Description
This festive Cranberry Christmas Cake is a delightful holiday treat featuring a moist, sweet batter studded with fresh cranberries and infused with orange zest and almond extract. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a seasonal snack, it offers a beautiful balance of tart and sweet flavors.
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 your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 13x9 inch baking dish by spraying it with baking spray or using homemade cake release. Set aside.
- Mix 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 fluffy.
- Add Butter and Flavorings: Add the softened butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest to the sugar-egg mixture. Beat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Cranberries: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt, mixing just until combined. Fold in the fresh cranberries carefully to avoid breaking them.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit 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 pan before slicing and serving. This cake pairs wonderfully with hot chocolate or eggnog during the holidays.
Notes
- Prepare the baking pan properly by spraying with baking spray or using homemade cake release to prevent sticking.
- When zesting the orange, use a handheld grater and avoid the bitter white pith to maximize flavor.
- Store leftover cake covered at room temperature. Consume within 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months for best quality.
- Serving as breakfast or dessert makes this cake a versatile treat during the holiday season.
- For a richer flavor, unsalted butter should be softened but not melted before using.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
