Description
Bring the holiday spirit to your kitchen with this vibrant and delicious Cranberry Orange Drip Cake — a showstopping dessert that combines tart cranberries, zesty orange cake, and creamy frosting. Whether you’re searching for holiday baking inspiration, a festive cake idea, or a winter dessert for a gathering, this easy recipe delivers bold flavor and stunning presentation. Ideal for anyone looking for dessert ideas, Christmas baking, or a beautiful cake for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons orange zest
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh cranberries
½ cup granulated sugar (for cranberry filling)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
6 ounces white chocolate
3 tablespoons heavy cream
½ cup sugared cranberries (for garnish)
Orange slices and rosemary sprigs (optional garnish)
Instructions
1. In a saucepan, cook cranberries, orange juice, and sugar over medium heat until the berries burst and the mixture thickens. Cool completely.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Stir in orange zest, juice, vanilla, and buttermilk.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture.
6. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 22–25 minutes or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
7. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until creamy.
8. Layer cakes with cranberry filling and cream cheese frosting. Repeat with all layers.
9. Melt white chocolate with cream until smooth. Cool slightly, then drizzle over chilled cake edges.
10. Garnish with sugared cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary. Chill before serving for clean slices.
Notes
Make sure the cake is completely cool before frosting or the layers may slide.
Chill the cake before adding the white chocolate drip to control the drip length.
The cranberry filling can be made 2–3 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 48g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cranberry orange cake, holiday cake, Christmas dessert, festive baking, orange drip cake, winter cake recipe