Need a SUPER delish and easy dessert for your holiday gatherings this season? This easy cranberry citrus cake is unique and bursting with flavor. I’ve combined lemon cake, fresh orange zest, a rich cranberry (and cherry preserves) sauce layer, and topped it off with a light and fluffy whipped cream. This cake is best served chilled and can be made ahead to make your job easy! Just hold the cream until right before serving. Happy Holiday baking!
Ingredient list for Easy Cranberry Citrus Cake:
- Lemon box cake mix
- Cherry preserves
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
- Granulated sugar
- salt
- Large orange for juice and zesting
- Cool whip or homemade whipped cream for topping
Shop favorites in this post:
Easy Cranberry Citrus Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Box Lemon cake mix
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest
Cranberry topping
- 1 13 oz jar Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Fresh orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest
- Pinch of salt
- 3 Cups Fresh cranberries
Topping
- 1 8 oz Cool Whip Homemade whipped cream is great too!
Instructions
- It is ideal to prepare the cranberry topping the day before or 4 hours before so it has time to cool and set back into a jam-like texture. Add cranberries, cherry preserves, sugar, orange zest, orange juice and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and then allow to simmer on medium heat for 5-8 minutes. Cranberries will pop and soften. Remove from heat and allow to cool enough to transfer to a glass bowl and allow to cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours. The mixture will set back up to a jam-like spreadable consistency. Prepare boxed cake mix and add 1 TBSP orange zest. Bake in a 9×13 pan. Allow cake to cool.Spread cranberry topping on the cake. Top with cool whip and chill. Serve cake chilled.Cake can be made ahead, just top with cool whip right before serving.
My talented friends are sharing cranberry recipes too!
Cranberry Orange Muffins by Ella Claire & Co. | Cranberry Sweet Rolls by Inspired by Charm | Cranberry Topped Cake by French Country Cottage
Cranberry Crisp by Zevy Joy | Easy Cranberry Citrus Cake by Handmade Farmhouse
Thank you so much for popping by the blog today! I have so many fun holiday recipes and ideas coming this season. Right now you might enjoy checking out my Christmas Magic with Twinkly Lights or my Red and White Christmas Decor.
You might also enjoy some of my favorite holiday recipes like my 6 Minute Caramels or our Famous Christmas Fudge! Need a tag for your gifts or goodie plates? I have some free printable tags here! If budget-friendly Christmas décor is what you’re hunting for, this post is for you.
Happy Holiday season, friend!