Orange Cranberry Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rub a little butter over the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins (use cake tins rather than sandwich tins as the higher sides work better), then line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt 150g butter with 100g of the chocolate in a bowl set over a small saucepan of gently simmering water - make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir the butter and chocolate every min or so until it has melted. Set aside to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, measure 250g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp bicarb and 250g sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add 150g yogurt, 2 tsp vanilla extract, half the orange zest and juice, 3 eggs and 2 tbsp milk. Whisk everything together, then stir in the melted butter and chocolate.
• When the cake mixture is smooth (this makes a very wet pourable batter), divide it equally between the two cake tins. Bake on the middle shelf for 25-30 mins, they will look golden and evenly risen when cooked. Check they are done by pushing a skewer into the centre of the cakes - it should come out clean. If there is any wet cake mixture on the skewer, return the cake to the oven for a few more mins, then check again.
• Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 5 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack. Wash out the tins and repeat steps 1 and 2, to make two more sponges in total. You can make them a day or two before icing, then wrap them in a double layer of cling film once cool. They can also be frozen for up to two months.
• To make the compote, simmer the cranberries and sugar in a small pan for 4-5 mins until jammy, then leave to cool.
• For the icing, melt the chocolate, either in 20-30 secs bursts in a microwave or in a bowl over simmering water. Set aside to cool a little. Roughly mash the butter and icing sugar together, then beat until smooth with an electric whisk or mixer. Add the chocolate and cream cheese and beat again until smooth.
• To assemble the cake, place one sponge on a cake board the same size as the sponge, then sandwich the other sponges on top with a little icing and the cranberry compote. Use the cake with the neatest edge, flipped upside down, on top to give your cake a good shape.
• Pile about half the remaining icing on top of the cake and use a palette knife to spread it thinly over the top and down the sides of the cake. This is a crumb coat, it catches any crumbs, ensuring the final layer looks clean and professional. Chill the cake for 10-20 mins to firm up the icing or leave it somewhere cool for longer. Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of the cakes, giving it nice sharp edges. We've left some of the cake exposed for the 'naked' cake look, or cover it completely if you like. Will keep for three days.
• To decorate the cake: dot the top with meringue kisses that you've either bought or made yourself, edible snowflake decorations and gold leaf, if you like.See our guide to decorating a Christmas cake 3 ways for details on this design along with more decorating ideas.

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan with 2-inch sides, then dust with sugar and flour.
• Beat the eggs with the sugar to pale yellow ribbons. Beat in the milk, oil and orange zest. In a small bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture a tablespoon at a time, stirring well after each addition.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until middle of cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove cake from oven, let cool slightly on a rack, then invert and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, prepare the syrup: Use a sharp paring knife to cut the orange rind off the orange used for zest and the remaining orange, leaving the bitter white pith on the orange. Cut the skin into very thin strips and reserve. Cut away and discard the white pith, remove the orange supremes, and reserve.
• In a large saucepan, combine the orange juice, sugar, and thin orange strips. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until a thick syrup. Strain the syrup and reserve the orange strips, along with 1/2 cup of the syrup. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the top of the cake, then pour the warm strained syrup all over the cake so that it soaks through.
• Place the remaining 1/2 cup syrup in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer and reduce to a few tablespoons. Use a spatula to spread the thick glaze over the top of the cake. Place cake on a serving platter, and arrange the reserved orange strips and orange supremes on top of the cake.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter just the sides of a 9-inch round cake pan.
• For the caramel topping: Stir the sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, and gently swirl the saucepan occasionally until the mixture is the color of light amber, 6 to 8 minutes. If needed, brush any sugar crystals off the side of the saucepan with a wet pastry brush. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and carefully whisk in the butter (take care: the mixture can bubble up considerably). Pour the caramel into the prepared cake pan, tilting the pan to cover most of the bottom (be careful: the pan will be very hot from the caramel). Scatter the cranberries over the caramel.
• For the cake: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and cloves in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition and scraping down the side of the bowl as needed, then beat in the vanilla and orange zest. Whisk together the milk and sour cream in a small bowl. Reduce the mixer speed to low, and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk-sour cream mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
• Pour the batter over the cranberries in the cake pan, and spread evenly. Bake until the cake is golden brown and bounces back when pressed and a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center, 50 to 60 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to separate it from the pan. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack until just cool enough to handle, 20 to 30 minutes. Invert a serving platter over the cake pan and, while holding them together, quickly flip them over so the cake unmolds, cranberry-side up. Let cool completely. Cut into wedges, and serve.

