Cranberry Citrus with Lemon Glaze

Celebrate the season with this festive cranberry cake. Made with fragrant lemon olive oil, fresh lemon zest, and a splash of  dessert wine (or orange juice for a non-alcoholic twist), it’s a delicious and elegant centerpiece for your holiday table. Top it with sparkling candied cranberries and even candied olives for a unique, eye-catching decoration that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Pair it with McEvoy Ranch Cooking and Lemon EVOOs and Angelica Dessert Wine for the ultimate celebration!

 

The Cake 🎥

YOU WILL NEED

ALMOND CAKE MIX
WET INGREDIENTS

3 large eggs (about 189g, weighed with shell)
½ cup mild extra-virgin olive oil (100g)
½ cup lemon olive oil (100g)
¾ cup sour cream (170g)

⅓ cup dessert wine or orange juice (80g)
Zest from one large lemon

Stir-In

1½ cup fresh cranberries (or frozen, unthawed)

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 9 or 10-inch tube pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • Beat eggs at high speed for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. With the mixer still running, gradually add the olive oil in a thin drizzle and beat until thick and creamy.
  • Add the sour cream, dessert wine (or orange juice), lemon zest and the almond cake mix. Beat on low speed for one minute until well combined.
  • Stir in cranberries.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 55-60 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in baking pan for 5-10 minutes before unmolding.

 

The Glaze  

YOU WILL NEED

INGREDIENTS

1½ cup powdered sugar (150g)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons melted butter

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Stir all ingredients together.
  • Drizzle over cooled cake.

 

The Candied Cranberries 

YOU WILL NEED

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh cranberries 
¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
¼ cup water

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Add ¼ cup granulated sugar and ¼ cup water to a pot. 
  • Heat over medium until the mixture comes to a gentle simmer and the sugar has completely dissolved. Do not boil.
  • Stir the cranberries in the simple syrup, then remove from heat.  
  • Remove the cranberries with a slotted spoon and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking tray. 
  • Let them dry at room temperature for about an hour.
  • Roll the cranberries in the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar until evenly coated.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. 
  • If the cranberries lose their sparkle, reroll them in a bit of sugar.
  • Pro Tip: Fresh, uncured olives and even olive leaves can be candied using the same method, but they are not edible.


Customize your cake mix product box with this 4" x 6" recipe label!

 

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Tips & Methods

Baking Tips

General Baking Tips

  • Preheat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Prepare the pan: Grease the recommended pan and line it with parchment paper. If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray that contains flour.
  • For best results: Weigh all ingredients and bring them to room temperature.
  • Avoid opening the oven door until the cake has set, unless the recipe instructs otherwise.
  • Check for doneness: Your cake is done when it begins to shrink from the sides of the pan, springs back when touched or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Cooling: Let the cake cool for 5–10 minutes before removing it from the pan.

Storage Guidelines

  • Frosted cakes or cakes with pastry cream: Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • Plain or glazed cakes and cookies (without frosting or pastry cream):
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • Refrigerating plain cakes: For extended storage, double-wrap cooled cake in cling film and aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
  • Freezing plain cakes: Double-wrap in cling film and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Defrosting frozen cakes: Keep the wrapped cake in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving.

Mini Treats, Big Flavor

Alternative Baking Options (for all cake recipes except for vegan recipes )

Cupcakes:

  • Bake at 325ºF for 18–21 minutes in a cupcake pan with liners.
  • Fill each cavity about two-thirds full.
  • Yields about 24 cupcakes.

Mini Bundt Cakes:

  • Bake at 325ºF for 18–21 minutes in a mini Bundt pan.
  • Fill each cavity about two-thirds full.
  • Yields about 24 mini Bundt cakes.

Bite-Sized Mini Muffins:

  • Bake at 325ºF for 13–16 minutes in a mini muffin pan with liners (1.25 inch diameter).
  • Fill each cavity about two-thirds full.
  • Yields about 72 mini muffins.
  • Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool completely before frosting.

Cookies:

1 package Flour & Olive cake mix (For Almond cake mix: add 1 extra egg yolk and 1 additional tablespoon olive oil or butter)

  • 2 large eggs (126 g)
  • ½ cup olive oil or cooled, melted butter (113 g)
  • ¾ cup stir-ins, optional (chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, or M&Ms)
  • ½ cup icing sugar, optional (for rolling crinkle cookies)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Beat eggs at high speed for 3–5 minutes until light and fluffy. With mixer running, drizzle in olive oil (or cooled, melted butter) and beat until thick and creamy.
  3. Add cake mix and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined. Refrigerate dough for 10–15 minutes.
  4. Scoop batter: Using a 1-inch ice cream scoop, drop 12 mounds onto each sheet, leaving space between.
  5. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until cookies are just set.
  6. Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Makes ~24 cookies.
  7. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.

Decoration Ideas

  • Dip in melted chocolate
  • Spoon room temperature ganache over cookies
  • Brush cooled cookies with sugar glaze.
  • Sandwich with caramel, ganache, frosting or ice cream.

Crinkle Cookie Option

  • Use a 1.5-inch scoop to drop 8 mounds per sheet.
  • Roll each mound into a ball, coat in icing sugar, and flatten slightly.
  • Bake as directed above.

Olive Oil Cake Method

  • Pre-heat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
    If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray made with flour.
  • In a separate bowl, beat room temperature eggs at high speed for 3-5 minutes, then add mild extra virgin olive oil in a slow, steady drizzle until thick and creamy.
  • Add remaining wet ingredients and the cake mix to the egg mixture and mix until combined, stopping to scrape down the bowl. Do not overmix.
  • Gently mix stir ins into batter until well combined.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and sprinkle with toppings.
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe.
  • Cool in baking pan for 5-10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool cake completely before frosting.

Butter Cake Method

You can substitute butter for olive oil in our recipes at a 1:1 ratio—no complicated conversions needed!

  • Preheat your oven to 325ºF. Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • Whisk wet ingredients (eggs, milk, dairy products, etc.) together on medium speed until well blended.
  • In a separate bowl, beat softened butter, cake mix, and dry ingredients on low speed until combined and sandy in texture (about 30 seconds).
  • With the mixer still on, slowly add wet ingredients, scraping the bowl down from time to time. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for two minutes. Do not overmix.
  • Fold in stir-ins (nuts, berries, chopped fruit, chocolate chips, etc.) until just blended.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and evenly sprinkle with toppings (e.g., sliced almonds).
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe.
  • Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool completely before frosting.