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Home  ›  Recipes  ›  Course  ›  Breakfast

Healthy Whole Wheat Orange Muffins

See Recipe Review

Posted:

09/18/17

Updated:

09/10/24

By:

Ashley Walterhouse

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

The simplest healthy Whole Wheat Orange Muffins! Dairy-free, made with Trop50 juice beverage and ready in 30 minutes. Perfect with breakfast! Vegan-tested and approved.

Whole Wheat Orange Muffins pinterest image

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This post is sponsored in partnership with Trop50. All opinions expressed remain my own, as always. Thank you for your support as I partner with brands I trust and think you’ll value – It helps make Fit Mitten Kitchen Possible!

So by now you know I have a thing for baking. It is what my Pal and I have grown up doing together on our weekends from a very young age. Picking out those 5 star rated recipes from allrecipes.com, reading through the reviews to see how the recipe turned out and what changes people made.

As you get older though, taste buds change. You realize maybe you don’t need an entire cup of sugar in a loaf of quick bread or muffins… So when I started making several changes to more traditional recipes, trying to “healthify” them a little bit, those were essentially the beginning stages of Fit Mitten Kitchen. I wanted to share with people that there was a way to still achieve great results in the kitchen, using some modifications, maybe some healthier ingredients and STILL have the recipes taste good.

And that is actually what Trop50 is all about, too! I’m partnering with Trop50 this season to share with you some tips and different recipe ideas to reduce sugar without the sacrifice – also known as #SugarHacks.

Trop50 is 50% less sugar and calories compared to normal orange juice. (AD)

So often in traditional baked goods, there is usually loads more sugar than what is actually necessary for the recipe. While making various creations here on the blog, I will sometimes start with the traditional recipe and make modifications, then test the recipe until I feel good about it. One of the first things I’ve realized is you can typically cut back on the granulated sugar quite a bit when making adjustments.

Healthy Whole Wheat Orange Muffins

Whole Wheat Orange Muffins with orange juice and orange slices in background

Sugar Hack #1 – Trop50 orange juice

I adapted the recipe for these orange muffins from a generic recipe, but used Trop50 instead of regular orange juice – Trop50 gives you the delicious taste of OJ with 50% less sugar and calories.  I also cut back on the dry granulated sugar as well. The muffins still came out moderately sweet, but not bland.

Sugar Hack #2 – Add Spice

Sometimes all we need is a little cinnamon to boost the flavor a bit so you don’t feel as though you’re missing out on the sweetness. Cinnamon and orange is such a great combo, too.

Sugar Hack #3 – Coconut Butter Drizzle

Trade out the traditional powdered sugar glaze for coconut butter. Seriously, it tastes amazing, naturally sweet without added sugar and contains “healthy fats” 🙂 All you have to do is warm up the coconut butter in the jar (if you live in a colder climate) and drizzle it on with a butter knife or spoon. SO GOOD.

Coconut butter drizzle makes the best glaze for these simple Whole Wheat Orange Muffins!

Want my Top 5 Muffin Recipes?

blueberry muffins image next to block of teal text: Healthy Muffins recipe book.
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These orange muffins are perfect alongside breakfast.

Ingredients needed: 

  • Trop50 orange juice
  • whole wheat white flour
  • sugar
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • salt
  • orange zest
  • egg 
  • oil
ingredients for whole wheat orange muffins with Trop50 orange juice and muffins in tin

Once all the muffin ingredients are mixed together, you fill the muffin tin cavities about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for about 15-20 minutes at 400ºF and BOOM. Healthy orange muffins ready for you!

Oh, but don’t forget the coconut butter glaze 🙂

Healthy Whole Wheat Orange Muffins with coconut butter glaze on cooling rack
4 from 1 vote

Healthy Whole Wheat Orange Muffins

Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 20 minutes minutes
Total: 30 minutes minutes
The simplest Whole Wheat Orange Muffins! Dairy-free, made with Trop50 and ready in 30 minutes. Perfect with breakfast! Vegan-tested and approved.
whole wheat orange muffins with paper liners stacked on cooling rack
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Author: Ashley Walterhouse
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Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup whole wheat white flour*
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar, or dry sweetener of choice
  • zest of 2 medium oranges
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup Trop50
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil**
  • 1 large egg***
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract, sub orange for more flavor, or even almond

Optional Glaze:

