These Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters require just a handful of simple ingredients and 30 minutes from start to warm and ready to eat! With a caramelized, crunchy outside and soft, fluffy inside, these baked cranberry orange fritters are a fun, easy way to brighten your mornings!
Ever since making our Baked Apple Fritters, I’ve had all kinds of different flavor combinations floating around in my head that I want to try.
Since cranberry orange is a classic combination for this time of year, it seemed like a good place to start on the list of flavors to try!
Just like the apple fritters, these fritters are also baked. The classic sweet, crunchy outside while having a soft, tender inside is achieved by placing the fritters under the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize the glaze after baking.
Along with having a great texture, these Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters are bursting with fresh cranberries and orange zest. The bright flavor is perfect for cold, dreary winter days!
I stuck with fresh cranberries, because dried cranberries just don’t give you that same burst of tart flavor that fresh cranberries do.
Plus, I’ve found that the dried cranberries give you somewhat of a chewy texture that doesn’t go well with the fritters. So, don’t be tempted to swap out the fresh cranberries for dried ones!
The glaze is just a simple confectioner’s glaze with a hint of vanilla. Its sweetness offsets the tartness of the cranberries and citrus and ties everything together.
All you need are a handful of simple ingredients and 30 minutes, before you can enjoy a batch of Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters!
Tips for Making Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters
- Do not overmix. It will be tempting to mix the batter until everything is smooth. This batter is a lot like a muffin batter where you need to stir just until combined. The result will be a soft, melt-in-your-mouth fritter.
- To get the batter on the baking sheet you can either use a 1/4 cup measuring cup or an ice cream scoop like this one. The measuring cup gives you more nooks and crannies for the glaze to settle into once baked. However, the ice cream scoop is less messy.
- You can make these fritters without the fresh orange zest. Just know that the orange flavor won’t be as strong.
- The batter does not need to be flattened once on the baking sheet. It may look too thick, but it will spread as it bakes.
More Cranberry Orange Recipes to Try Baking!
Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters
These Baked Cranberry Orange Fritters require just a handful of simple ingredients and 30 minutes from start to warm and ready to eat! With a caramelized, crunchy outside and soft, fluffy inside, these baked cranberry orange fritters are an easy recipe that will brighten your morning!
Ingredients
For the Fritters
- 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon fresh orange zest
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 Tablespoons butter, cold and cut into pieces
- 1/3 Cup milk (the higher the fat content, the richer the flavor)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Cup fresh cranberries
For the Glaze
- 1 Cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk (a higher fat content works the best)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat (Make sure the mat can be used under the broiler.).
- In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, fresh orange zest, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a small bowl, whisk together milk, fresh orange juice, egg, and vanilla extract. Add to flour mixture, and stir until just combined. Gently stir in fresh cranberries.
- Drop by 1/4 cup-full onto prepared baking sheet. (If you want to make small fritters, use a heaping tablespoonful.)
- Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until bottoms are golden brown and center is set. (If you are making small fritters, start checking for doneness at 8 minutes.)
- Remove to a wire rack, and turn oven to broil.
- After turning oven to broil, prepare glaze. Whisk together confectioner's sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Brush a thin layer of glaze over the tops of the fritters. Place under broiler. Broil for 2-4 minutes, or until tops start to turn golden and glaze bubbles.
- Carefully remove baking sheet to a wire rack. Brush remaining glaze over warm fritters.
- Allow glaze to harden and serve.
- Best eaten within 1-2 days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 293Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 274mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and may not always be accurate. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
