Muffins with mandarin oranges, ginger and dates in a muffin pan.

Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins

Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins are wholesome goodness and like sunny California in a muffin! Mandarin oranges and dates add natural sweetness, making these the perfect pick me up while citrus is in season. This post is brought to you by Wonderful Halos. “Are you…

Muffins with mandarin oranges, ginger and dates in a muffin pan.
Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins

Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins are wholesome goodness and like sunny California in a muffin! Mandarin oranges and dates add natural sweetness, making these the perfect pick me up while citrus is in season. This post is brought to you by Wonderful Halos.

A mandarin orange ginger date muffin on a plate with a segment of mandarin orange.

“Are you excited to go back to school?” one of my little carpoolers asked on the ride to school this morning. There were groans coming from the back of the car.

“I miss sleeping in” everyone chimed in.

I was feeling the same exact way. I never realized how much I missed sleeping in until about halfway through the holiday break with my kids, and I woke up at 8:30 am one morning. For someone who normally wakes up at dawn, while it’s nowhere near the hours I used to wake up when I was in college or grad school on the weekends, for me, anything past 8 am was utter bliss!

Wonderful Halos on a cutting board.

But then the boys in the car started chatting about all the things they were looking forward to this semester, and looked on the bright side of things.

I couldn’t help but think of them once I got back home, as I looked out my gloomy kitchen window, the rain pouring for hours on end. Yes, winter is in full effect, but like anything in life, there is a silver lining, and for me, that’s citrus season.

Orange segments of Wonderful Halos with muffins in the background.

Just as things get chilly, my kids and I eagerly await the return of Wonderful Halos in the markets — for them, it’s a juicy sweet and easy-to-peel snack, and for me, California mandarins are the best fruit to pack in their lunches since I know they’ll love eating them! We love the Pure Goodness for as long as they are season!

Overhead shot of mandarin orange ginger date muffins made with Wonderful Halos.

I peeled some Halos for my own mid-day snack when I decided to bake up some of the mandarins in some muffins — I thought it might be fun to greet the kids after school with something wholesomely sweet!

Baked into a batch of Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins, the mandarins and dates added natural sweetness, and for me, were the perfect treat to go with my afternoon tea. But the rainy gloom really disappeared once the kids got back home and discovered the muffins welcoming them! The days may be long, but wholesome treats make them better!

A sliced Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffin on a plate made with Wonderful Halos.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Wonderful Halos. Thank you for supporting brands that matter to me; sponsored posts such as this help behind the scenes at Kitchen Confidante. All opinions in this post are, as always, my own.

Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins

1 dozen | Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 18 minutes

Mandarin Orange Ginger Date Muffins are wholesome goodness and like sunny California in a muffin — the perfect pick me up while citrus is in season.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves
2 large eggs
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted coconut oil, olive oil or unsalted butter
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup peeled and chopped mandarin oranges (peel discarded)
zest of 1 mandarin orange
1/2 cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons wheat bran
2 tablespoons demerara sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a muffin pan with liners, parchment paper, or lightly grease with coconut oil, olive oil or flour.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.

In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, melted coconut oil, and Greek yogurt until smooth. Stir in the egg mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Stir in the oranges, orange zest, dates and wheat bran. Do not overmix the batter, you want it to be lumpy.

Distribute the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the demerara sugar and cinnamon.

Place in the oven and bake for about 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place the muffins on a wire rack to cool before enjoying.

Comments

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  1. Beth

    I hope this isn’t a stupid question, but when you say chopped mandarin, are you chopping the whole mandarin – peel and all? Or are you peeling and then chopping up the mandarin segments?

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Hi Beth, Not a stupid question at all! I am peeling the mandarins first, discarding the peel and only chopping the actual fruit segments. I will note this in the recipe so that it is more clear! Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Caroline Steenwijk

    Next time i will add more of the spices. And there is a bitter tasted …. I think from the baking powder? Can I replace that?

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Hi Caroline, I can see how you might want to add more spices — definitely customize it to your liking! As for the bitter taste, did you use aluminum-free baking powder? Depending on the brand you used, if your baking powder is not aluminum-free, the metallic taste is a common occurrence. I personally recommend Rumford and Trader Joe’s baking powders – both are all aluminum-free and I have not had this problem. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  3. Liz

    I used to buy SO many mandarin oranges when my kids were at home. Now these fabulous muffins are another reason to stock up! The sound incredibly delicious–love the boost of flavor from the ginger.

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      I know — we’re usually happy snacking on them straight out of the fruit bowl, but it’s wonderful in baking, too!

      Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Dates are so good in baking — I love that it adds a little extra sweetness, along with the mandarins! I know you’ll love these, Taylor :)

      Reply
  4. Marly

    I don’t know what I love more, those muffins or the pan they’re baked in. Maybe all of the above! :)

    Reply
  5. Julia

    I love baking with dates. I also really adore this combination of ginger and the citrus. I bet these muffins are the perfect way to start your day with a cup of coffee.

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      They’re really wonderful with coffee or tea! The ginger and citrus almost tastes like a light gingerbread!

      Reply
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