This delicious Cranberry Cake is perfect for holiday season get togethers! The tartness of the cranberries along with the buttery cake is perfect.
When your husband tells you that the cake you made is by far the best recipe you’ve ever made, I think it’s safe to say that recipe is a win! This Cranberry Cake is the perfect Christmas cake! And it’s so easy to make too.
While this cake is called a Christmas Cranberry Cake, don’t let the name fool you! Cranberries are plentiful October through December. It would be a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table as well!
After the thanksgiving holiday, cranberries become hard to find. So be sure to pick up a few bags and freeze them to make delicious recipes like this Christmas Cranberry Cake! I am a huge fan of all things cranberry and have been since I was a kid!
I personally love a good bundt cake. You will see them a lot on this site. This Cranberry Cake comes out just amazing in the bundt pan thanks to the crust that forms in the pan. The cranberries give this cake just enough sweetness and it has a delicious buttery texture.
One of the most stressful moments of any cake making endeavor is removing your cake from the pan. Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes in the pan on a cooling rack. Then turn the cake upside down onto the cooling rack and let the cake naturally fall out onto the rack.
If you love cranberries as much as I do, be sure to also check out some of these other delicious recipes using them!
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins
Cranberry Oat No Bake Bars
Cranberry Upside Down Cake
15+ Ways to Use Cranberries
I just know that you will enjoy this Cranberry Bundt Cake as much as we did and it will quickly become a holiday tradition in your home!
Cranberry Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 12 oz cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and soften butter.
- Mix together sugar and eggs.
- Add vanilla and butter.
- Slowly beat in flour.
- Fold in cranberries.
- Pour into a prepared bundt pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let your cranberry cake cook and then lightly dust with powdered sugar.
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Cynthia @craftoflaughter says
Oh no! I forgot all about picking up some extra bags and freezing them! I would love to make this delicious looking cake. it looks so festive and perfect for the holidays
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That looks so good! Cranberry is one of those fruits that doesn’t get enough love in desserts. I can’t wait to try this.
Colleen Lanin says
How yummy! I’ve had cranberry in muffins and dressing of course, but I’ve never had them in a cake. This sounds really delicious.
Lindsey Paris says
six ingredients or less? Sign me up for that! I can make this easily for guests or for breakfast.
Jalisa says
This looks so yummy. I’ve never had cranberry cake but this looks like a must try.
Allison says
OH wow! This looks so delicious! I will have to try this for our upcoming Christmas party in a few weeks!!
Chelsea Damon says
Wow this recipe is so simple! And I just love your presentation! So Christmasy!
Jeanette says
My mother loves cranberries! I don’t think she’s ever made something like this so I think I will surprise her with it. She would love it.
Angela Tolsma says
Getting that kind of compliment is always the best. I also love when the outside is the perfect crunchy but the inside is soft! This sounds so yummy!
karen says
I am SO SO making this! ASAP. And for Christmas too. I am ALL about cranberries but never find recipes (for desserts) that I really am excited about. This one is speaking to me!
Kelly Hutchinson says
This looks like heaven on a plate! I love cranberries, so any dessert they are in is a favorite of mine!
Meagan says
This is such a beautiful cake. It sounds like a delicious flavor combination too!
Liz Mays says
Now this is a fun way to use cranberries! I love the way the cake slices look with the cranberries inside!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
Cranberry is just one of those things you don’t see many different recipes being used, unless it’s sauce. This cake sounds delicious!
Aimee Smith says
This cake is GORGEOUS! This would make table setting for sure!
Amy Desrosiers says
This looks like such a tasty recipe. I know my family would love it too!
Terri Steffes says
Did you use raw cranberries? I love to use cranberries in so many things. My favorite: a garnish for champagne!
momma lew says
Yup! They bake up delicious!
Tara says
I love a good Christmas cake. It looks so delicious and moist.
Stacie says
What a fantastic looking cake. I will have to try this for the holidays. I love cranberries.
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
I love cranberry anything! This cake looks delicious. My grandmother always had bags of cranberries in the freezer.
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
That looks super delicious! This would be a great dessert for our annual family dinner! Thanks!
Pam says
This is a beautiful cake. I love cranberries but I rarely make much other than cranberry sauce.
Jeanine says
This looks so good! I really enjoy cranberry but don’t eat it as much as I’d like! This is a must try for sure!
Veronica Solomon says
This looks so amazing and delicious. This is one I would love to try
Ann Bacciaglia says
I have never tried this kind of cake before. It looks so delicious I am excited to give this recipe a try.
Lisa Bristol says
I am always looking for new dessert recipes to try. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make this on the weekend,
Elizabeth Lampman says
Christmas Cranberry Cake looks so delicious and easy to make. I am sure it will be a big hit this Christmas.
Meagan says
YUM! I love cranberries, especially around Christmas time! This looks so fantastic!
Janis @MommyBlogExpert says
That looks absolutely delicious. I bought extra cranberries at Thanksgiving and froze them, so you can guess what I’m going to make in December. Thanks for the recipe!
Debra says
This looks so pretty and I am sure tastes just as good as it looks!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This should be on our Christmas menu! It looks so good! Love to try the other recipes too!
Ana De- Jesus says
I love cranberries and this Christmas Cranberry cake looks so much better than traditional Christmas cake. Yum!
