapped Chestnut Holiday Appetizer at Kim Power Style
Red Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Appetizer at She Gave it a Go

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15 Comments

  1. Hi, Happy Holidays, Did you use a basic recipe for the cranberry mayonnaise or did you have a trick to your recipe 🤔. Thanks for the recipe and the muffins are going to be such fun to try. Best Wishes, SB

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