This Cranberry Bundt Cake has a soft and moist crumb and is surprisingly easy to make. It’s the perfect Christmas cake covered in a simple orange glaze and studded with Sugared Cranberries.

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Easy Cranberry Cake Video Tutorial:
If you loved our Cranberry Orange Scones you already know it’s an irresistible flavor combination. This cranberry cake recipe is everything you love about a classic Cranberry Orange loaf but is so festive baked in a bundt pan.
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Why we love Bundt Cakes:
Bundt cakes are probably the easiest kind of cake to make, but it looks super impressive. It’s baked in a single bundt cake pan, and there is no layering or frosting required. A simple glaze is usually all you need.
Bundt cakes typically have a heavy batter that bakes into a rich, moist crumb. It is such a satisfying cake and keeps really well so you can make it ahead.

Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake:
This bundt cake has staple baking ingredients and a generous amount of fresh cranberries. You’ll love that juicy burst of fresh cranberry flavor in every bite.
- Eggs and Buttermilk – add moisture and balance sweetness (make sure they are room temperature)
- Flour – all-purpose works best. Be sure to measure flour correctly.
- Butter – creates a moist, rich crumb
- Oil – use light olive oil or canola oil
- Vanilla Extract – we use homemade for the best flavor
- Leavening: Baking powder gives the cake perfect rise while baking soda neutralizes and is activated by the buttermilk
- Orange zest – from 1 whole orange for the cake and glaze
- Fresh cranberries – rinse, pat dry, and toss these in 1/2 Tbsp flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom.
- Sugared Cranberries – an edible decoration which makes this cake look and taste like Christmas morning.

The Best Glaze for Bundt Cakes:
Most glazes are a simple combination of powdered sugar and some liquid like milk or water. Using orange juice and a bit of orange zest takes this glaze to the next level. We used a similar glaze on our Blueberry Lemon Muffins and they were a hit.

How to Make Cranberry Bundt Cake:
A homemade bundt cake is easier than you think. You can make this cake with a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer.
- Prep: generously butter a bundt pan and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Beat eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl on high speed until pale (3 minutes).
- Wet ingredients: Add oil, butter, and vanilla, mixing between each addition, then mix in buttermilk.
- Dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix to combine.
- Add cranberries and zest: Toss cranberries with 1/2 Tbsp flour and fold them into the batter along with 1 Tbsp orange zest.
- Bake: Pour batter into prepared bundt pan. Bake at 350˚F for 55-60 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in pan then invert onto a wire rack and cool completely before drizzling with orange glaze.

Common Questions:
Bundt pans come in all shapes and sizes. I use a non-stick bundt pan to ensure the easiest release. Our go-to is a 10″ diameter 12-cup bundt pan which is a standard size.
If using a smaller 10-cup bundt pan, you will need to adjust the ingredients proportionally. We have a tool in the recipe card to adjust ingredient amounts (click on the serving size).
If using dried cranberries, soak them in some orange juice for at least 15 minutes to plump and moisten them up. Drain well before using.
Frozen cranberries work great and there is no need to thaw.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out mostly clean with some moist crumbs.
Once the bundt cake is out of the oven, let it rest for 15 minutes then place a wire rack over the bundt cake and carefully invert using oven mitts (the pan will be hot). You can tap the pan over the rack to help release it.
The most likely culprit is not buttering and flouring the pan sufficiently. A non-stick bundt pan also helps. Under-baking or turning the cake onto a rack without resting can also cause the cake to break.

Bundt cakes are so easy to make but they always look impressive. This cranberry orange bundt cake is the whole package – it’s beautiful and the flavor and texture are excellent.

More Christmas Cakes and Desserts to try:
If you love this Cranberry Bundt Cake, then you won’t want to miss these Christmas cakes and our most popular holiday treats.
- Tiramisu Yule Log – this cake log will impress everyone
- Pomegranate Christmas Cake – elegant and delicious
- Baklava – can be made ahead for easy entertaining
- Cherry Christmas Cake – a simple, and darling cake
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad – a potluck favorite and our #1 holiday dessert
- Classic Tiramisu – this is always a hit at holiday gatherings
Cranberry Bundt Cake Recipe