Steps:

• For the cake pop: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 10-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, dust with flour and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside. Mix the heavy cream, sour cream, orange zest and scraped vanilla bean in another bowl and set aside.
• Add the sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on medium speed until the color lightens slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth. Add one-third of the dry ingredients and mix on low until combined, then scrape the bowl. Add half of the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Add another one-third of the dry ingredients followed by the remaining wet ingredients, mixing on low after each addition and scraping the bowl. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the cranberry compote: Cut the apple into small pieces. In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and juice and apples. Cook over medium heat until the cranberries start to pop open and the mixture thickens slightly. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool.
• For the orange buttercream: Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Mix the sugar and 1/2 cup water together in a medium saucepan, place over high heat with a candy thermometer and heat the mixture to 238 to 240 degrees F. While the mixture is boiling, mix the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. When the boiling sugar reaches 240 degrees F, pour it slowly into the egg whites with the mixer on low. Once all the hot sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed to high and whip until thick, glossy and cooled. Reduce the speed and add the butter 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing until the buttercream thickens. Whip in the orange zest.
• To assemble the pops: Crumble the cooled cakes into small pieces. Mix in enough buttercream to hold the cake pops together. Add the desired amount of cranberry compote; there should be some in every bite. Scoop balls of the cake pop mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Press a cake pop stick into each ball and freeze until firm.
• Melt the white chocolate gently over a double boiler. Dip the frozen cake pops into the white chocolate and place on the parchment to set. (If adding toppings, right after you dip the cake pops in the chocolate, dip them in in the desired toppings such as nuts, sprinkles or chocolate chips.)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and continue whipping until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add 1 cup of the sugar and continue whipping until stiff and the sugar has dissolved, about 30 seconds. Sift the remaining 1/2-cup sugar with the pre-sifted cake flour 3 times, to aerate the mixture. Fold into the egg whites, then fold in the vanilla, zest, and cranberries. Spoon the batter into an ungreased tube pan. Bake until light golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool by hanging the cake (in the pan) upside down around the neck of a bottle until it cools to room temperature. Run a long, sharp knife blade around the cake to loosen, then knock the cake out onto a plate. The outside of the cake will remain in the pan.
• Glaze: Stir the ingredients together until smooth.
• Pour glaze over the top of the cake and spread with a spatula, letting it trickle down the sides. Let set for at least 30 minutes before serving, or until the icing is hard. Cut with a serrated knife, using a sawing motion.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of white sugar, 1/3 cup of orange juice, eggs, buttermilk, cranberry liqueur, and vegetable oil using an electric mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until moistened. Fold in the chopped dates, cranberries and orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
• Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan set over a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the pan and place on a serving plate. In a small saucepan, stir together 1 cup of orange juice and 3/4 cup of white sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Use a turkey baster or large spoon to drizzle the sauce over the cake. Poke the cake with a fork or skewer to help it absorb all of the sauce, or until the cake is thoroughly moistened.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
• Mix together the orange zest and juice, orange liqueur and eggs in a large bowl and set aside. In a smaller bowl, toss the cranberries with 1 tablespoon of the flour and set aside.
• In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and mix to combine. On low speed, slowly add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time and continue to mix until a pea-sized crumble texture is achieved. Turn the speed to medium and slowly stream in the egg/orange mixture until combined. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gently fold in the cranberry mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and smooth out the top.
• Bake until a cake tester inserted in the cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 20 to 30 minutes, then remove the cake and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, beat together pumpkin, eggs, oil, vanilla, sugars, orange zest and grated ginger. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk dry ingredients together. Beat into wet mixture until well combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Stir in cranberries, dates, and pecans, if desired.
• Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, until tests clean.
• Let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then loosen edges with a butter knife and turn out onto a cooling rack.
• To serve: Dust cooled cake with powdered sugar or frost with frosting or drizzle with icing.
• Optional Frosting: Cream neufchatel and butter together. Beat in vanilla, orange zest and nutmeg. Beat in confectioner's sugar until right consistency is reached. Add orange juice if it becomes too thick. Frost cake with frosting and sprinkle pecans over the frosting, if desired. You can also cut the loaf in half and frost in between layers.
• Optional Icing: In a 1-2 cup pyrex, melt butter and white chocolate chips in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir until smooth with a fork. Stir in nutmeg and orange zest. Stir in milk and confectioner's sugar until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
• Wrap cooled loaf with plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature or refrigerate. Refrigerate if frosted or iced.
• To freeze: Wrap cooled loaf tightly with plastic wrap or foil and place in a Ziploc bag and freeze it for gift giving at a later date. If you frost or ice it, you can put it on a cookie sheet and freeze it until firm, then wrap it and place in a Ziploc bag.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine flour, butter, white sugar, baking powder, salt, and orange zest in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until butter is pea-sized or smaller. Pour buttermilk and 1/2 of the orange juice in slowly, with the processor running, until dough is sticky and all flour is absorbed. Mix in dried cranberries until evenly distributed. Reserve remaining orange juice for the icing.
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface and gently roll to a thickness of about 1 inch. Cut dough into 12 triangles with a knife (or use a biscuit cutter for circles) and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• While the scones are baking, combine reserved orange juice and 1 cup powdered sugar for icing. Stir to desired consistency, adding more powdered sugar as needed.
• Remove scones from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes to cool. Transfer to a plate and drizzle with icing. Serve warm.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and orange zest. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Fold in cranberries. , Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., In a small saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Stir in cream and butter; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm over cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Generously grease and lightly flour 12 cup fluted tube pan.
• In large bowl, beat 2 3/4 cups sugar and 1 1/2 cups butter until light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla and orange peel.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In medium bowl, combine 3 cups flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition.
• Gently stir in cranberries.
• Pour batter into greased and floured pan.
• Bake at 350 degree for 65 to 75 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Meanwhile, in small saucepan combine 1 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp flour.
• Stir in half-and-half and 1/2 cup butter.
• Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in rum.
• Serve warm sauce over cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan with butter and dust with flour.
• To prepare the filling, combine cranberries, sugar, water, almond extract and orange juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until cranberries begin to pop and mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Set aside 10 to 12 cranberries that are intact. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
• To prepare the cake, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Beat butter for several seconds in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar; beat until smooth. Add eggs and almond extract; beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour mixture; beat until smooth. Add sour cream and orange zest; mix well.
• Pour half the batter into the prepared pan. Gently spoon about two-thirds of the filling into batter, taking care not to let filling touch side of pan. Spoon remaining batter on top.
• Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
• To prepare the glaze, place orange juice, lemon juice, zests and sugar in a small saucepan. Simmer on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat until the cake is finished baking.
• While the cake is still warm, gently brush on the glaze. When the cake is cool, spoon the remaining filling over the cake and stud with the reserved whole cranberries. Serves 10 to 12.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in center of oven.
• Spray 8" cake pan with non-stick spray.
• Put cranberries in a sieve which is set over a medium sized bowl.
• Spoon the cake flour over cranberries and sieve the flour into the bowl below. Set cranberries aside.
• Add cornmeal, baking powder and orange zest to flour; mix.
• In stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy - about 3 minute.
• Add vanilla and yolks and eggs, one at a time.
• Turn speed down to low and add orange juice.
• Turn off mixer and fold in cranberries, just until incorporated.
• Turn batter into cake pan, smooth top of batter and bake until golden brown about 30-35 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack for about an hour.
• Turn cake onto cake plate and sieve the powdered sugar over the top of the cake to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-inch fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®) with baking spray.
• Combine flour, sugar, oil, eggs, orange juice, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl using an electric mixer until thoroughly incorporated. Stir in cranberries and orange zest. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and turn cake out onto a cooling rack; let cool for 1 hour.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare bundt or tube pan with a light coat of cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter with and electric mixer. Add sugar blend (or sugar) and beat until pale, light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition for a total of two or three minutes. (Mine did not get very fluffy until the eggs were incorporated.) If you like a lot of orange flavor, mix in the orange extract at this point.
• Mix together the yogurt and water or orange juice if using the Splenda Blend.
• Alternately add the yogurt and flour to the butter in thirds, mixing after each addition.
• Add in the cranberries, folding in to distribute throughout the batter.
• Pour batter into the prepare tube pan and bake for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes until turning onto cake rack or plate.

