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Cranberry Orange Butter Cake

Name: Cranberry Orange Butter Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter (softened (2 sticks)); 1⅓ cup granulated sugar; 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract; 1 tsp pure orange extract; 4 large eggs; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 Tbsp (divided); 2 tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp salt; 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk; 12 oz fresh cranberries (rinsed, dried and picked over); 2 Tbsp fresh orange zest; Glaze:; 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1 tsp pure orange extract; Juice from zested orange to thin; Fresh orange zest for garnishing

December 10, 2017 by Melissa 43 Comments

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This classic pairing of orange and cranberries is delightful in this Cranberry Orange Butter Cake. It begins with a dense creamy butter cake which owes part of its sweetness to the condensed milk in the batter. A splash of vanilla and orange add a pop of flavor. Fresh tart cranberries are gently folded into the batter with freshly grated orange zest to complete the flavor profile. After cooling the cake, a creamy citrus glaze is drizzled on top with a sprinkle of fresh orange zest. One piece is never enough.

Easy Cranberry Orange Butter Cake Recipe

I could literally skip for joy when I see fresh cranberries show-up in the produce section of my local market. I can neither confirm or deny if that has ever actually happened. Perhaps it's the cranberry flavor which I do sincerely love, or the fact that it's associated with the holiday season and all the baking, entertaining and fun times with friends and family that are sure to come. Combine that with my love of butter cakes and this cranberry orange sensation was bound to happen.

How to Make the Best Cranberry Orange Butter Cake Recipe

The sweet butter cake batter while glorious all on it's own, is balanced beautifully by the tartness of the cranberries. It's worth every single calorie that comes with it.

Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Cranberry Orange Butter Cake: All purpose flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract, orange extract, fresh cranberries, orange zest, sweetened condensed milk and large eggs.
To make the creamy glaze you'll need: Heavy cream, powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest and orange extract for extra punch of flavor.
Kitchen gadgets you'll need: A stand mixer or a hand mixer, a large bowl, a medium bowl, a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, a citrus zester and a bundt pan.
The purpose of adding orange extract to the cake batter and the glaze is to give it a more intense citrus flavor.
It's important to toss the cranberries with a small amount of flour to help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter. It' doesn't mean that some won't, but they are more equally distributed when doing this step.
This cake with a creamy orange glaze but if preferred, you can simply dust with powdered sugar and call it a day.
I typically bake my butter cakes in a springform pan and then serve them cut into wedges as a single layer cake. That said, this cranberry orange butter cake texture is slightly different due to the amount of cranberries and added liquid they release into the batter while baking and I find that it bakes more evenly in a bundt pan.
Store leftover Cranberry Orange Butter Cake chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze this cake for up to 2 months. When freezing, I recommend waiting to glaze the cake after thawing.

More Cranberry Dessert Recipes to Make

This homemade Christmas cranberry cake is bound to be the crowning jewel of your holiday dessert table. More cranberry dessert recipes you may also like to try:

Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Chip Cookies are a seasonal favorite.
Cranberry Orange Yogurt Bread for mornings or afternoon snacking with a steamy cup of tea or coffee.
Cranberry Apple Fruit Chutney is a delicious option for your Thanksgiving side dishes.
Don't just stop there, whip-up a batch of these Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies for your neighborhood cookie swap.
Start your day with these Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Scones or a freshly baked batch of Cranberry Muffins.
You may also like this recipe for Cranberry Salsa from Favorite Family Recipes.

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