Festive Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

Jolly Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe for Morning Magic

Weekends call for something special, and this decadent cranberry bliss coffee cake delivers pure morning magic.

Bursting with tart cranberries and warm spices, the cake promises a delightful breakfast experience.

Sweet crumbles dance across a tender, moist base that melts in your mouth.

Seasonal ingredients blend harmoniously to create a comforting treat that feels like a warm hug.

The subtle hint of orange zest lifts the cake’s flavor profile, making each bite a celebration.

Brunch gatherings or quiet mornings will never be the same once you savor this irresistible recipe.

Prepare to fall in love with a cake that turns ordinary moments into memorable ones.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 13

Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe Ingredients

For Cake Batter:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates the tender, fluffy base with a soft crumb structure.
  • Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise beautifully and achieve perfect texture.
  • Salt: Balances and enhances the overall flavor profile of the cake.
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy moisture and helps create a smooth cake texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and contributes to the cake's tender structure.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add structure and richness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds deep, warm aromatic flavor that complements the cranberries.
  • Orange Zest: Introduces bright, citrusy notes that elevate the cake's complexity.
  • Sour Cream: Ensures incredible moisture and tender crumb with tangy undertones.
  • Milk: Helps achieve smooth, pourable batter consistency.
For Fruity and Chocolate Elements:
  • Fresh Cranberries: Bring tart, vibrant bursts of flavor and festive color.
  • White Chocolate Chips: Create pockets of creamy sweetness throughout the cake.
For Crumb Topping:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure for the crispy topping.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness and helps create crunchy texture.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Introduces warm, aromatic spice that complements the cake.
  • Melted Butter: Binds the crumb topping and creates golden, crispy texture.
For Drizzle:
  • White Chocolate Chips: Deliver smooth, sweet finishing touch.

Tools For Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

  • Mixing Bowls: Large and small bowls for preparing batter and crumb topping.
  • Electric Mixer: Perfect for beating butter and sugar until fluffy.
  • Whisk: Essential for combining dry ingredients smoothly.
  • Cake Pan (9-inch): Round or square pan for baking the cake.
  • Microwave-Safe Bowl: For melting white chocolate chips.
  • Wire Rack: Helps cake cool evenly after baking.
  • Measuring Cups/Spoons: Precise measurements for ingredients.
  • Spatula: Great for folding cranberries and mixing batter.
  • Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by inserting into center.

How To Make Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

  • Preheat the Oven

Get your oven warmed up to 350F and prep a cake pan with a light greasing.

  • Mix the Foundation

Whip together the dry ingredients in one bowl, creating a smooth flour blend. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud-like mixture.

  • Combine Wet and Dry Elements

Fold in eggs, vanilla, and orange zest, blending until everything looks harmonious. Gently stir in sour cream and milk, then softly incorporate the dry ingredients until the batter looks silky and inviting.

  • Add Festive Bursts

Gently fold cranberries and white chocolate chips into the batter, creating delightful pockets of flavor. Pour the mixture into your prepared pan.

  • Create Crumbly Topping

In a small bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle melted butter and stir until the mixture looks like delicate, crumbly sand. Sprinkle this magical topping evenly across the cake.

  • Bake to Perfection

Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

  • Cool and Decorate

Let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once cooled, melt white chocolate and drizzle elegantly across the top, creating a beautiful finishing touch.

Tips For Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

  • Baking Brilliance: Tips to Elevate Your Cranberry Bliss Cake
  • Moisture Magic: Avoid dry cake by not overmixing the batter – stop stirring as soon as dry ingredients are incorporated to keep the texture tender and soft.
  • Cranberry Control: Toss fresh or frozen cranberries in a little flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
  • Freezer-Friendly Option: Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months, making it perfect for advance preparation or unexpected guests.
  • Dietary Twist: For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and add an extra teaspoon of baking powder to maintain the cake's light texture.
  • Flavor Boost: Experiment with different mix-ins like chopped pecans, dried orange peel, or dark chocolate chips to create your own signature variation of this delightful coffee cake.

