Christmas Cake Recipe With Cranberries
Christmas Cake Recipe With Cranberries is a festive dessert featuring a tender, buttery cake filled with tart cranberries and topped with smooth cream cheese frosting. Optional candied cranberries add a sweet, crunchy finish. This cake delivers a balance of flavours, is easy to prepare ahead, and creates a beautiful, delicious centrepiece for holiday celebrations that delights family and friends.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Saucepan (for candied cranberries)
Ingredients
For The Cake:
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
For The Frosting:
- 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Candied Cranberries (Optional):
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup sparkling sugar
Instructions
Preheat The Oven And Prep The Pan
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper so the cake doesn’t stick. Set it aside for now.
Cream Butter And Sugar
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 3/4 cup of softened butter with 2 cups of sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts until fully blended.
Add Dry Ingredients And Cranberries
- Gradually fold in 2 cups of all-purpose flour until the batter is smooth. Gently fold in 12 ounces of fresh cranberries so they’re evenly distributed without breaking them.
Bake The Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make The Frosting
- In a medium bowl, beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt until smooth. Gradually mix in 4 cups of powdered sugar until creamy and spreadable.
Frost The Cake
- Once the cake is fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top and sides.
Optional: Candied Cranberries For Decoration
- In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water and heat until the sugar dissolves. Add 1 1/2 cups cranberries and cook for 1–2 minutes until they’re coated. Remove from heat and toss them in 1 cup of sparkling sugar. Let them cool, then use them to decorate the frosted cake.