Steps:

• Cupcakes:
• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and orange zest over low heat until hot (but not boiling); cool to lukewarm, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low, add the egg and egg whites one at a time, and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly add half the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture, beating until just blended after each addition. In a small bowl, toss the cranberries with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Using a silicone spatula, gently fold the cranberries into the batter.
• Divide the batter evenly among the liners and bake until the tops are just dry to the touch (some may be slightly golden on the sides before this happens) and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 17 to 19 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting with orange frosting.
• To bake as a cake:
• Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper cut to fit, and butter the parchment. Flour the pans, coating the bottom and sides of each pan, then tap out the excess flour. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake until the tops are dry to the touch, the sides of the cake start to pull away from the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (for generally the same amount of time as in the cupcake recipe). Let cool on a wire rack, then remove each cake from its pan, discard the parchment paper, and set one cake layer on a cake round, frosting turntable, or the final serving platter. Frost the top of that cake layer with the frosting, stack the second layer on top, and frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.
• To make the orange frosting:
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, and beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium, add the milk, orange zest and juice, and vanilla and beat until fully blended, 1 to 2 minutes, making sure not to incorporate too much air into the frosting.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Coat a 10" Bundt pan with cooking spray and dust with 1 tablespoons flour. In a bowl, combine remaining 3 cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, orange juice, zest, vanilla and cranberries; stir into flour mixture and pour into pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes; transfer cake to wire rack and cool completely. In a bowl, mix confectioner's sugar and orange liqueur until smooth. With a skewer, poke several holes in top of cake and drizzle with glaze.

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line a 13x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 long sides.
• Cook butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it foams, then browns, 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat (it will continue to darken). Set aside to cool slightly.
• Add cranberry sauce to a separate saucepan and smush and stir to break apart. Add orange and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently (or whisking well if using jellied), until smooth, 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, combine sugar and orange zest; use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant and the sugar is tinted orange. Add flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cardamom to the bowl; whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, and vanilla until smooth. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir to just combine; the mixture will be quite thick, like cobbler batter. Add browned butter, scraping in any browned bits from the bottom of the pot; stir to combine.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread into a fairly even layer to fill the dish from corner to corner. The batter will be very stiff and not look like enough-this is ok, it will rise big time! Dollop cranberry mixture over the top in big spoonfuls and use a knife to swirl it into the batter. Even if it looks like cranberry is covering most of the top of the cake, it will rise to reveal space between the swirls.
• Bake until risen and golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool before using parchment overhang to remove from the pan.