Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare muffin tin by greasing or spraying with flour cooking spray. You can use 12 regular muffin size or 6 jumbo. (I only got 11 muffins though)

Place cut cranberries in a small bowl. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar and set aside.

Sift remaining dry ingredients, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt, into large bowl.

In another bowl, beat egg, milk and oil. Make a hole, or well, in center of dry ingredients; pour in liquid ingredients. Stir just until moistened. Do not over mix. Add berries and, if desired, orange zest.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full with batter. (A little less to get 12 but they won't be as high.) Sprinkle each muffin with a bit of sugar before baking.

Bake at 400° for 18 minutes for standard-size muffins or for 22 minutes for jumbo muffins.