Description
This Cranberry Christmas Cake is a festive and moist dessert perfect for holiday celebrations. Bursting with fresh cranberries and the zest of orange, it combines sweet and tart flavors in a soft cake that pairs wonderfully with hot chocolate or eggnog.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 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 and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×9 inch baking dish with baking spray or grease it using homemade cake release. Set 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, becoming light and fluffy.
- Add butter and extracts: Add the softened unsalted butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest to the mixture. Beat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until well incorporated.
- Incorporate dry ingredients and cranberries: Gently add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt, mixing just until combined. Carefully fold in the fresh cranberries to distribute evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing and serving. Enjoy this festive cake with your favorite holiday beverages.
Notes
- Prepare the baking pan by spraying with baking spray or using homemade cake release to prevent sticking.
- When zesting the orange, use a handheld grater or zesting tool and avoid the bitter white pith underneath the peel.
- Store leftover cake covered at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze slices for up to 3 months.
- This cake is perfect for holiday breakfasts or dessert and pairs well with hot chocolate or eggnog.
- For extra moistness, consider adding a tablespoon of orange juice to the batter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
