Cranberry Orange Baked Doughnuts

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Tart dried cranberries and tangy orange juice are added to this delicious baked doughnut. Cranberry Orange Baked Doughnuts are perfect for a cool fall morning.

 

Cranberry and orange are epic combinations.  The tart cranberries and sweet orange juice bounce off each other to make a delicious pairing.  I have no idea who first put these together.  You know me, I’ve tried to find the history to share with you, but I can’t really pinpoint where it started.

 

All I know is that cranberries are combined with orange juice, zest, and even slices or segments.  For me, it’s not the holiday season without seeing that combination in seasonal baked goods like quick breads, muffins, and even bagels!  I remember having a delicious cranberry orange bagel at Einstein bagels.  It’s one of the very few sweet bagels I enjoyed.

 

 

What are cranberries?

 

Cranberries are small, red berries that grow on evergreen shrubs in bogs.  Native to North America, these tart berries are known for their vibrant color and uniquely tart flavor profile.  They are popular in a variety of dishes like juices and drinks, salads and stuffings, and baked goods like muffins and cranberry orange doughnuts.

 

Cranberries are harvested in a unique way.  Some might think that cranberries grow in water, but they don’t.  That’s just how they’re harvested.  The bogs are flooded with water the night before harvest.  The harvesting machine goes through the bog and churns the water.  Since cranberries have a pocket of air in them, they float the surface.  The berries are corralled and then loaded onto trucks for cleaning and sorting.

 

 

Where do doughnuts come from?

 

The history doughnuts can be traced back to the early 17th century in the Manhattan.  Originally called olykoeks which is Dutch for “oily cakes,” these sweet confections were made by frying dough in oil. In the 19th century, a ship captain’s mother made a delicious doughnut using the spices her son would bring home.  The story goes that she would put a hazelnut or walnut in the center where the dough might not cook all the way through.  Hence the “nut” part of the name. 

 

Doughnuts did not really gain popularity until World War I.  Women volunteers would fry them up and serve them to American soldiers in the trenches.  It was a taste of home which they needed during the long war.  This combined with the invention of the first doughnut machine in 1920 launched the popularity of this delicious pastry making it a staple in breakfast and snack food culture.

 

 

Doughnuts and donuts are the same thing.  It’s sort of like the whole coke, pop, and soda debate.  It really depends on where you grew up and what area you’re in.  I use them interchangeably on my blog because to me, they’re the same thing.

 

Health Benefits of Baked Doughnuts Over Fried

 

I always opt for baked doughnuts at home.  I don’t want to commit that much oil to making anything.  We don’t traditionally fry anything.  The air fryer is the only way we fry food lately.  Baking doughnuts significantly reduces the amount of oil needed for the cooking process.  This makes not only makes them lower in calories and fat but also makes them lighter and less greasy. This means you can eat more of these delicious cranberry orange doughnuts without much guilt.

 

 

Ingredients needed for these doughnuts

 

To create these delectable cranberry orange baked doughnuts, you will need simple and easily accessible ingredients that you probably have in your pantry or fridge.

Pantry – whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, cranberry jelly

Fridge – eggs, butter, cream, orange zest, milk

 

Instructions for these cranberry orange baked doughnuts

 

First, preheat the oven so it’s ready when you are.  Then combine all the dry ingredients minus the in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to break up any clumps.  Next, whisk together the wet ingredients.  Pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture and stir until most of the flour clumps are combined but not all.  Let the batter sit for 5 minutes and then fold in the dried cranberries. 

 

 

Coat a doughnut pan with oil or cooking spray.  Fill the wells 2/3 full.  If you over fill them then you can make thumbprint style doughnuts like these banana thumbprint donuts.  Bake at 350 F for 20 to 25 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

While the doughnuts are cooling, combine the orange juice, orange zest, and powdered sugar to make the glaze.  Drizzle the glaze over the doughnuts before serving.

 

 

Fun and Creative Toppings to Customize Your Doughnuts

 

One of the most enjoyable aspects of making baked doughnuts is the ability to get creative with toppings. Once your cranberry orange doughnuts have cooled, the fun begins! You can drizzle them with the glaze in this recipe or you can dip them in melted chocolate and add a sprinkle of crushed pistachios. 

 

If you want to make thumbprint donuts, then try mixing cream cheese with honey and vanilla extract for a creamy and delicious center.  Then you can sprinkle them with festive sprinkles to make them more seasonal.

 

 

What do cranberry orange baked doughnuts taste like?

 

They’re moist, for sure!  These doughnuts have that epic cranberry and orange combination of flavor that I love throughout the holiday season.  The sweet tart orange zest and the sweet tart cranberry jelly really do combine to make the perfect holiday pairing.

 

This recipe is easily double for a fun family brunch.  You can also make them ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.  Just bring to room temperature and then drizzle with glaze before serving.