Orange Cranberry Cake

Table of Contents

1. Orange Cranberry Cake Ingredients
2. Substitutions and Additions
3. How to Make Orange Cranberry Cake
4. How to Serve Orange Cranberry Cake
5. Storage
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
7. MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Orange cranberry cake is a delectable treat that is bound to bring warm and cozy cheer with each bite. The tangy cranberry flavor mixed with the sweet orange flavor and topped with a cream cheese frosting, combine to create a gorgeous cake that is easy to make, moist, and perfect to make for any occasion.

Sweet, tart, and delicious, cranberry and orange are often a favorite holiday combination that is so full of flavor! Cranberry Orange Cookies, Cranberry Upside-Down Quick Bread, and Cranberry Cake are three more recipes that feature this delightful combination. 

Orange Cranberry Cake Ingredients

You will need:

Cake Layers

• 2 whole oranges, for the zest and fresh orange juice
• 1½ cups dried cranberries or fresh cranberries, washed/dried and cut into halves
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 15.25 ounces white cake mix
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup orange juice
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• ¼ cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional garnish)

Substitutions and Additions

CRANBERRIES: You can use frozen cranberries. Allow them to completely thaw, rinse and dry them before cutting them in half. You can also use dried cranberries if you can’t get your hands on fresh or frozen ones at the grocery store.

ORANGE: If a much stronger orange flavor is wanted in this cranberry orange cake, simply replace the ½ cup water and ½ cup orange juice with 1 cup juice. 

TOPPINGS: You can also garnish the top of your orange-cranberry cake with thin slices of fresh orange or candied orange slices and sugared cranberries.

How to Make Orange Cranberry Cake

Cake Layers

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of two (8-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with Baker’s Joy or a generic version.

PRO TIP: Using cake strips around the cake pans can help ensure the cake layers bake level.

STEP TWO: Using a fruit zester, zest 2 oranges. Once you have the zest, cut 1 orange in half and squeeze for the orange juice. Set it aside.

STEP THREE: In a small mixing bowl, sprinkle the 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour over the cranberries, and stir to coat. Set it aside.

PRO TIP: Coating the cranberries in flour will help keep them suspended in the cake batter and not sink to the bottom.

STEP FOUR: Using a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat the cake mix, vegetable oil, water, orange juice, eggs, and orange zest just until the ingredients are well combined.

STEP FIVE: Fold in the coated cranberries and walnuts.

STEP SIX: Evenly divide the cake batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the cakes to completely cool.

Frosting

STEP SEVEN: Using a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract for 1 minute.

PRO TIP: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don’t end up with lumps in your frosting.

STEP EIGHT: Lower the mixer speed to low, and add the orange zest, heavy cream, and powdered sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium, and mix for another 1 to 1½ minutes, until the frosting is smooth.

Cake Assembly

STEP NINE: Remove the bottom layer of cake from its pan and place it on a serving plate. Using a silicone spatula, or an offset spatula, evenly spread a layer of frosting onto the cake.

STEP TEN: Remove the top layer of cake from its pan and evenly spread a thicker layer of icing on top, and then spread the frosting around the sides of the cake, smoothing as you frost.

STEP ELEVEN: Once the cake is frosted, you can evenly sprinkle the finely chopped walnuts on top of the cake. This is an optional decoration.

How to Serve Orange Cranberry Cake

The sweetness of this delectable cranberry orange cake pairs beautifully with a cup of tea or a warm mug of hot chocolate, perfect for washing down each delicious and satisfying bite. This easy cranberry orange cake, with its rich holiday flavors, would be the perfect Christmas dessert or to finish off your Thanksgiving meal. Whether you are making this sweet cake during the holiday season or just craving cranberries any time of year, you can whip up this cake and enjoy it for dessert or a special breakfast.

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of this moist orange cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

IN THE FREEZER: The unfrosted cake layers can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap the cooled cakes in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before placing them in the freezer. Allow the layers to come to room temperature before frosting the layers.

Orange cranberry cake is a stunning dessert, and it tastes divine too. Two moist layers of cake flavored with sweet orange and tart cranberry, and topped with a silky cream cheese frosting, make this a centerpiece you’ll surely want to add to your holiday table. This holiday season will be even brighter with this rich cake that is perfect for dessert, coffee time, or a snack any time. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze this cake? 

You can freeze this cake for up to three months, but it is a good idea to freeze it before being frosted.

Could I make this cake as a single layer in a 9×13-inch pan? 

This perfect recipe could be turned into a rectangular cake if you’d like. You may end up with extra batter and will have to adjust the baking time, but we think this cake would be delicious in any shape.

Can I use store-bought icing? 

If you need to save time, you could use a store-bought cream cheese frosting and mix in the orange zest to add a bit of citrus flavor.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Black Magic Cake
• Peach Upside-Down Cake
• Busy Day Chocolate Cake
• Neapolitan Cake