Description
A festive Cranberry Christmas Cake featuring fresh cranberries, zesty orange, and a moist, buttery crumb, perfect for holiday celebrations and cozy winter breakfasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 orange, zested (about 2 teaspoons loose zest)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13x9 inch baking dish with baking spray or use a homemade cake release to prevent sticking, then set it aside.
- Beat sugar and eggs: In a mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar with the eggs for 5 minutes until the mixture doubles in size and becomes light and fluffy.
- Add butter and extracts: Add the softened butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest to the egg mixture. Beat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to incorporate all ingredients well.
- Combine dry ingredients: Gently add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Stir just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in cranberries: Carefully fold the fresh cranberries into the batter to distribute them evenly without breaking them.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool before serving: Allow the cake to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing and serving to let flavors meld and texture set.
Notes
- Prepare the baking pan well by spraying with baking spray or using a homemade cake release to ensure easy cleanup and cake removal.
- Zest the orange carefully using a handheld grater or zesting tool, avoiding the bitter white pith for the best flavor.
- Store leftover cranberry cake covered at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months for extended freshness.
- This cake pairs wonderfully with a mug of hot chocolate or a cup of eggnog, making it a perfect holiday breakfast or dessert treat.
- See the blog post for additional recipe tips and tricks to enhance your baking experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
