This Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe is really tasty and perfect for breakfast or brunch! The berries are still a little tart, but they mix with the sweetness of the cake and it's just so light, fluffy and good!
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake
The cake is light, not overly sweet, so it's good and a very nice, simple but tasty breakfast bake.
According to University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Native Americans used cranberries as a food source, to dye fabric and as medicine. The cranberry is one of only three commercially-produced fruits that are native to North America (the other two are blueberries and Concord grapes).
Cranberries can actually be found from the Polar Regions to the tropics, in both hemispheres. Due to the importance of cranberries in the 1500s and their abundance, it is believed that the pilgrims and Native Americans would have eaten them at the first Thanksgiving!
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas
Fun Fact About Cranberries!
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not actually grow in water. Cranberries grow on a low-growing, perennial vine. Cranberry vines can grow up to six feet in length and can live over 100 years.
Are you looking for other Christmas recipes to serve alongside my Orange Cranberry Coffee Cake Recipe?
Check out these really fun Christmas recipes on The Rebel Chick, like our Cake Mix Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe. I am always adding new recipes, especially during the holiday months!
How to Make this Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- zest of one orange
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour, plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
NOTE: If you are going to use frozen cranberries, allow them to completely defrost and then pat them dry with a paper towel.
We don't want extra moisture in the batter because it won't cook properly.
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Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x9 square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
Add butter, orange zest and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat well until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
Add flour mixture and milk to batter and beat just until combined.
In a small bowl, combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons flour.
Fold cranberries into batter.
Spoon batter into prepared pan.
Batter is very thick and almost seems dry, but is not! The moisture from the cranberries will make it perfect!
Top with coarse sugar.
Bake this Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas for 30-35 minutes or until center is done when a toothpick is inserted in the center.
Cool and serve warm.
This Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe for Christmas Serves 9 people.
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Are you looking for more easy Breakfast Recipes?
- Apple Cinnamon Pie with Cinnamon Rolls
- Air Fryer Red Potatoes
- Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders Recipe
- Pumpkin Biscotti
To print this Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe, simply click the recipe card below!
I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- zest of one orange
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x9 square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Add butter, orange zest and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat well until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk to batter and beat just until combined.
- In a small bowl, combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons flour. Fold cranberries into batter.
- Spoon batter into prepared pan. Batter is very thick and almost seems dry, but is not! The moisture from the cranberries will make it perfect! Top with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until center is done when a toothpick is inserted in the center. Cool and serve warm.
- Serves 9
Miriam says
Can this cake be made with frozen cranberries?
Jenn says
Yes! That's a great idea, I just edited the recipe to include this option. Just make sure that the cranberries are completely defrosted and pat them dry with a paper towel before using them.