Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cake (Print View)

A delightful, easy-to-make cake featuring a tender crumb, zesty orange, and bright cranberries. Perfect for breakfast or brunch.

# Components:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup milk
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Flavorings & Add-ins

09 - Zest of 1 large orange
10 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

→ For Serving

11 - Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, cream softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Add milk, eggs, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter. Beat on medium speed until smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Fold in orange zest and chopped cranberries gently with a spatula until evenly distributed.
07 - Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and spread evenly.
08 - Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Dust with powdered sugar just before serving, if desired. Slice and enjoy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between tart cranberries and sweet orange zest makes every bite interesting
  • It comes together faster than you can brew a full pot of coffee
  • The texture is somehow both tender and substantial, perfect with a hot drink
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the batter from curdling when you combine wet and dry mixtures
  • Stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears to keep the crumb tender
  • The toothpick test is your friend, check at 40 minutes because every oven behaves differently
03 -
  • Zest your orange before juicing it, if you need juice for anything else
  • A serrated knife gives the cleanest slices for serving
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