This Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake is the perfect treat to celebrate the holidays with. Made with simple-to-find ingredients, this easy dessert has the best tastes of the holiday season.
Christmas morning is truly one of my very favorites. Seeing the magic and wonder of the morning through my kids’ eyes is a surprise of parenthood that I love.
We always follow up opening presents with a sweet little brunch, just the five of us. Every year I’m on the prowl for delicious foods that I can make the night before that will be perfect for a Christmas brunch.
This Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake totally fits the bill. Coffee cake is ideal for brunch and this one is delicious, whispers “Merry Christmas” with every bite, and is perfect to make the night before.
How to Make Coffee Cake
This recipe comes together with a few simple steps. First you make the streusel topping so it is ready to go at the end. Then you make the batter by beating together the butter and sugar. Add in the eggs, vanilla, orange zest and sour cream. Then you and in the whisked dry ingredients and cranberries. Finally you pour it into the pan, add the streusel topping, and bake it.
Tips and Tricks for Coffee Cake
There are a few things that will ensure that this recipe turns out perfect for you every time.
- Ensure that your baking soda and baking powder are still reactive. You can test the baking soda by combining it with vinegar and the baking powder by adding it to water. Both should bubble right away. If they don’t, replace them.
- Make sure the butter for the streusel topping is cold.
- The butter for the cake batter should be room temperature. You should be able to dent it easily with your finger, but not push your finger all the way through.
- The eggs should be room temperature as well. You can place them in a bowl of lukewarm water for five minutes to bring them to room temperature quickly.
- Make sure you measure the flour correctly. Scoop it from the container using a spoon into a dry measuring cup and then level it off. You can see read a full tutorial here: How to Measure Flour.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries. Both will become tender and delicious inside the coffee cake. If you use frozen cranberries, do not thaw them before using them in this recipe.
What to Serve with Coffee Cake on Christmas Morning
If you make this great coffee cake recipe or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour scooped and leveled
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cup whole cranberries fresh or frozen (if using frozen, do not thaw first)
Icing
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (more as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 by 13 inch baking dish generously with cooking spray. Set aside.
To Make Streusel Topping
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the streusel topping – 1 cup packed brown sugar, all purpose flour, and cinnamon.1 cup brown sugar, 2/3 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.8 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Cake Batter
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.2 cups all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a stand mixer fit with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 to 6 minutes.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add in the eggs, one at a time. Now beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides, and beat in the sour cream and orange zest until the mixture is smooth and combined. Scrape down the sides again.2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon orange zest
- Add in the flour mixture, beat on a low for a few moments until you are able to beat on high until the mixture is just combined. The batter will be thick and sticky. Stir in the cranberries.1 cup whole cranberries
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Add the topping and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted int the middle comes out with just a few crumbs.
For Icing
- Before serving, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. If necessary, add a little more milk until the mixture is runny. Drizzle over the coffee cake.1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk
Recipe Video
Linda Bogusch says
Could this be baked in a tube pan or Bundt pan? If so, is there a change in baking time, temperature or amount of ingredients?
Cakes don’t transfer easily to bundt pans. You have to be careful with the size of the pan because that greatly impacts whether or not it will work. So the (unfortunate) short answer is: I don’t know, I would have to test it.
Gloria A. Mahaffey says
No eggs in recipe list. How many??
Gloria A. Mahaffey says
Dah to me. Found eggs. Sorry
You know how to wake a girl up, Gloria, lol!
Sheila says
Can I use frozen blueberries instead of cranberries?
Yes! that would work great!
Karen Liburdi says
I wonderd were the coffee was in the mixture so I added it to my cake 1-,1/2Tablespoon’s of instan coffee ,,,,,, I also thout that if u didn’t hav fresh Cranberries maybe Dried would be ok I am baking it to night A BIG Thankyou
Hi Karen! Thank you for the kind words. It’s actually called coffee cake because it’s meant to be eaten with coffee.
Gail says
I don’t like zest in recipes can i use orange extract instead or add a liittle orange juice?
Yup!