Jenni says
This looks really good! I could eat this whole cake! Yummy!
Carolann Leibenguth says
This Cranberry cake looks divine. After work, I am running by the store to pick up some cranberries. I will let you know how everyone likes it, I am going to take this to our work Christmas party
Shelley zurek says
This cake looks so moist and I love that you don’t need frosting. Good with coffee too I’ll bet.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
Your directions are well spelled out.
This is a creative use for cranberries.
Ilka says
This is such a simple and beautiful classic cake recipe! Love how adding the cranberries makes it perfect for the holidays!
Brianne says
This recipe looks so delicious and festive! I am definitely trying this recipe out this season!
Piroska says
This cake looks absolutely fabulous! It would be perfect for my Christmas dinner.
Amanda @ Old House to New Home says
What a beautiful and impressive looking cake! I will have to try this!
Beeb Ashcroft says
Such a beautiful cake. I love using cranberries around Christmas time.
Tess says
I love cranberry on anything. This looks great!
Taylor Mobley says
That cake is totally gorgeous!! It will be PERFECT for a christmas party I will be throwing later this season! It is SOSOSO festive and just so beautiful.
Tonia @TheChattyMomma says
That looks really delicious. I love cranberry desserts and I love cake. Perfect combo.
Roxanne says
This looks so simple to make! I am saving this for when it is my turn to bring the coffee cake!
Sarah Bailey says
Cranberry is one of my favorites and so this cake looks delicious. I need to make this asap!
Erica Weaver says
this is very festive great for those dinners at friends house to show it off !! love to try this out looks amazing i bet it taste as good to
Heather says
Yum! This looks amazing! I love making cranberry bread, but a cranberry cake sounds equally as delicious!
Cheryl Reeves says
Hi Reesa, This recipe looks looks gorgeous and I am thinking of making it for a Christmas Party this weekend. As I am in Australia I am not sure if the ” flour” is plain or self raising, please let me know.
Thank you. Cheryl
momma lew says
Hi Cheryl! It is all-purpose, so I guess plain?
Venus says
Looks delicious but no baking powder is necessary?
momma lew says
none!
Marcie W. says
This is the first I am hearing of cranberry cake, but it sounds amazing. Totally perfect for the holiday season!
Caitie Hurley says
This looks delicious! Might become a new Christmas tradition recipe 🙂
Alex Rousseaux says
Just tried this, and it was SO good! But….the recipe did not call for preparing the bunt pan; however, I greased and floured it anyway. When I flipped it out, half of the cake stayed in the pan 🙁
Did you just pour the batter straight into the pan?? Definitely want to make it again, but need to know what I did wrong!
Thanks!!
momma lew says
Hi Alex, I’m sorry I forgot that part! I did prepare the pan – I use baking spray.
Marlene says
Can you use frozen cranberries for this recipe, and if so do you need to thaw??
Amanda says
What a beautiful cake, Reesa! The texture looks perfect and the sweet-tart cranberries must give the cake such great flavor. I’d want to bake (and eat) this all winter!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
This is very timely — I have a bag of cranberries in my refrigerator as we speak and I actually don’t have a plan for them! This is perfect!
Lauryn R says
Yum! I love cranberries, they are so good for you! 🙂 They are also very festive, this recipe is definitely perfect for the Holidays! Thank you so much for sharing!
janie vezina says
oh this looks so good, wondering if i should just make 2?
Tina says
Hi I just tried this recipe, is there supposed to be any leveling agent; baking soda or powder??
momma lew says
Hi Tina,
Nope! Just what’s written! Enjoy!
Dawn says
Has anyone tried this recipe. Thinking of making it.
Jannie says
It’s awesome, super moist, crunchy on the outside, I did cook for an hour though. Turned out perfect! A real keeper, making more.
momma lew says
So glad you enjoyed!
Amy Cosgrove says
I make this all the time best recipe ever
Lyndall says
I tried this recipe and after 50 minutes, it was still gooey in the middle. Definitely needs to cook longer. It is very tasty!
momma lew says
For a lot of recipes, you really need to check your oven’s temperature. Your oven probably runs on a lower temp.
Kare says
This is the easiest and most DELICIOUS cake I have ever made. I made it twice last week for 2 different events and had rave reviews both times. I’m craving it just thinking about it.
momma lew says
I LOVE hearing this! Thank you!
Ashley Wildenhaus says
Do you cut the cranberries or leave them whole? 🙂
momma lew says
Leave them whole!
Brittney says
I made this today (my first bundt cake). It was very easy to make. My first bite was amazing, but on second bite i decided it was too sweet and needed more cranberries so I will adjust the sugar and cranberries next time. I do not like overly sweet or buttery things and I prefer lightly sweet and tart so it is probably just me. I suspect a crowd would really enjoy this. How did you get the sides of the cake so well sifted with sugar? Did you have to roll it on its side? (Tip for those wondering about prepping the pan: I melted shortening and smeared it on with a pastry brush very thoroughly and then threw in some flour, put press and seal over the pan and then shook it all over to make sure the flour adhered evenly. Then i dumped the excess flour in the sink. I waited 5min to cool and then tipped over the pan. It came out so easy).
momma lew says
I use a sifter to dust with the powdered sugar and then it sprinkles it on perfectly.