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Cranberry Orange Cake

A moist and flavorful cake bursting with fresh cranberries and bright orange zest, perfect for holiday gatherings or a festive dessert.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp orange zest (from one large orange)
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup milk, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed (from one large orange)
  • 1 cup cranberries, coated in 1 Tbsp flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch cake rounds and line with parchment.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  3. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and orange zest until smooth. Add sugar and beat on medium-high until pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
  4. Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
  5. Alternate adding flour mixture with milk and orange juice, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk & orange juice). Fully incorporate after each addition.
  6. Toss cranberries in 1 Tbsp of flour. Gently fold cranberries into cake batter.
  7. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients. Tossing cranberries in flour helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom. This cake can be served plain or with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice.

  • Author: Dorothy Miller
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Method: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 28
  • Sodium: 200
  • Fat: 14
  • Saturated Fat: 8
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 4
  • Cholesterol: 70