Description
Cranberry Christmas Cake is a tender, buttery bundt cake studded with tart fresh cranberries, warm spices, and topped with vanilla glaze and optional sugared cranberries. This elegant holiday dessert delivers traditional Christmas flavors with modern appeal.
Ingredients
CAKE:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, divided
1 tablespoon flour (for tossing cranberries)
GLAZE:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3–4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
SUGARED CRANBERRIES (OPTIONAL):
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup additional granulated sugar for coating
Instructions
1. Position oven rack in lower third. Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease 10-inch bundt pan with butter, coating every groove. Dust with flour and tap out excess.
2. Bring butter, eggs, and sour cream to room temperature 30-60 minutes ahead.
3. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
4. Toss 2 cups cranberries with 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside with remaining 1/2 cup cranberries.
5. In large bowl or stand mixer, beat softened butter and sugar on medium-high 3-4 minutes until light, fluffy, and pale. Scrape bowl frequently.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.
7. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three additions alternating with sour cream in two additions (flour-sour cream-flour-sour cream-flour). Mix just until no streaks remain.
8. Gently fold in flour-coated cranberries with rubber spatula using 10-12 folds.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Scatter reserved 1/2 cup cranberries over surface. Tap pan on counter 3-4 times to release bubbles.
10. Bake 55-65 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted in thickest part has moist crumbs. Tent with foil after 40 minutes if browning too quickly.
11. Cool in pan on wire rack 20 minutes. Run thin knife around edges and center. Invert onto rack and lift off pan. Cool completely (about 2 hours).
12. Make glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk (start with 3 tablespoons), and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake.
13. Optional sugared cranberries: Simmer 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat, add 1 cup cranberries, let sit 10 minutes. Drain and roll in 1/2 cup sugar. Dry 30 minutes then arrange on glazed cake.
Notes
Room temperature butter, eggs, and sour cream are crucial for proper mixing and light texture.
Beat butter and sugar full 3-4 minutes – this creates light, fluffy cake.
Don’t overmix after adding flour – mix just until combined to prevent tough texture.
Toss cranberries with flour to prevent sinking during baking.
Remove cake when toothpick has moist crumbs, not completely clean – prevents dry cake.
Let cake cool 20 minutes before inverting – prevents breaking or sticking.
Cake tastes even better next day as flavors meld and moisture distributes.
Store covered at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 5 days.
Freeze unglazed cake wrapped tightly up to 3 months. Thaw and glaze before serving.
Works in two 9-inch rounds (35-40 min) or 9×13 pan (40-45 min).
Frozen cranberries work – add directly to batter without thawing.
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 60
- Category: Dessert, Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 36g
- Sodium: 195mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: cranberry cake, christmas cake, holiday cake, bundt cake, festive dessert, cranberry dessert
