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Cranberry Orange Spice Cake with Citrus Cream Cheese

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A moist and flavorful spice cake featuring fresh cranberries and orange zest, topped with a tangy citrus cream cheese frosting and sugared cranberries for a festive finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all purpose flour (260 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice (from one large orange)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest (from one large orange)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole cranberries (tossed in 1 teaspoon flour)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature) for frosting
  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice for frosting
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest for frosting
  • ½ cup sugar (divided) for sugared cranberries
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¾ cup whole cranberries for sugared cranberries
  • ½ teaspoon orange zest for sugared cranberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and ½ cup butter until light and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  5. Mix in milk, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
  6. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  7. Fold in cranberries tossed with 1 teaspoon flour.
  8. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
  10. For the frosting, beat ½ cup butter and cream cheese until smooth.
  11. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in orange juice and orange zest until creamy.
  12. For sugared cranberries, combine ¼ cup water and ¼ cup sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil until sugar dissolves.
  13. Add cranberries and ½ teaspoon orange zest, cook for 1 minute, then drain and toss in remaining ¼ cup sugar. Let dry on parchment paper.
  14. Frost cooled cakes with cream cheese frosting and decorate with sugared cranberries.

Notes

Use fresh cranberries and fresh orange juice for the best flavor. The sugared cranberries add a beautiful festive touch and a slight crunch. The cake can be made a day ahead and refrigerated to enhance flavors.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/cranberry-orange-spice-cake/

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