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.
Made this cake to take to a Christmas Dinner party. I followed your directions to a “T.” It turned out perfectly. Looked just like the picture of yours. Was such a big hit that people are still commenting on how much they enjoyed it and how beautiful it was. Most were complaining that they didn’t get a second piece! I will be making this cake again and again. I did add the sugared cranberries and a couple sprigs of rosemary on top. Everyone thought it came from a professional bakery! Thank you for a wonderful recipe.
Substitute 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract for the 2 teaspoons of vanilla.. one and a half teaspoons of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract..
I add close to a half a teaspoon of orange extract to the icing.. pure perfection
Loved this cake!!! I added a half cup of dried cranberries that I had soaked in orange juice fix an hour then drained. Added a little extra depth. Family loved it!!!!Thanks again.
That’s great, Linda! Thank you for sharing.
I have the cake made. How should I store it for the night? Does it need to be refrigeratored?
You can store it at room temperature for 1-2 days. You can cover it with a cake dome or loosely wrap it in plastic wrap or foil.
Hi Natasha
Can I use regular whole milk? I don’t have buttermilk and don’t want to make a special trip
Hi Patti, 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.
This cake is absolutely delicious. If I wanted to use chocolate chips instead of cranberries, would that work?
I imagine that will work just fine. Hope you love it!
I have a 9 cup Nordic ware wreath bundt cake pan. I am not sure how many people this would approximate to adjust the recipe. Any ideas? Thanks!
Hi Michelle, The bundt pan I used was a 12 cup. I haven’t tried this recipe in that size pan, but I recommend using THIS Adapt Baking Recipes to Fit Different Pan Sizes Guide.
This is the best bunt cake ever, I made this three times this week already, and every time I make it, it doesn’t last a day.
So glad you’re enjoying it, Anna!
Hi Natasha! I want to make this cake for Christmas but my family does not care for orange in their desserts. Can I substitute for lemon instead? Would the measurements be the same as with the orange? I know the flavours would blend well.
Hi Monique! Yes, you can use lemon instead in equal quantities.
Can you make this cake in advance (how long), and does it keep in the freezer?
Hi Martha! Yes, it can be frozen. If stored well, it can last up to 3mo.
Natasha I made this tonight for my sons 12th birthday girl everyone was asking for seconds. Sooo good! And a compliment to me and you! Thanks for another wonderful recipe. ♥
Can I make these in mini bundts? Sorry if question was asked already,didn’t notice if so.
Hi Linda! That should be fine. Just watch them in the oven since they will bake much faster.
Hi Natasha, thanks for the recipe. Can you heló me? Hoy much does 12 tablespoons of butter equal exactly in grams? I don!t know if the tablespoons are calculated with hard butter or at room temperature. Thanks for you clarificación.
Hi Pilar! It’s about 170g of butter. Thank you for pointing that out. I’ll get that metric conversion fixed in the recipe card.
I almost never leave reviews, but it seemed unfair to not thank you for delicious dessert. I have made it a number of times, both with and without the sugared cranberries. It is delicious both ways, but the sugared cranberries bring it to an even higher level (and make me look like a culinary expert 🙂 Just made it again for a gathering tomorrow. I KNOW it will be a hit, like it always is! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Dawn! So glad you’re enjoying the recipe.
This has become my most requested and expected holiday dessert besides my cranberry curd tart. I brown the butter for this cake and it adds a wonderfully rich, nutty layer of flavor. Truly a winner. Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome, Susie! Thank you for the feedback.
This has to be one of the best cakes I’ve made. I didn’t have whole cranberries, but I did have an orange cranberry relish leftover from Thanksgiving. Substitutions made: avocado oil for my oil, half and half with a smidge of lemon juice instead of buttermilk, cranberry relish added around the ring on top of half the batter. So tasty!
Could i make these into mini bundt cakes!?
Hi Erin! That should be fine. Just watch them in the oven since they will bake much faster.
very easy to make, fantastic flavor, taking a dessert to Thanksgiving dinner, this cake was requested
Could you substitue greek yougurt for the buttermilk?
Hello! I have not tested that but plain Greek yogurt is normally a good substitute! Hope you love it!
Have made this a few times. A true delight and lovely to serve.
Hi Charlotte! I’m so happy you enjoy this recipe. Thank you.