  • 2-3 TBS coconut butter, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners or spray with oil. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl gently whisk together Trop50, oil, egg and vanilla extract. 
  • Pour wet ingredients into large bowl of dry ingredients. Use large runner spatula or spoon to gently fold ingredients together. Be careful not to over-mix, as this will result in tougher muffins. 
  • Evenly distribute muffin batter into prepared muffin pan, filling 12 cups evenly – about 2/3 full.
  • Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, checking center for doneness with inserted toothpick coming out with little to no crumbs.
  • Allow muffins to cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing and transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
  • For coconut butter glaze, simply warm up coconut butter in microwave until melted. Drizzle muffins with coconut butter. Enjoy! 
★ Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Recipe Notes:

*Subbing half all-purpose, half whole wheat flour will work here. You should also be able to sub a GF 1:1 all-purpose baking flour
**I used avocado oil here. If subbing with coconut, be sure it is melted and cooled. Also, egg and Trop50 should be room temperature to keep the coconut oil from solidifying again.
***To make vegan: sub 1 TBS flaxseed meal + 3 TBS water. Let sit for 5 minutes before adding in with wet ingredients as directed above.
 Store muffins in airtight container – enjoy within 3-4 days. 
Recipe adapted from here

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 166kcal (8%), Carbohydrates: 22g (7%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 7g (11%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 21mg (7%), Sodium: 200mg (9%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 7g (8%)
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About

Ashley Walterhouse

Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy.
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4 from 1 vote

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Recipe Rating




27 responses

  1. dee
    April 22, 2020

    4 stars
    I used fish squeezed orange juice with the pull and added dark chocolate.
    Were very tasty but a little dry, would have added a little more oil

    Reply
  2. Alisa Fleming
    September 22, 2017

    My husband is an orange juice fanatic! I’ll definitely have to pick that one up and try these muffins.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      I hope you do, Alisa!

      Reply
  3. Jessica @Small Bites by Jessica
    September 21, 2017

    Love the flavor of orange so much! Sounds like such a great recipe!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Thanks Jessica!

      Reply
  4. Cassie Tran
    September 21, 2017

    Delicious! Any pastry with a fruity flavor sounds amazing to me. Orange probably has to be my favorite asides from lemon, apple, and blueberry!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Yes I agree – orange flavored goods are amazing!

      Reply
  5. Emily Kyle
    September 21, 2017

    I’ve been dreaming of that coconut butter drizzle! Especially topped with fresh orange zest, so yummy!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      coconut and orange were meant to be <3

      Reply
  6. Christine – Jar Of Lemons
    September 21, 2017

    These muffins look delicious! Love that they incorporate orange juice. Definitely need to add these to my morning routine!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      I hope you do! Thanks, Christine 🙂

      Reply
  7. Laura
    September 21, 2017

    I’m loving these muffins and all the tips for using less sugar! I often use orange or apple juice to sweeten and flavor baked goods or sauces, so these muffins are right up my alley! YUM!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Yes you would love these!

      Reply
  8. Rachel
    September 20, 2017

    Coconut butter drizzle… mmmmm!!! Sounds delicious.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      The combo is so good!

      Reply
  9. Ana Alarcon
    September 20, 2017

    Such a fun way to use the juice! also those photos are amazing!!!! – could I use natural juice and get the same results?

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 20, 2017

      Thanks so much Ana! And yes, I do believe you would get the same results if using regular OJ 🙂

      Reply
  10. Sonali- The Foodie Physician
    September 20, 2017

    Your sugar hacks are great! The coconut butter glaze sounds A-mazing! I can’t wait to give these a try!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Thanks so much Sonali!

      Reply
  11. Deryn | Running on Real Food
    September 20, 2017

    Yum. The coconut butter glaze look so good on these. I love orange muffins but don’t think I’ve actually ever made any! Thanks for these!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Love citrus flavored muffins! And coconut butter glaze is the best!

      Reply
  12. Marina
    September 18, 2017

    YES TO THESE. The best way to start a week!!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Agree! #muffinmonday FTW!

      Reply
  13. Sarah
    September 18, 2017

    These look scrumptious! Great way to reduce sugar and keep the flavor and while these are great for summer I can add easily adding in some cranberries for fall.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 25, 2017

      Thanks Sarah!

      Reply
  14. Erin @ The Almond Eater
    September 18, 2017

    Ash these photos are gorgeous! And coconut butter drizzle?! Ugh, so good. PINNED.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 18, 2017

      Thanks, Erin! Honestly I feel like I might just add a coconut butter drizzle to all my muffins from now on 😀 And then continue to add more coconut butter once I cut the muffin in half, of course.

      Reply

Hey there!

I’m Ashley – I started Fit Mitten Kitchen in 2015 to share healthier recipes. Here we balance real food with desserts and healthy snacks making life easy, nutritious and delicious.

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