Orange Crumble Muffins

Muffins are such a comforting food.  They are tiny cakes wrapped up in a healthy label.  No wonder I like them so much!  I usually make them to go with a salad for dinner, to bump up the calorie count in dinner, or just as a snack, or randomly when I am feeling blue.  

If you are feeling down today, you should make these muffins, because I think they are a little sliver of heaven.  Seriously, they are incredible. They are soft, light and fluffy, with a hint of orange flavor, and the crumble takes them to a whole new level of delicious.  Have I convinced you that you need to make them?  Hopefully, because they are worth it.  

Orange Crumb Muffins: 
Makes 12
muffins adapted from Hint of Honey 
crumb topping from 101 Cookbooks

Muffins:  
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 Tbs orange zest (from one large navel orange or 3 small oranges)
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
3 Tbs brown sugar

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Mix until combined.  Add butter, orange zest, juice, buttermilk, eggs and brown sugar and stir until all ingredients are evenly mixed in (about 12 -15 good stirs).    Spoon about 1/3 cup of the muffin batter into each of the muffin tins.  Preheat your oven to 375°F and make your crumble while you're oven heats up.

Orange Crumble: 
2/3 white flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp orange zest

Combine first four ingredients in a medium, small bowl and stir.  Add butter and orange zest and combine until the mixture is clumpy and all the dry ingredients are wet.  With your fingers, pick up about 1 -2 Tbs of the mixture and break it up gently with your fingertips over the each muffin, sprinkling in an evenish layer as you go.  Sprinkle any remaining crumble over the muffins that look a little bare.  Cook in your preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the tops are starting to turn golden.