Christmas Cranberry Cake

The flavor of fresh cranberries and white chocolate form a sweet combination in this Christmas Cranberry Cake. The creamy batter paired with the tartness of the fresh cranberries forms a heavenly union that makes this simple made-from-scratch cake unforgettable.

Ingredients to Make Christmas Cranberry Cake Recipe

Cranberry cake is a traditional cake served for Christmas. It’s a flavor that we thoroughly enjoy, and the holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without including cranberries in as many ways as possible. Depending on the recipe, I may use dried or fresh cranberries. I use dried cranberries for texture in my recipes for Holiday Eggnog Rice Pudding and Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Chip Cookies. A tasty use for fresh cranberries, is this recipe for Cranberry Orange Yogurt Bread, adding a burst of flavor. Insanely delicious Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies is a recipe given to me by my Parade Magazine Editor, Peter, some time ago and it provides yet another option, that just never disappoints. Ingredients to make easy Christmas Cake:

• All Purpose Flour – Plain all purpose flour is the best option here.
• Leavening – Baking powder, baking soda and salt give lift to the cake.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar for sweetness to balance the taste of the tart cranberries.
• Instant Pudding Mix – Cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix or cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix. These will add subtle flavor and a tender crumb to the cake’s texture.
• Sour Cream – For a creamy texture and a tangy flavor to balance the sweetness.
• Butter – Melted butter adds richness to the cake batter.
• Eggs – Large eggs bind the batter.
• Flavoring – Vanilla extract adds floral sweet notes to the batter.
• Fresh Cranberries – Rinse and pick over the cranberries removing any that are bruised or soft.
• Chocolate Chips – White chocolate is my pick for this cake. You could use semi sweet chocolate chips but please note, it will change the flavor profile.
• Powdered Sugar – This cake is so rich and tender no frosting is needed. A simple dusting of powdered sugar will do the trick.

How to Make the Best Christmas Cranberry Cake Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan or liberally spray with baking spray.
• Dry Ingredients: In a medium-size mixing bowl, using a whisk, sift together flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, butter, eggs and vanilla until fully combined.
• Combine: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, Add the wet ingredients stir with a large spoon until ingredients fully combined.
• Toss Cranberries with Flour: Toss cranberries with remaining tablespoon flour. Add to cake batter with white chocolate chips. Fold into the cake batter mixture until evenly distributed.
• Transfer to Pan: Spread cake batter in prepared pan.
• Oven: Bake per the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean.
• Cool the Cake: Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Serve: Slice and serve dusted with powdered sugar. Store chilled.

Tips for Making Cranberry Christmas Cake

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: One 9-inch springform pan, a whisk, medium bowl, large bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a stand mixer or a hand mixer and wire rack.
• Use the Correct Pan: I make this cake in a deep non-stick springform pan. You can also make this in a square 9×9-inch pan or any similar size oven safe dish but a shallow pie plate won’t hold the batter. You could also divide the batter into two 9-inch cake pans or two 8-inch loaf pans.
• Why Use Pudding Mix? The addition of instant pudding adds a lovely tender texture to the crumb of the cake. It also lends a very subtle white chocolate flavor.
• Cranberries: When measuring the cranberries, don’t get too fussy. I’ve used up to 2 1/2 cups in this cake.
• White Chocolate Chips Add Subtle Flavor: The white chocolate chips melt into the cake batter while baking which effects the baking time. You can omit them without any other adjustments, if preferred. The cake may take less time to bake when the baking chips are left out.
• Check Halfway Through Baking for Overbrowning: It’s important to check the cake at 30 minutes and lay foil on top to prevent the cake from over browning. Don’t skip it.
• How to Serve Cranberry Cake: This cake is quite delicious served at room temperature or chilled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Recipe Variations

• Chocolate Chips: You could use semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips in the batter.
• Orange Zest: You could add 2 tablespoons of orange zest to the cake batter.
• Glaze: You could drizzle a creamy vanilla glaze over the cake using heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
• Pudding Mix: If you’re unable to find white chocolate pudding mix you could use instant cheesecake pudding mix or instant vanilla pudding mix.
• Orange Glaze: You could also mix together powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) with orange juice for an orange glaze.
• Almond Extract: You can add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract to the cake batter.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: This cake is quite delicious simply dusted with powdered sugar. You could frost it with a cream cheese frosting to gild the lily. See my Cream Cheese Frosting recipe here. You would only need a half batch.
• Pan: You can bake this cake in a standard size Bundt pan, two 8-inch loaf pans or two round 9-inch pans.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store Cranberry Christmas Cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze it wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 2 months. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight then dust with powdered sugar and enjoy.

More Cranberry Desserts Sweets to Make

Cranberries are synonymous with fall and holiday baking. A few more recipes using cranberries that you may also like to try:

• Cranberry Pretzel Salad is a riff on the super popular strawberry pretzel salad.
• Sweet little homemade Cranberry Muffins. 
• Cranberry Apple Fruit Chutney is a terrific condiment to serve with turkey, chicken or pork.
• Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies are filled with plump fresh cranberries.
• You can serve this Cranberry Fluff as a side dish or a dessert.
• Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls are ideal for brunch, tea time or dessert.
• See how to make Sugared Cranberries from House of Nash.

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If  a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Springform Pan
• Silicone Spatulas
• Measuring Set
• Mixing Bowls