Cranberry Crumb Cake
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Bursting with cranberries, this cranberry crumb cake is a simple coffee cake perfect for holiday snacking or any day of the week.
This fresh cranberry crumb cake is just what you might crave on a crisp fall day, and it’s easy to mix up and bake. It’s made with a buttermilk batter, studded with cranberries, topped off with buttery brown sugar crumbs and more cranberries.
It’s a simple, homey dessert, similar to an old-fashioned summer berry buckle or cobbler, only it has a bigger proportion of cake to crumb. I say yes to that!
Fruit buckles, cobblers and crumbles
Fruit buckles are simple, old-fashioned cakes with buttery streusel toppings, very similar to cobblers and crumbles.
But when all those summer berries are out of season, cranberries are perfect candidates for buckle-baking.
This cranberry cake is scented with fresh citrus zest (you can use orange or lemon), and the inside of the cake is full of whole cranberries.
The berries soften and split open while the cake bakes, staining the cake with beautiful patches of crimson.
I think my favorite part of this cake are the buttery crumbles on top – the sweet crumbs merge so nicely with the tart cranberries.
Steps for making cranberry crumb cake:
The batter for this cake comes together quickly in a standing mixer, although you could use a hand mixer instead.
- Start by taking a stick of butter out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you’re ready to make.
- At the same time, preheat your oven to 350 and center the racks in the middle of the oven.
- Make the topping in a small bowl, blending with a fork until it looks like big clumps of sand.
- Beat the butter with sugar until it looks fluffy, then add eggs, vanilla, flour and buttermilk.
- Stir in half the cranberries – fresh or frozen – into the batter and scrape into a square baking pan. Top with the crumbs and the rest of the berries.
While the cake bakes, some of the cranberries pop open and blend with the sugary crumbs, giving you a burst of sweet-tart when you take a bite.
This is the kind of cake I’d be so happy to find at a neighborhood bakery that bakes in small batches.
More easy fruit cakes and muffins:
- Citrus Olive Oil Cranberry Cake
- Big Strawberry Rhubarb Streusel Muffins
- One Bowl Blueberry Oat Muffins
Cranberry Crumb Cake
Ingredients
Crumb Topping:
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (70 g) unbleached all purpose flour
- ¼ cup (60 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Cake Batter:
- 1 ¾ cups (210 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 tablespoons (60 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- Grated zest of 1 lemon or orange
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (125 ml) buttermilk or sour cream
- 8 ounces (225 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 (175C) degrees and butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
To make the crumb topping:
- Pulse all the ingredients in a food processor, or mix in a bowl using a fork or pastry blender, until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.
To make the cake batter
- Whisk the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
- Cream the butter, sugar and zest in a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce mixer speed to low while adding half the flour mixture and half the buttermilk until just incorporated. Repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk. Stir in 1 cup of the cranberries.
- Scrape the batter into the pan, spreading it evenly and distribute the remaining cranberries over the top. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the cranberries.
- Bake 45-50 minutes or until top is light golden brown and the cake feels firm. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the crumb mixture if you like spice.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries – no need to thaw
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition facts are calculated by third-party software. If you have specific dietary needs, please refer to your favorite calculator.
This looks delicious. Can it be baked in a 9 inch square cake pans? Thanks!
Hi Judy – Yes, you can use a 9-inch pan. The cake won’t be as thick, and you may need to bake it for slightly less time. Start testing at 38-40 minutes, until top is light golden brown and the cake feels firm.
Can this be made in muffin tims
Yes, you can make about a dozen muffins. Bake them for less time than the cake – about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
I had no faith in this recipe because i’ve had no luck with crumb cakes before. they’re either dense or the crumb topping sinks. this recipe is DIVINE! the cake is tender and flavorful and the tart cranberries go well with the other sweetness coming from the crumb or cake. I made this recipe to a T and it was sooo good. can’t thank you enough for allowing me to have faith in crumb cakes again! please make this this holiday season. you’ll love it!
We loved this tasty treat! Tart cranberries are delicious when baked in a not-too-sweet cake with a lovely topping. I added a few chopped walnuts to the cranberries on top before baking but otherwise exactly as written. A new holiday classic.
Hi Janice! I’m happy you liked the cake. Thanks for sharing your variation adding walnuts – it sounds perfect!
Does it matter if I use metal vs glass baking dish?
Hi Heather – Great question! Metal baking pans conduct heat faster than glass, so you’ll need to change the oven temperature to 325F (160C) and check the cake for doneness at about 40-45 minutes. I hope that’s helpful.
Loved this crumb cake!!! How would I use protein flour instead of white flour
Hi Bonnie – Do you mean bread flour when you say “protein flour” – if so, I’d just be sure not to overmix the batter since bread flour contains a higher percentage of gluten. Glad you enjoyed!
Can you confirm how much butter should be used for the cake batter? Your recipe states “4 tablespoons (60 g) 1/4 cup unsalted butter” which seems confusing.
Thanks!
Sue – Confirming the recipe calls for 4 tablespoons butter, which is 56.7 grams.
The absolute best coffee cake! Perfect.
Can this be made with dried cranberries?
Dried cranberries should be fine in this cake, although the baked cake won’t look as full of fruit. I would rehydrate dried cranberries in warm water for about 15 minutes, then drain and add to the batter.
Made it this morning. Holy Cow, is it delicious! Easy recipe with fantastic results- thank you!
So easy to make but it tastes like a lot more work! This will become a family regular recipe! TY Karen!
I made this yesterday and brought it to work. Soooo good! Contrast of tart & sweet is perfectly balanced. My coworkers think I’m da bomb ? ? Thanks for making me look good, Karen ?!
Yay Taina – so happy to hear that. You’re da bomb!
I can usually find frozen cranberries year-round at Whole Foods. This buckle looks like a great breakfast as well!
We made this on Sunday. It was incredibly good!
This buckle does look very pretty with the red striking cranberries. It’s too tempting to just look at. I would love to make some of these 🙂
This is right up my alley. I love the combination of cranberries and orange in a not-too-sweet cake. The topping adds a nice touch, too.
I’m off to stock up on cranberries today. This looks soooooo yummy!
I am with you – I get a little exicted when the cranberries start showing up. I buy them with wild abandon! In fact, I bought two bags today. I am going to make this buckle for dessert tonight, and enjoy leftovers for breakfast in the morning.
I want this!
That looks yummy! We’ll have to make that soon, too.