Cranberry Orange Donuts
Cranberry orange donuts are made with fresh or frozen cranberries. Bake a batch of cranberry orange donuts for your family’s holiday breakfasts or snacking!
These baked cranberry orange donuts are soft, tender, and full of bright citrus flavor. Fresh or frozen cranberries add tart bursts throughout, while the orange zest and simple orange glaze make them feel festive without much effort.
They’re ideal for holiday breakfasts, weekend baking, or quick snacks. No frying involved—just mix, bake, glaze, and enjoy.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Bright and flavorful. Cranberries and orange zest make these donuts taste fresh and seasonal.
Baked, not fried. Easy to prepare and lighter than traditional donuts.
Family-friendly. Great for holiday mornings, brunch, or after-school treats.
Customizable. Add toppings or change up the flavors with simple variations.
Ingredient Notes
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure for the soft, cakey donuts.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps the donuts brown gently.
- Baking powder: Ensures a light rise—check freshness for best results.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Eggs: Add richness and help hold the batter together.
- Milk: Moistens the batter for a tender crumb.
- Butter: Melted butter adds flavor and softness.
- Orange zest: Gives the donuts their bright citrus aroma.
- Chopped cranberries: Fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries add tart bursts throughout.
- Powdered sugar and orange juice: Form a simple glaze that complements the donuts.
Steps to Make Cranberry Orange Donuts
- Preheat the oven and grease the donut pans.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl.
- Whisk the wet ingredients, including melted butter and orange zest, in a separate bowl.
- Add the dry mixture and chopped cranberries to the wet mixture and stir gently.
- Spoon the batter into the donut wells, filling halfway.
- Bake until the donuts spring back lightly or a tester comes out clean.
- Cool briefly in the pan before transferring to a rack.
- Prepare the glaze and drizzle over the cooled donuts.
Tips
- Chop the cranberries very finely so they distribute evenly in the batter.
- Don’t overfill the donut wells—half full gives the best shape.
- Let the donuts cool before glazing so the glaze sets rather than melts.
- If the glaze is too thick, add orange juice a few drops at a time.
Recipe Variations
- Make them festive. Dip the tops in glaze and immediately sprinkle with sanding sugar or sparkling sugar for a holiday look.
- Add extra citrus punch. Stir an additional teaspoon of orange zest into the batter or add a touch of orange extract to the glaze.
- Create cranberry-lime donuts. Substitute lime zest and lime juice for a tangy twist.
- Make mini donuts. Use a mini donut pan and bake for 7 to 9 minutes for bite-sized treats.
- Try a white chocolate finish. Once cooled, dip the tops in melted white chocolate instead of glaze for a richer dessert-style donut.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with coffee, hot chocolate, or a holiday breakfast spread.
- Offer them plain or with glaze, depending on how sweet you want them.
- Add them to brunch boards or morning pastry platters.
- Pack them in tins or boxes for gifting—they travel well once the glaze is set.
How to Store
Room temperature: Store glazed or unglazed donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Refrigerate: Keep tightly covered for 3 to 4 days; bring to room temperature before serving.
Freeze: Freeze unglazed donuts for up to 2 months. Thaw and glaze before serving.
Related
This cranberry upside-down cake is a fabulous way to use fresh cranberries, or bake a delicious loaf of cranberry bread for your family.
Cranberry Orange Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, 9 ounces
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 5 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup cranberries, finely chopped
For the Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F and spray donut pans with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to mix thoroughly.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk, melted butter, 1 tablespoon of orange zest, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture along with the finely chopped cranberries. Stir just until the ingredients are moistened.
- Spoon batter into the donut pan wells, filling them about half full.
- Bake the cranberry orange doughnuts for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into a doughnut.
- Let the donuts cool for about 5 minute; carefully remove them to a rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
