• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • New Magazine!
  • Bread
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans

Cranberry Orange & Pecan Coffee Cake

December 4, 2012 by Joy the Baker 271 Comments

cranberry orange coffee cake

This weekend I found myself in one of those expensive clothing boutiques that I really… really had no business being in.  You know those stores: random things cost three hundred dollars and you have no idea why.  Yea…

I realized something crazy ridiculous while browsing around.  The only sizes displayed on the racks were sizes 0, 2, and 4.  I ran across the occasional size 6 but those were like seeing a unicorn in a coffee shop.

Um…. this business practice does not at all agree with my thighs.  Putting me through the discomfort of asking the XS sales girl for a larger-than-size-six-size is just not really that cool.  It doesn’t inspire me to spend hundred of dollars to treat myself to clothes I don’t really need.

It’s like… Ok, fancy boutique, I see the ways in which you glorify size tiny while simultaneously work to undermine my confidence… but I happen to be happy with this body that I inhabit and I would hope that you would respect that, and reflect my needs among your offensively expensive offerings.  No?  You need to ‘go see if there’s a larger size from the back’?  Wwwwhhhyyyy must we suffer through this exchange?  It doesn’t have to be like this… you know that, right!? Fine.  Whatever.  I’m going to Zara.

I’m outraged and appalled (ok… i’m totally being dramatic) and I would like for you to pass the cake.  Not because I’m eating my feelings, but because I actually eat cake and I’m totally ok with that.

cranberry orange coffee cake

First things first:  if you’re going to make one loaf of this coffee cake, you dang-sure might as well make two loaves.  They freeze and gift very well.

Done and done.  Good!

Now bust out that flour.  We’re going to need four cups.

cranberry orange coffee cake

This recipe doesn’t require a stand mixer or hand beaters.  Hallelujah!

In fact, this coffee cake is a bit quirky in that the butter is broken up into the dry ingredients like we’re making biscuit or pie dough.  Fingers work together the butter and flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal.  It’s just as easy as that!

cranberry orange coffee cake

We’re zesting orange peels and juicing oranges for fresh orange juice.

There are few things I love more than bright citrus on cloudy winter days.

cranberry orange coffee cake

One of the things I love about this cake is the unapologetic use of orange juice.  No buttermilk.  No cream.  Orange juice all the way.  Fresh (as always) preferred.

cranberry orange coffee cake

The architecture of baking.  Well greased and floured.

cranberry orange coffee cake

It is with great anticipation that I admire the ruby red cranberry studs.

cranberry orange coffee cake

Because enough is rarely ever enough, pecan streusel is sprinkled over the coffee cake just before baking.

cranberry orange coffee cake

Tenderly tart and crunchy sweet.  How do you like those for adjectives?

cranberry orange coffee cake

This is one of my absolute favorite winter quick breads.  Every holiday season my mom manages to knock my dad off of his pie-making high-horse (with love and respect) to make this cranberry bread.  It’s scented with orange and toasted pecans.  The tart cranberries bake up soft and sweet.  The crumb topping is an addition I’m trying to make a tradition… everyone knows that crumb topping makes everything better.

Note:  You can make this recipe dairy-free by substituting vegetable shortening in place of butter!  Win!

Put on the coffee.  Ooooh it is time.

Cranberry Orange & Pecan Coffee Cake

makes two 9×5-inch loaves

Print this Recipe!

For the Cake:

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cup granulated sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into medium chunks

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoon orange zest

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups coarsely chopped fresh cranberries

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

For the Topping:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.  Line loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on each side.  Grease the parchment paper and dust with flour on all sides.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add chunks of butter and work the butter into the flour with your fingers.  Try to blend the butter into each bit of the dry ingredients.  The mixture will resemble a coarse meal.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients.  Stir together to incorporate.  Add the cranberries and pecans and fold into the batter.

To make the topping combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until crumbly.

Divide the batter between the two loaf pans.  Sprinkle each loaf with topping.  Place in the oven and allow to bake until the cake is golden brown and the center is cooked through.  Insert a skewer into the center of the cake to ensure that it’s cooked through, about 50 to 60 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 15 minutes. Use the parchment paper to life the loaves from the pan and allow to cool further on a wire rack.

For the glaze I whisked together 1 cup of powdered sugar and just over a tablespoon of milk.  I drizzled it over the cooled coffee cake.

Cake can be stored, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 5 days.  