Serving Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe Warm

  • Cozy Morning Companion: Pair this cranberry bliss coffee cake with a steaming mug of hot coffee or chai tea for a perfect breakfast experience that warms both body and soul.
  • Festive Dessert Showcase: Serve slices on a decorative holiday platter, garnished with fresh cranberries and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant post-dinner treat.
  • Brunch Centerpiece: Create a stunning brunch spread by placing the cake on a wooden board surrounded by seasonal fruits like oranges and pomegranate seeds, highlighting the cake's vibrant flavors and colors.
  • Make-Ahead Entertaining: Prepare the cake a day in advance, wrap it carefully, and serve at room temperature for stress-free hosting that impresses guests with minimal last-minute effort.

How To Store Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

  • Fridge Fresh Technique: Store leftover cake slices in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Wrap individual pieces with plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire cake up to 2 days before serving. Keep covered at room temperature or refrigerate, ensuring maximum flavor retention and convenience for busy schedules.
  • Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Slice cake into portions, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for perfect texture and taste restoration.
  • Quick Serving Tip: Before enjoying refrigerated cake, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. This simple step helps restore softness and brings out the rich, complex flavors of cranberries and white chocolate.
Print
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Festive Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe

Festive Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake Recipe


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4.7 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Delightful cranberry bliss coffee cake delivers a perfect balance of tart cranberries and sweet crumb. Warm spices and creamy glaze elevate this comforting dessert, making you crave another slice with each heavenly bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1.75 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 0.75 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup fresh or dried cranberries (chopped if large)
  • 0.5 cup (85 g) white chocolate chips
  • 0.5 cup (120 ml) sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 0.25 cup (60 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp orange zest (optional, for extra flavor)
  • 1.5 tsps baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
  • 0.33 cup (67 g) brown sugar
  • 0.25 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 tbsps (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 0.5 cup (85 g) white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp coconut oil or butter

Instructions

  1. Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9-inch cake pan with grease and flour coating.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a mixing bowl to create a uniform dry foundation.
  3. Create Creamy Base: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, developing a smooth, airy texture with soft peaks.
  4. Blend Wet Ingredients: Mix eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest into the butter mixture, ensuring complete integration and consistent texture.
  5. Incorporate Dairy: Gently fold sour cream and milk into the mixture, maintaining the delicate batter consistency.
  6. Merge Ingredients: Carefully fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring minimally to create a smooth batter without overmixing.
  7. Add Mix-ins: Fold cranberries and white chocolate chips into the batter, distributing evenly throughout the mixture.
  8. Prepare Crumb Topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then drizzle melted butter over the dry ingredients, creating a crumbly texture using a fork.
  9. Assemble and Bake: Transfer batter to prepared pan, spread evenly, and generously sprinkle crumb topping across the surface. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  10. Cool and Finish: Rest cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Melt white chocolate chips with coconut oil in short microwave intervals, stirring between each to prevent burning. Once completely cooled, drizzle white chocolate mixture across the top and allow to set before serving.

Notes

  • Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently to maintain a light, tender cake texture and avoid developing tough gluten strands.
  • Cranberry Distribution: Lightly coat cranberries in flour before folding into batter to prevent sinking and ensure even spread throughout the cake.
  • Chocolate Drizzle Technique: Melt white chocolate slowly in short microwave bursts, stirring frequently to prevent scorching and achieve smooth consistency.
  • Temperature Precision: Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and butter to ensure better integration and consistent cake structure.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
Olivia Bennett

Olivia Bennett

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Nutritional Analysis​, Dietary Accommodations​, Food Writing and Blogging​,

Education

University of Texas at Austin

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
  • Focus: Emphasis on dietary planning, food science, and the relationship between nutrition and health.​

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY

  • Program: Plant-Based Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized training in vegetarian and vegan cooking techniques, emphasizing whole foods and sustainability.​

Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.

Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.

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