Go Back
–+ servings
Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Cranberry Christmas Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

This festive cranberry cake, topped with creamy orange frosting, is the perfect holiday centerpiece — simple, nostalgic, and bursting with seasonal flavors. It's the kind of dessert that brings comfort, cheer, and plenty of compliments.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Cake, Dessert
Cuisine American, British
Servings 12 slices
Calories 480 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Electric Mixer
  • Cake Pans (8-inch, x2)
  • Spatula
  • Cooling rack

Ingredients
  

For the Cranberry Cake

  • 250 g unsalted butter softened
  • 250 g caster sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 clementine or mandarin zest only
  • 250 g all-purpose flour
  • 2.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 100 g fresh cranberries plus extra for decoration

For the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 400 g full-fat cream cheese
  • 300 ml double or whipping cream
  • 65 g icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange liqueur optional (e.g., Cointreau or Grand Marnier)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and prepare two 8-inch cake pans with butter or baking spray.
  • Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale and fluffy.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and citrus zest.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture until combined. Do not overmix.
  • Gently fold in the cranberries, then divide batter evenly between the pans.
  • Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes, then remove from pans to cool completely.
  • Beat cream cheese, cream, icing sugar, orange juice, and liqueur together until fluffy and soft peaks form.
  • Frost one cake layer, stack the second, and cover with remaining frosting. Decorate with fresh cranberries.

Notes

Use room-temperature butter and eggs for best texture. Don’t overmix once flour is added. Chill the cake briefly before slicing for cleaner results.

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 5gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 270mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1.2mg
Keyword Christmas, Cranberry, Cream Cheese Frosting, Holiday, Orange
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!