This cranberry orange cake highlights seasonal flavors that are easy to make using a cake mix, plus it's so moist and so festive.
If you need a hard-to-buy gift during the holidays, this cake is perfect for gift-giving and can be made into a large loaf, mini loaves, muffins, or even holiday specialty-shaped tins.
We enjoy this cake any time of the day with any hot beverage and it's certainly one of the best fall-flavored citrusy cakes.
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Easy Tips for Making Cranberry Orange Cake Mix Cake
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease whatever pan or pans you're using
- beat all the ingredients together except the berries until smooth
- gently fold in the berries and any mix-in suggestions (shown below)
- baking times will vary depending on the pans you're using
- use the toothpick method to ensure the center is cooked all the way
Shopping Ingredients in this recipe measurements are in the printable recipe card below
- yellow cake mix
- vanilla instant pudding
- milk
- eggs
- cranberries
- orange juice
- butter
- orange zest
Tips
- always preheat oven
- a full loaf, bundt cake, can be made instead of 12 mini loaves
- keep wrapped in a cool place after baking or freeze
- sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the icing before or after baking with a light icing
- coarsely chop cranberries
- muffins can be made in muffin tins
- another fruit can be substituted
- for chocolate fans add mini chocolate chips to the batter
- add chopped pecans or another nut you prefer
- add coconut to the batter before baking
Tools You Will Need
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Electric mixer
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Muffin, loaf, or mini loaf pans, bundt pans, cake pans, all can be used
- Whisks
- Cooking spray
- wax paper to invert whole loaf or mini bread cakes onto and freezer bags for mini-sized loaves
Substitutions for Fruits
- blueberries
- raspberries
- dates chopped
- diced peaches
- diced apples
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Yield: 12
Cake Mix Orange Cranberry Bread
Orange Cranberry Cake made with a doctored cake mix. A delicious sweet and tart cake and perfect for the holidays.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 65 MinTotal time: 1 H & 20 M
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 1 box (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons of orange juice from fresh oranges
- 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 2 large grated oranges zested
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups fresh chopped cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease muffins or mini loaf pans ( this recipe can also be made in a greased cake or bundt pan to allow for more baking time)
- Cream the butter with the dry cake mix slowly adding milk a little at a time.
- Stir in the orange juice and peel.
- Beat using an electric mixer for around 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in the cranberries by hand.
- Pour into a prepared grease pan of choice.
- Bake for around 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size pan you've used (this time is for a mini loaf pan).
- Use the toothpick method in the center to see if it comes out clean.
- Cool for around 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
- The cake tastes great served alone, drizzled with light powdered sugar, and orange juice icing, dusted with powdered sugar, topped with whipped cream or a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
Notes
Tips
- always preheat oven
- a full loaf, bundt cake, can be made instead of 12 mini loaves
- keep wrapped in a cool place after baking or freeze
- sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the icing before or after baking with a light icing
- coarsely chop cranberries
- muffins can be made in muffin tins
- another fruit can be substituted
- for chocolate fans add mini chocolate chips to the batter
- add chopped pecans or another nut you prefer
- add coconut to the batter before baking
Substitutions for Fruits
- blueberries
- raspberries
- dates chopped
- diced peaches
- diced apples
Nutrition Facts
Calories
367Fat (grams)
19 gSat. Fat (grams)
11 gCarbs (grams)
46 gFiber (grams)
1 gNet carbs
45 gSugar (grams)
27 gProtein (grams)
4 gSodium (milligrams)
515 mgCholesterol (grams)
98 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
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