Christmas Orange Cranberry Pound Cake Recipe
Indulge in the perfect holiday treat with this Christmas orange cranberry pound cake recipe. A festive twist on a classic bundt cake!
Do you associate certain flavors with specific times of the year? I think most of us do. Fall is all about pumpkin spice and caramel apples. Berries mean summer to me. And Christmas tastes like peppermint, chocolate, and cranberries.
Today I am sharing a cranberry and orange dessert that fits the last category. This delicious pound cake is loaded with fresh fruit and topped with a simple glaze, and it is so easy to make.
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
This orange cranberry pound cake, made in a bundt pan instead of the more common loaf pan, is the perfect dessert for the holiday season. If you are unfamiliar, bundt cakes are made in a special type of pan that leaves a hole in the center of the cake.
These pans are often quite decorative too, giving you a beautiful cake without any effort. That is a major win for me! For an extra festive touch, decorate the top of the cake with sugared cranberries. You could even add white chocolate chips to the batter to create an even more decadent pound cake.
While the flavor combination in this cranberry orange cake is ideal for Christmas time, it can be enjoyed any time of year. You can also customize the base recipe by switching out the fruit in your cake.
How about blueberries and lemon zest or cherries and almond extract? Give it a try and let me know what your favorite combination is.
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Supplies:
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer with paddle attachment or
- Electric mixer and a large bowl
- 9″ Bundt pan or loaf pan
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup frozen cranberries (Fresh cranberries work too. You could even use dried cranberries, but you will lose the tartness.)
- 2 tsp orange zest
Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-4 Tbsp milk (Add a little at a time, until you get the right consistency.)
- 1 tsp orange extract (You can substitute vanilla extract if you prefer.)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat the inside of a bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine box mix, eggs, oil, and milk.
3. Fold in cranberries and zest.
4. Pour cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.
5. Bake at 350 F for 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then drizzle with icing mixture and serve.
Tips and Tricks:
- This recipe works equally well with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer.
- To ensure that your cake comes out of the pan cleanly, be sure to spray it thoroughly with baking spray. Alternately, you could both grease and flour the pan.
- Instead of the orange glaze, try adding a cream cheese frosting to your cake.
- For even more orange flavor, switch the milk in the icing with orange juice.
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients when baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
Wow your family and friends with a delicious cranberry orange pound cake this Christmas season. They will never know how easy it was to make!
For more delicious orange and cranberry recipes, try these cranberry orange cinnamon rolls, orange cranberry muffins or a cranberry orange coffee cake.
If you love this Christmas orange cranberry pound cake recipe please give it a five-star review and share it on facebook and pinterest so others can enjoy it too.
Christmas orange cranberry pound cake
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup frozen cranberries Fresh cranberries work too. You could even use dried cranberries, but you will lose the tartness.
- 2 tsp orange zest
- Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-4 Tbsp milk Add a little at a time, until you get the right consistency.
- 1 tsp orange extract You can substitute vanilla extract if you prefer.
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat the inside of a bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.
- 2. In a large bowl, combine box mix, eggs, oil, and milk.
- 3. Fold in cranberries and zest.
- 4. Pour cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.
- 5. Bake at 350 F for 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- 6. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then drizzle with icing mixture and serve.
Nutrition