Ingredients
For the Cranberry Orange Cake:
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (not hot)
- 1/3 cup light olive oil or canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cups buttermilk, room temperature
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp orange zest, from 1 orange, plus more for glaze
- 2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed, dried and tossed with 1/2 Tbsp flour
For the Orange Glaze and Topping:
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice, or to reach desired consistency
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 cup sugared cranberries, optional garnish
Instructions
How to Make Cranberry Bundt Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350˚F with a rack in the center of the oven. Generously butter and flour a bundt pan, tapping out excess flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together eggs and sugar for 3 minutes on high speed, until pale in color.
- Add olive oil, then melted butter, and finally vanilla extract, blending between each ingredient then mix in buttermilk until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt then mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients on low speed until no flour streaks remain.
- Toss cranberries with 1/2 Tbsp flour and fold them into the batter along with 1 Tbsp orange zest.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan. Bake at 350˚F for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean with some moist crumbs. Cool 15 minutes in pan then invert onto a wire rack and cool completely before drizzling with orange glaze.
To Make the Orange Glaze:
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a bit of orange zest. Stir together until smooth. You should have a thick pourable consistency. Add more orange juice to thin out the glaze and more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
Hi Natasha, I made this cake yesterday but couldn’t use fresh cranberries as I live in South Africa (not easy to find) I was out of dried cranberries so I used chopped medjool dates. It was amazing. (dates and orange zest…. what a wonderful combination!) Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I love all your recipes…… you are a wonderful chef 🙂
Oh, that’s so nice! I haven’t tried that before, thanks for sharing that with us. It is so helpful for others who cannot find cranberries too. Thanks, Michele!
Hey Natasha I have a request from you…my freind gifted me a waffle machine recently…I tried making waffles from various recipies…but could not get the perfect crispy waffle… please.. I want a recipe for perfect ,crispy and tasty waffle…and Thankyou for such awesome recipes…Maryam…
Hi Maryam, that’s a nice gift to receive from a friend. I only have this Whole Wheat Waffle recipe at the moment but I’ll take note of your suggestion.
Thanks I’ll try this
Hey Natasha I have a request from you …please.. I want a recipe for crispy waffles…my friend gifted me waffle machine recently….I tried making waffles from YouTube and Google but they turned out soft not crispy..I know your recipe will be great and I will be able to make crispy waffles…. And Thankyou for this awesome recipe…maryam
Thanks for your suggestion, Maryam. I’ll make a note of that.
I made this cake for my sister’s birthday and everyone loved it!
Such a Christmasy cake!
Hello Marian, so nice to hear that! Happy Birthday to your sister and I’m glad that everyone enjoyed this beautiful cake.
Can I make the sugared cranberries ahead of time ?
Hi John, yes you may. You can store cranberries covered at room temperature in a cool, dry environment for up to 2 days. If the sugar starts looking moist, you can re-roll them in a little more sugar to freshen them up.
Can this be made in loaf pans? Been looking for a moist cran orange cake recipe for years and this looks like a winner!
Hi Liz, I imagine that would work! If you test it out, I would love to know how you like it.
Do you purchase sugared cranberries or put sugar on the raw ones
Hi Anne, I have a homemade Sugared Cranberries recipe that you can try.
Are you planning any Christmas cookie recipes!
Hi Carol! We have one right HERE! We also have our Christmas cookie roundup HERE. I hope you love this recipe!
can you substitute frozen cranberries for the fresh cranberries?
Hi Teri, yes that would work well too and there is no need to thaw.
Hello, can you publish this recipe in grams? Thank you
Hi Natia, most of our recipes have the metric conversion option on the printable recipe card. We are working through the rest, but as you can imagine, they take some time.
Hello beautiful Natasha. This receipt looks simple and delicious 😋 to make. Can’t wait to make this cake 🍰
Can I used regular milk, like half and half milk?
Love all your amazing receipts. Thanks for sharing with me. Much appreciated. You rock hun! Keep up the great work! Much love ❤️ and blessings 🙏 to you and your beautiful family. Stay well and safe! ❤️🙏🤗
Hello Shelly, you can also make your own buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle then stir and use.
where can I purchase the mixing bowl set and the green spatula that you use in the cranberry buddy cake video?
Hello Susan, you can see the kitchen tools that I use here in my Amazon Affiliate Shop
A couple quick questions…
1. If the cake is not going to be served right away, is it still okay to decorate it right away with the sugared cranberries or will they affect the cake…make it mushy from moisture?
2. Is it best to store the cake at room temp or in the frig?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Cheryl, I keep the cake stored in the refrigerator. The cranberries can get a little soft if covered in the refrigerator for too long. I would decorate with sugared cranberries the same day it’s being served.
Thank you for that information, Natasha.
This cake and the sugared cranberries are just delicious!!! Thanks for another great (and this time festive) recipe! <3
I love your recipe. I can’t wait to make one. If I don’t have buttermilk, can I use regular milk instead? Thank you so much.
Hi Winnie, you can also make your own buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle then stir and use.
Can’t wait to make this cake! Because I live 20 mi from town I bought dried buttermilk. I haven’t used it yet but wanted to share the idea. It’s from THE SACO PANTRY it’s called Cultured Buttermilk Blend. Ingredients: a cultured blend of sweet cream churned buttermilk, sweet dairy whey & lactic acid.
What do you think of this Natasha? Thank you, Susan
Hi Susan, without testing that it is hard to say but I’d love to know how it works out if you test this!
Hey i am watching ur recipes since long and love the way how easily you bake everything… u are just a rocking baker and a rocking mum….i am looking forward to bake this recipe but i just want to know can the egg be replaced as i don eat..plz reply
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying our recipes! I have not tried this with an egg substitute to advise. If you experiment I would love to know how you like that.
Love all your recipes. Can I make this in loaf pan instead.
Hi Naheed, I imagine that would work! If you test it out, I would love to know how you like it.
What a beautiful cake that tastes great. So yummy for the holidays!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha. Thank you for your fabulous recipes. Can I use vegetable oil?
I use canola oil or light olive oil but I imagine vegetable oil will work too
I LOVE the fresh cranberries in here! I love the texture and flavor…so different from dried cranberries! Delicious cake, too. Yum!!
And it looks great too! Seriously so good! I can’t wait to make it again!
Oh my goodness this looks delicious and yummy! My family is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this with my daughter!
I hope you love this recipe, Beth! Thank you for that wonderful review!
Do you think I could add some white chocolate chips How many? Thank you very much!
Hi Janet, I haven’t tested this with white chocolate chips so you will have to experiment. Let me know how it turns out.