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Cakes, Featured Cakes, Fruit, Holiday, Nuts, Recipes

Previous Post: « On Instagram
Next Post: Honey Almond Butter Chocolate Tart »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Catherine

    April 23, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    Can you use this mixture for muffins ?

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      April 26, 2019 at 6:01 am

      Yes indeed! Just shorten the baking time substantially, likely about 20-25 minutes at 350!

      Reply
« Older Comments
Comments Page 17 of 17
« Previous 1 … 15 16 17

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Bread

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate
How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Micro batch baking – the invitation is to get all the way into it with me!  This is all very Kristin Wiig  making herself a single, sad cupcake in the movie Bridesmaids, save for the fact that there is absolutely zero sadness in me eating a single cinnamon roll over the kitchen sink in my…

Read More

Pile of baked croissants on rack just like starbucks ham and cheese croissant recipe.
Easy Ham and Cheese Croissants

I’ve got 30 solid minutes of your weekend planned out for you.  You’re going to be standing in the kitchen, but I promise it won’t be long. Pour a cup of coffee – that’ll help with everything.  Within your 30 minutes you’re going to pull bakery-quality ham and cheese croissants out of the oven.  I’m…

Read More

Hot cross buns frosted.
Easter Hot Cross Biscuits

Where do you land when it comes to Easter brunch?  Are you a ham, roasted lamb, and scalloped potato family?  Are you more of a quiche salad and biscuit clan?  Do you skip directly to the jelly beans and Cadbury mini eggs?  I’m nodding my head yes – there’s no wrong way to do it. …

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe

Joy the baker with dyed bandana around neck

HOW TO MAKE DYED BANDANAS

as seen in JtB Magazine!

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

FAVORITE FRUIT RECIPES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Berry crostata topped with whipped cream with coffee.

A Single Serve Berry Crostata Recipe

fresh baked blueberry cobbler on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

The Secrets To My Favorite Blueberry Cobbler

POPULAR CAKES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Slice of coconut cake on small white plate with coffee.

My favorite Coconut Cake is actually made with cake mix

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.

Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolu My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolute favorite. Get into a box of white cake mix and fresh 🍓🍓 purée! Topped with a thick layer of strawberry cream cheese frosting - this cake is a little pink dream! ⁣
⁣
The Easiest Strawberry Sheet Cake recipe linked in the bio for you! 💋
Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite list of the summer on Joy the Baker this year: The Best Books for Summer 2022!  As a person who reads Beach Reads all year long, this is IT! With titles by @ashleymcoleman_ @anarasong @annleary @bonnie_garmus_author @heyashposton @annabelmonaghan @greerhendricks @sarahpekkanen @shelbyvanpeltwrites @marilynsimonrothstein @@misterosman and @kirstin.chen. The guide to your bookworm summer linked in the bio!
Over here testing the limits of “you are what yo Over here testing the limits of “you are what you eat” and will soon be taking my final form as a summer tomato. ⁣🫠🍅
⁣
This Mediterranean Feta and Fresh Tomato Tart is an absolute show stopper with a buttery crisp, press-in crust, whipped feta, and layers of fresh tomato, cucumber, onions, and olives. I’ll leave the recipe linked in the bio - it’s really very special. Join me. We are 🍅🍅.
Here are my two best kept secrets for getting thro Here are my two best kept secrets for getting through this summer.  I’ve never been much for secrets so I’m letting you right in! ⁣
1.	I’m committed to folding crumbled chewy brownies into the easiest homemade no-churn ice cream.⁣
2.	I’m shopping for all of my baking and summer entertaining essentials, wine and cheese at the new @aldiusa stores opening across the Gulf Coast! Wait… you’re as obsessed with ALDI as I am, right? The shopping is always easy and affordable and I always come home with a fun treat among my essentials. Hit up my stories to see my grocery haul (and the chips I ate in the car on the way home) and head to your nearest ALDI for your summer essentials!  #ad⁣
⁣
I’ll leave the recipe and your #ALDILove grocery list linked in the bio!
Let’s just make one! ⁣ ⁣ One Single Berry Cr Let’s just make one! ⁣
⁣
One Single Berry Crostata just you for. Double the recipe (🔗 in the bio) only if you want to share. ⁣
⁣
#joythebaker #berry #crostata #smallbatch #dessert #foodblogfeed
The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from h The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from here on out, and that’s a promise. ⁣
⁣
Find this Milk and Cereal Ice Cream Bar and loads of other semi-homemade ice cream treats linked in the bio! 💓🍦🫠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up