With only a few ingredients, this delicious Cranberry Cake with Orange Glaze is lightly sweet, tart and perfect for any occasion!
I am loving cranberries lately. Besides the fact that they are fun and festive, I love how tart they are in baked goods.
Yes, this cake does have sugar in it (I mean, come on, it IS the holiday season!) but you need the sugar to balance out the tartness of the cranberries.
This delicious cranberry cake has beautiful presentation and is just what your holiday table needs. It might look fancy, but I promise it's simple to make.
This cranberry cake would be yummy with some Apple Chai Latte, Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate, Chamomile Latte and even some Spiked Apple Cider or Slow Cooker Mulled Wine!
Or I you are looking for more cranberry recipes, you will love this Cranberry Biscotti, No Bake Cranberry Almond Bites, Orange Cranberry Breakfast Cookies and maybe these Cranberry Mojitos!
Why You Should Make This Cranberry Cake
You can make this cranberry cake low carb by using a sugar free alternative like monk fruit or erythritol. It's a great way to cut back on sugar and will still taste delicious.
I used whole wheat pastry flour and just a small amount of butter. It's a much healthier option than many other desserts out there.
And the orange glaze? It's fantastic. Like lick-your-spoon-and-the-bowl fantastic.
I love citrus all year long. So many people forget about orange and lemon during the holidays.
Not me. The orange glaze adds so much to this cake.
Recipe Ingredients
- Whole wheat pastry flour - I love using this flour in my baked goods and treats for a lighter product.
- Butter - I use unsalted 100% grass fed, organic butter for higher quality and better taste.
- Unrefined sugar - This can be whatever sugar you have in the house. I like to use unrefined sugar because it's minimally processed and contains some nutrients. You can use maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, or even try a sugar free alternative such as Monk fruit.
- Milk - I used unsweetened almond milk to cut back on dairy and sugar but you can use whatever milk you have in the house. Always read the ingredients and make sure there is no added sugar in your almond milk.
- Greek yogurt - I use plain, full fat Greek yogurt for these bars and loved it. I had some people write to me that they have also used vanilla Greek yogurt and even pumpkin Greek yogurt and they were delicious.
- Vanilla extract - I use pure vanilla extract which doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or additives, it’s just pure vanilla made from alcohol. I use this one.
- Cranberries - The star of this cake! I buy bags and bags and store in the freezer to have all year long.
- Powdered sugar - A powdered sugar substitute (sugar free) or an unrefined powdered sugar would both work great in this recipe.
- Orange juice - You just need a tiny drop of orange juice for the glaze.
Recipe Tips
You can use any type of berries you'd like in this cake. I've made it with raspberries, strawberries and even a mixture of a bunch of berries. Use whatever is in season.
You can also use lemon or lime for the glaze as well. Get creative and mix it up.
Oven times vary greatly so please continue to check on the cake after 45 minutes. I like to place a toothpick in the center and I take it out when the toothpick comes out dry with no batter on it.
Related Recipes
Caramel and Chocolate Fudge from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Cranberry Bliss White Chocolate Bark from Cupcakes to Kale Chips
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls from Food Done Light
Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Please feel free to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram! Thanks for stopping by!
Cranberry Cake with Orange Glaze
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup unrefined sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 12 ounce bag of cranberries
- Glaze:
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 10 inch bundt pan.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour and baking powder.
- Add butter and sugar and thoroughly mix together.
- Add milk, Greek yogurt and vanilla and mix again until thoroughly combined.
- Fold cranberries in and mix.
- Pour into prepared bundt pan and bake in preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick placed in the center comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Remove from pan and allow to cool.
- Prepare glaze by mixing the sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth.
- Drizzle glaze on top of the cake. Enjoy!
Jen
This is such a dangerous cake to have in your house, haha! Once you get a bite, it's hard to walk by it without wanting another piece.
lauren.kelly
Totally! The struggle is real 🙂
Katie
I love cranberry and orange together. I'm so excited to try this out!
lauren.kelly
I hope you love it, Katie!
Lisalia
Perfect combination of sweet and tart! Loved it!
lauren.kelly
YES! I love cranberry and orange together!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
I'm a huge cranberry addict - buy bags to freeze in the fall, so I can have them when the stores stop carrying them. This cake is so gorgeous, I might have to use one of my precious bags in mid-winter, to enjoy this citrusy delight.
Kim Beaulieu
Every time I see this cake my heart skips a beat. It's seriously gorgeous. I am so happy you joined us for Christmas Week Lauren. It was so much fun, and so full of amazing recipes, like this one. Happy Holidays to you and your family! xx
lauren.kelly
Sandra, I am with you! I make a pound cake with fruit and nuts, what's not to love about that?
Sandra
I may be the only living person who will admit that I love fruit cake! So, when I saw your gorgeous cake with cranberries, I knew it had to be delicious! The citrus glaze sounds amazing!!
Kirsten
Lauren,
I've still got part of a case of Band Fruit Fundraiser juice oranges in the cold corner of the breakfast nook, waiting for space in the fridge, and I am so tempted to squeeze one into some orange glaze just because 'tis the season!
Great looking cake--thank you!
lauren.kelly
Go for it, Kirsten!!
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories
I love the use of whole wheat pastry flour in this. I happen to have a bag of it, as well as some cranberries! Perfect for this cake!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Karen!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
I can understand why you are totally obsessed with this orange glaze! I love it, too!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Betsy!!
Amy
I love this flavor combination for all year round.
Martha @ A Family Feast
I'm a huge cranberry fan too - I just bought a few bags and put them in the freezer so we can bake with them all year long! This cake looks delicious Lauren!
Ramona W
I love the flavors of cranberry and orange together .. and the cake looks amazingly moist and scrumptious! It's a definite winner. 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I love cranberries too (we're twinsies today)! This looks fabulous - and that orange glaze??!! To die for!
Liz
Oh, my gosh, does this look amazing! Such a moist, irresistible cake. I'd have to go back for seconds 🙂
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
I absolutely love this cake! I have been obsessed with oranges lately. I need to try this!