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You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Cake

Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake

Published: Nov 24, 2014 · Modified: Dec 28, 2019 by Anna 12 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake - easy chocolate cake packed with my favorite fruits of the season: cranberries and orange! This dairy-free, vegan cake will easily become your favorite!

Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake

It's not secret that cranberries and oranges go together like peanut butter and jelly. They are made for each other! But have you tried to throw chocolate into the mix? I did and created one of my favorite cakes of late!

Enter Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake.

I used my very favorite chocolate cake (egg-free, dairy-free) and added fresh cranberries and orange. This cake blew my mind!

Orange and Cranberries

Thanksgiving is next week and after that it's all about Christmas. That means more snow outdoors and more movie time indoors. At least for me. A steaming cup of lemon tea and a slice of orange cranberry chocolate cake while the "Christmas Story" is playing on TV - that sounds like a great evening to me! Some days just require a great and easy cake. This one is just it!

This cake is based on my go-to chocolate cake recipe. It doesn't use eggs or milk, but rather relies on a mix of baking soda, cocoa powder and vinegar to create a fluffy, rich and gorgeous crumb. Top the batter with fresh cranberries (see tip for using frozen) and orange zest and juice and the cake gets an infusion of seasonal flavors that explode in your mouth unexpectedly. You may think, it's just a chocolate cake dusted with powdered sugar. But take one bite and you will fall in love! This cake is absolutely delicious!

Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake Slice on plate.

Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake

Author: Anna
Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake - easy chocolate cake packed with my favorite fruits of the season: cranberries and orange! This dairy-free, vegan cake will easily become your favorite!This recipe makes 12 pieces.
5 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 214 kcal
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Ingredients
 
 

  • 1.5 c all-purpose flour
  • 1 c granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ c unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ c vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 c water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider or red wine vinegar
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour , for coating berries
  • juice of half of orange
  • zest of one orange
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line a 8"x8" square pan with parchment paper. Grease the paper. Set aside.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, soda, salt and cocoa).
  • Pour orange juice into a measuing cup. Add enough water to make 1 cup of liquid.
  • In another mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (oil, water with orange juice, vanilla and vinegar).
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
  • Add orange zest and mix well.
  • Pour the batter into prepared pan.
  • Toss cranberries with two teaspoons of flour. Arrange on top of the batter. Gently press into the batter but do not cover.
  • Bake for 30 to 33 minutes, OR until the toothpick inserted into few place in the cake comes out clean. (Out of toothpicks? Use an uncooked spaghetti noodle!)
  • Cool in pan for 2 minutes. Transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Notes

*If using frozen cranberries, place them in a heat-proof dish, pour the freshly squeezed orange juice over the berries and microwave for 20 seconds. Gently mash the berries so they will release the juice. Drain the berries, reserving the juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

Orange Cranberry Chocolate Cake Slice on plate.

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Enjoy!

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Comments

    5 from 10 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Nancy says

    December 03, 2014 at 12:31 am

    5 stars
    Gaaaaah, this cake looks so moist, rich 'n chocolatey! In other words, absolute perfection. And I love your creativity by mixing orange, cranberry and chocolate together. I'm actually drooling right now.

    Reply
  2. Sara says

    November 26, 2014 at 1:52 am

    5 stars
    Chocolate and orange is a great combo AND THEN you added cranberries to make it even more delicious. This sounds like the cake my dad begs for every year on his birthday. YUM!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      November 26, 2014 at 10:37 pm

      Thank you so much, Sarah!

      Reply
  3. Katerina says

    November 25, 2014 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    What.A.Cake! That's damn gorgeous!

    Reply
  4. Sue says

    November 24, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    5 stars
    I have a whole cranberries Pinterest board and I've yet to see them paired with chocolate...I love this recipe!

    Reply
  5. Kelly says

    November 24, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    5 stars
    Oh I love cranberry anything - this cake looks wonderful!

    Reply
  6. Marla Meridith says

    November 24, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE these fruity flavors with chocolate!! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
  7. Sues says

    November 24, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    5 stars
    Such an awesome flavor combination and a SERIOUSLY moist cake!!

    Reply
  8. Liz says

    November 24, 2014 at 11:27 am

    5 stars
    I think it's so crazy that you can put vinegar in a cake and not taste it! I am not vegan, so I will probably stick to my eggs and milk, but it's cool that there are alternatives available!

    Reply
    • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

      November 24, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Liz, I am not vegan either but I love how perfectly moist and fluffy the cake comes out! And so gorgeous with it's reddish hue! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  9. Melanie says

    November 24, 2014 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    What a gorgeous cake, perfect for holiday gatherings!

    Reply
  10. Rachel says

    November 24, 2014 at 7:19 am

    5 stars
    I can't get over how moist that slice looks!! Incredible. And the flavor pairing is just perfect. I'm such a sucker for orange and cranberry together but chocolate too?! I'm sold!

    Reply
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