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Cranberry Pound Cake with Orange Glaze

This Cranberry Pound Cake is a moist, buttery dessert packed with tart cranberries and a hint of orange. Perfect for the holiday season, it’s easy to make and a show-stopping centerpiece for any festive table.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, baking
Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • 1 9*5 Loaf Pan
  • 1 Stand Mixer
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Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract optional
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries tossed in 1 tablespoon flour

For the Orange Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 2-3 tablespoons orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest optional, for extra flavor
  • ½ cup sugared cranberries optional

Instructions
 

Make the Cake:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  • In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and orange zest. Rub them together with your fingers or a fork until the sugar is fragrant and tinted orange.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and citrus sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the sour cream. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  • Toss the cranberries in 1 tablespoon of flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold them into the batter.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts browning too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
  • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Orange Glaze:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and optional orange zest until smooth and pourable.

Glaze the Cake:

  • Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the orange glaze over the top. Optionally top the cake with sugared cranberries.Let it set for a few minutes before slicing.
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