This delicious and flavorful Eggnog Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling and Spiced Buttercream is the perfect dessert to serve at any holiday gathering.
When baking this delicious cake, the aroma from the nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla filled the air in my kitchen, which reminded me of the holiday season.
If you’re lucky, you might catch me in my kitchen singing and dancing to Christmas music while I bake.
Not only does this Cranberry-Orange Eggnog Cake smell heavenly but, it’s mouth-watering good.
Also it’s a popular festive confection to serve during the holidays.
Of course, we used a store-bought cake mix and added a few ingredients to the batter to make it taste homemade.
Honestly, nobody will know that you used a box cake mix unless you tell them.
Especially, since the filling and frosting is homemade filled with spices, fresh cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and other tasty ingredients.
You could also use thawed frozen cranberries if you wanted, instead of fresh cranberries.
I promise you this cake will impress even the pickiest guest. It also looks pretty sitting on the dessert table, too.
If someone questions you about the cake you could reply “If I open a box and added water, it’s homemade”! I just love the cooking meme I made. Don’t you?
Can you Make the Eggnog Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling Ahead of time?
Yes, the eggnog cake can be made in advance. Wrap each cake layer with saran wrap then store in the freezer until needed
The cranberry-orange filling can be made two days ahead of time, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to use the icing remove it from the fridge and let it sit on the counter for a few minutes.
As far as the frosting I suggest making it right before you’re ready to spread it on the cake.
How To Make Eggnog Cake
First off all let me say I know it’s not Christmas yet! But, it’s never too early to enjoy this delicious fluffy cake!
And if you come over to my house right now it literally looks like Christmas exploded in my kids bedroom.
He found our Christmas decorations and went overboard decorating his room ..LOL!
OKAY! now back to the cake. You’ll need to dump a yellow cake mix into an electric mixer. Then add in some eggnog, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and eggs. Beat the ingredients on low speed until mixed.
Next grease two round cake pans. Pour cake batter in pans and bake the cake in a 350 degree preheated oven. Once done remove and let cakes cool on wire cooling rack.
How to make Cranberry-Orange Compote Filling
To make this delicious homemade sweet cranberry orange compote filling you’ll need to place some cranberries, zest from an navel orange, and orange juice into a blender and puree.
Then melt some butter in a saucepan and add some sugar, corn syrup and molasses while stirring.
Next, add in some allspice to the mixture and pour in the cranberry orange puree. Heat the mixture while stirring constantly and boil it down until its volume is reduced by half.
At this point, you will have a thick sauce that can be drizzled over cakes, vegetables, or meats to give them a sparkling cranberry orange flavor.
How to Make Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting
For the frosting you’ll need to cream some butter and cream cheese together in an electric mixer until smooth.
Next add in some sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon and beat on low speed. Then add in some heavy cream and continue to beat on low speed until thoroughly mixed.
Add just a bit more heavy cream if needed – but be careful – it’s easy to get too much!
Assemble the cake
When the cake layers are fully cool remove the first layer, place on a cake plate. Spread the Cranberry-Orange filling over this layer.
Place the top layer on top of the bottom cake layer with the filling. Next start frosting the top of the cake. Then spread the spiced buttercream frosting on the sides. Hint- use short light strokes to get a better finish.
Last, add any leftover Cranberry-Orange compote filing to the top of the frosting as you desire or top with whole cranberries.
Doesn’t this cake look AMAZING? It’s perfect to take with you to an office party or any holiday gathering!
People will be begging for the recipe to this Eggnog Cake with Cranberry Orange filling and Spiced Buttercream frosting.
More Desserts
Eggnog Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling
This delicious and flavorful Eggnog Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling is the perfect festive dessert to serve at any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients:
- 1 pkg yellow cake mix
- 1 1/4 cups eggnog
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 eggs
- flour and shortening to grease and flour cake pans
Filling:
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- zest of 1 large navel orange
- 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice with pulp
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp corn syrup
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 1/4 tsp allspice
:
- 4 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons heavy cream
Instructions
To make cake:
1. Grease and flour 2 9-inch layer cake pans
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
3. Put cake ingredients into electric mixer and beat on low until ingredients are mixed - about 1 minute
4. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl and beaters. Continue mixing on medium speed for about 2 minutes
5. Pour batter into prepared cake pans and bake according to cake box directions (approximately 22-28 minutes depending on your oven)
6. Bake until cake is done - when inserted toothpick comes out clean
7. Put pans on wire cooling rack and let cool thoroughly.
8. When cake layers are fully cool, remove the first layer and put on cake plate. Spread Cranberry-Orange filling over this layer before adding the top layer.
9. Do not put filling on top layer, instead ice the cake with frosting and pour some leftover filling over the top of the frosting.
To make filling:
- Place the cranberries, zest, and orange juice into a blender and puree.
- Melt the butter over medium heat a medium-sized saucepan and add the sugar, corn syrup and molasses while stirring.
- Add the allspice to this mixture and pour in the cranberry orange puree. Heat this mixture while stirring constantly and boil it down until its volume is reduced by half. At this point, you will have a thick sauce that you can drizzle over the cake.
To make icing:
1. Cream butter and cream cheese together in electric mixer until smooth
2. Add sugar and spices to mixture and beat on low
3. Add heavy cream and continue to beat on low speed till thoroughly mixed. Add just a bit more heavy cream if needed - but be careful - it's easy to get too much!
4. Start by frosting the top of the cake first then put frosting on the sides. Using short light strokes gives a better finish.
Notes
Add any leftover Cranberry-Orange filing to the top of the frosting as you desire or top with whole cranberries.
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B. says
This cake looks divine Kim, and anything with eggnog in it is my favorite.
I would even fall off the Keto wagon for it. I think I’m going to ask my daughter
to make it for my birthday next month. I’ll eat only one small slice.
Thanks Kim
Kim Seghers says
Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope your daughter makes it for you! I think it’s worth you falling off the keto diet this one time! Enjoy, Kim