Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cake (Print)

Tender crumb flecked with vivid orange zest and bursts of tart cranberry, perfect for a cozy, citrusy start.

# Ingredients:

→ 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)

# Instructions:

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.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • The tender crumb practically melts in your mouth while the cranberries provide these perfect little bursts of tart brightness
  • It comes together so quickly that you can have it in the oven before your coffee finishes brewing
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your cake tough, so stop as soon as the flour disappears
  • Frozen cranberries work perfectly fine, but do not thaw them first or they will bleed into the batter
03 -
  • Use a microplane to zest your orange for the finest, most flavorful zest without any bitter pith
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together more easily for a smoother batter
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