This Citrus Cranberry Cake is a refreshing dessert that combines soft, buttery citrus sponge with tangy homemade cranberry sauce. Layered and topped with a light lemon glaze, it strikes the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Finished with mandarin slices for decoration, it’s a vibrant, festive cake that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Bright flavors – A lively mix of orange, lemon, and cranberry.

• Moist and tender cake with a buttery crumb.

• Homemade cranberry sauce adds freshness and tart contrast.

• Beautiful presentation with simple decorations.

• Perfect for holidays or any special gathering.

Citrus Cranberry Cake

Citrus and cranberries are a pairing that feels like sunshine in winter. The brightness of orange and lemon complements the tart burst of cranberries, creating a balance that is both refreshing and satisfying. This cake brings those flavors together in a beautiful layered dessert that feels celebratory without being overly complicated.

The base of the cake is a tender citrus sponge, infused with both orange extract and fresh juice. The result is a crumb that is moist, fragrant, and perfectly balanced between sweetness and zest. Unlike heavy butter cakes, this one has a lightness that makes it the ideal canvas for the tart cranberry filling.

The cranberry sauce itself is the heart of this recipe. Made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice, it simmers into a jewel-toned spread that adds both color and flavor. Its tang cuts through the richness of the cake, creating a perfect contrast in every bite. It’s not just filling—it’s the soul of the dessert.

What makes this cake particularly special is its layered construction. Once the sponge is baked and cooled, it is sliced into three sections. Each layer is spread with cranberry sauce, creating a striking stripe of deep red against the golden cake. As the layers rest together, the flavors meld into a harmonious whole.

The glaze is the finishing touch. A simple mix of powdered sugar, lemon juice, and water creates a drizzle that sets into a delicate glaze. It adds brightness and shine without overwhelming the cake. This subtle finish ensures the cake feels light and fresh, not heavy or overly sweet.

Visually, this cake is stunning. The mandarin slices on top add both decoration and flavor, while a dusting of powdered sugar gives it a festive sparkle. It’s the kind of cake that looks at home on a holiday table, yet it’s simple enough to enjoy on any occasion.

Beyond its beauty, the flavors are truly satisfying. The citrus keeps the cake lively, the cranberry provides depth, and the glaze ties everything together with light sweetness. Every element is balanced, ensuring that no single flavor overpowers the others.

This cake also offers flexibility. You can adjust the sweetness of the cranberry sauce, depending on your preference. A little more sugar makes it mellow, while a little less keeps it tangy. You can also experiment with other citrus fruits, like tangerines or grapefruits, for a variation in flavor.

Baking this cake is a rewarding process. The batter comes together easily, and the cranberry sauce requires only a short simmer. The layering may seem intricate, but it’s straightforward and forgiving, making this cake approachable for all skill levels.

The result is a dessert that feels celebratory. It’s not an everyday cake—it’s one you bring out when you want to make something memorable. Whether served at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a family gathering, it always draws admiration and delight.

Even beyond the holidays, this cake feels timeless. Its flavors are versatile enough to be enjoyed year-round, especially when citrus and cranberries are in season. It’s a reminder that simple ingredients can create something extraordinary.

For those who love desserts that balance sweet and tart, this cake is the ultimate indulgence. Each bite delivers brightness from citrus, richness from the sponge, and tang from the cranberry. Together, they create harmony on the palate.

It’s also a dessert that invites creativity. You might choose to decorate it with candied citrus, pomegranate seeds, or sugared cranberries. Each variation adds charm and personal flair, making it your own.

At its heart, this Citrus Cranberry Cake is about contrast and celebration. It’s about brightness in the midst of winter, freshness in the midst of richness, and joy in the midst of tradition. It’s a dessert that feels alive with flavor, and one that will always earn a place at the table.

Servings

• Yield: 12 slices

Time

• Prep Time: 25 minutes

• Cook Time: 35 minutes

• Cooling and Assembly: 45 minutes

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

• ¾ cup butter, room temperature

• 1 ¾ cups sugar

• 3 eggs

• 1 teaspoon orange extract

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¾ cup milk

• ½ cup fresh orange juice

Cranberry Sauce

• 12 oz fresh cranberries

• 1 cup sugar

• ⅓ cup orange juice

Glaze

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 2 teaspoons water

• Few drops lemon juice

Decoration

• Mandarin slices

• Powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease and line a 15×10-inch pan.

2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then orange extract.

3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to batter alternately with milk and orange juice.

4. Bake for 23 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then invert and cool fully.

5. Simmer cranberries, sugar, and orange juice until thickened. Cool.

6. Slice cake into 3 even layers. Spread cranberry sauce between layers. Stack and rest 15 minutes.

7. Mix glaze and drizzle over cake. Decorate with mandarins and powdered sugar.

8. Slice and serve.

Tips

• Cool cake fully before layering to avoid sliding.

• Simmer cranberry sauce until thick for best spreading.

• Adjust sugar in sauce based on desired tartness.

• Refrigerate cake for 1–2 hours before slicing for clean layers.

• Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.