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.
This cake came out moist and very fluffy. Recipe was straightforward and easy to follow . This will be my go to celebration cake anytime. Thank you for a lovely recipe
I’m glad you found your new go-to recipe!
Hi Natasha,
This cake looks delicious! Can I use the same recipe but with different fruits like strawberry or blueberries?
Hi Sheng, I have not tested that but I imagine that should be fine. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!
Made this cake for Christmas dinner and it came out perfect. The flavour was amazing and got so much compliments. Wish I could post the picture of the final product.
That’s fantastic! I’m happy that you all loved the result. Thank you for sharing that with us.
I made de cranberry orange bunt cake how delicious. But vegan version it was so delicious I recommend it!!! My husband love it so much so did the neighbors. Sending many blessings from Puerto Rico.
Thank you for your good comments and feedback, Kimberly. I’m happy to hear that you and your husband enjoyed this recipe a lot!
This cake is so pretty and so yummy! I didn’t have any oil so I used butter for both the butter and oil measurements. I put extra cranberries in and wish I had added more because it’s such a party in your mouth when you bite into one of them.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Kirsten!
Can buttermilk be substituted with anything else? I have kefir or sour cream.
Hi Vicky, it works best with buttermilk. If you don’t have that on hand, you can make your buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup of whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit for 10 minutes to curdle, then stir and use.
Absolutely delicious cake. Was a huge hit for Christmas dessert.
Great to hear that the cake was a success! Thank you for the review.
Merry Christmas! My last guest just left and I’m standing here nibbling on this beautiful delicious cake. I made it exactly as instructed down to the scrumptious sugared cranberries. Everyone raved. It was a huge hit and soooooo gorgeous and festive. The cake flavor and texture combined make this a new favorite. I served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream lol. Triple trouble. Thank you for a fantastic recipe!!!!
That is so inspiring, thank you for your good comments and feedback. I appreciate you sharing it with us!
Natasha,
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. I have never made a cake from scratch, always made them from box mixes. It was so easy following your directions. The cake came out just as I hoped. The candied walnuts and cranberries made the cake extra special. Wish I knew how to send you a picture.
I’m so glad you gave this a try, Robyn! Thank you for sharing that excellent review with me!
Hi, how would you store this if you made it a day ahead? Thank you!
Love your recipes
Hi Claudia, I keep the cake stored in the refrigerator. The cranberries can get a little soft if covered in the fridge for too long. I would decorate with sugared cranberries the same day it’s being served.
How far in advance can you glaze and add the cranberries without the cranberries getting soft?
Hi Amy, I decorate the cake with sugared cranberries the same day it’s being served. That way they don’t get too soft.
Hi Natasha, I love your recipes! I will try this one out for Christmas, but would like to make it a day before, how would this be stored? Thank you!
Hi Claudia, you could leave it at room temperature overnight. I would cover the cake with plastic wrap overnight, so it doesn’t dry out. If you are putting the glaze on, the cranberries will stick better to fresh glaze before it sets, and it would be safe to put them on top a day ahead in low humidity.
Hi Natasha,
Would my cake turn out fine if I use vegetable oil instead of butter? How much oil should I use total for this recipe?
Thank you for you time and patience,
Mariana
Merry Christmas and Happy new year!🎅🏻🎉🎊🎁
Hi Marian, yes that will work. You may use vegetable or canola oil.
Absolutely fantastic Christmas cake! It is really delicious and easy to cook. I garnished it with sugared cranberries that added a special flavor and festive look.
Thank you for your wonderful review, Anna! This cake truly is a treat and perfect for Christmas!
Natasha, THANK YOU for this BEAUTIFUL recipe! I just made this tonight and it is for my company Christmas party tomorrow evening. I only have a 10 cup bundt pan so I used the leftover batter to make two small loaves (which I was excited about because it meant I got to TRY it first). This cake (even without the icing) is delicious so I am really looking forward to trying it with the icing and the sugared cranberries! I also bought some fresh mint leaves for additional garnish and I plan to WIN this contest!! Thank you, thank you!!
Can this cake be frozen? I would like to make it early. It looks absolutely delicious!
Hi Mary, we have only made this fresh. If you happen to experiment, I would love to know how you like that.
Hello, I made this cake for a small dinner party and EVERYONE loved it. It presented beautifully and tasted so wonderful. Thank you for being such a fabulous cook.
Hi Nancy, thank you for your wonderful comments and feedback. I’m happy that the recipe was a huge hit!
I’m wondering if it is possible to make this recipe and use mini bundt pans to give away as gift-size cakes? How would I alter the cooking time?
Karen
Hi Karen, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. That will work but you would have to do an experiment on that. I saw that someone else commented ” I made some mini ones today and they sure are pretty with the sugared cranberries.” but did not mention the cooking times.
Hi Natasha,
I’ve made this cake a couple times and it’s delicious, but I find it to be a bit heavy/dense. Do you think I can lighten it up slightly by cutting back on the flour a bit and it would still work? I’m thinking 2 and 1/3 cups from 3 cups. Thanks in advance
Hi Olya, it shouldn’t be too dense. I’m curious if you are using too much flour? Be sure to measure by fluffing the flour first with a spoon then spoon it into a dry ingredient measuring cup and scrape off the top. If you push your measuring cup into a flour bin, you will get up to 25% too much flour. Also, do not tap the flour down in the measuring cup.
Omg!! Thank u so much for an awesome recipe. The cake was moist and flavorful.
You are so welcome, Erika. I’m happy to hear that you loved the result!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I made this delicious cranberry bunt cake and it was a great hit!!! It was easy , the flavor was superb and although not as beautiful as Natasha’s , it looked or good. MAKE THIS!!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me; it truly is a beautiful cake! Janet!
This looks delicious! Is 350 degrees meant for convection bake or bake?
Hi Anna, this is not convection. I don’t use convection in any recipes on my blog. They are all written for a regular conventional oven mode.
Hi Natasha
I am making this dessert for Thanksgiving. The fresh cranberries I have are huge. Should I cut them in half? Reduce amount from 2 cups? Also, is it okay to use 2% milk with lemon juice for substitute?
Hi Teri, I would still use large cranberries – that will be a pleasant pop of juicy cranberry flavor in the cake. I would also keep the measurement the same. The milk and lemon juice should technically work as a substitute for buttermilk, just be sure to let the mixture curdle to thicken up a little before adding it.