Our fresh cranberry cake recipe is layered with sweet cranberry cake sauce & topped with sugared cranberries. It’s the perfect sweet holiday dessert!
Frosted cranberry layer cake
Picture this – you’ve just finished your holiday dinner and you’re ready for a sweet and tasty dessert. Sure, pumpkin and pecan pies are the norm, but what if you had something a little different this year?
You can totally make this a reality with our recipe for spiced white cake with cranberries!
A holiday dessert idea you will love
Holiday desserts are one of my favorite things to make and this layered cranberry cake fits the bill. Sweet, sugared cranberries top the cream cheese frosting on this delicious spice cake with cranberry filling, making this the perfect dessert to make for your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
A cranberry cake with fresh cranberries
This cranberry cake is delicious and moist and combines the perfect blend of sweet and tangy for a special cake made with fresh cranberries. Your family will enjoy the flavor of cranberry goodness throughout the layers of the cake.
Fresh Cranberry Cake Recipe with Sugared Cranberries
Make this delicious and moist white spice cake with cranberry filling this holiday season. Take a look at the ingredients list below. If you love to bake, you most likely already have most of these items in your pantry!
Ingredients needed to make a cranberry layer cake
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- cake flour
- salt
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- allspice
- ginger
- cloves
- nutmeg
- whole milk
- fresh cranberries
- water
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
How to make a layered cake with cranberry filling
Ok, so this is not a simple cranberry cake, so we will split this recipe up into a few parts. We will make the cake layers, the cranberry filling, the cream cheese frosting, and finally, the sugared cranberries.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease two round 9-inch cake pans and set them aside. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and mixed well. Add in the eggs individually, then the vanilla, and continue beating the mixture until well combined.
Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl
Grab another large mixing bowl and stir together all of the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, and spices).
Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the butter and sugar, starting and ending with the flour until all the ingredients are well combined, but not overmixed.
Bake the spiced white cake rounds
Once your cranberry cake batter is ready, divide it evenly by pouring it into the two 9-inch round cake pans and placing them in the oven to bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, until a knife in the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes before flipping the cake out of the pan and allowing it to cool completely before adding the cranberry sauce and candied cranberries.
Make the cranberry cake filling
Next, we’ll make the cranberry sauce for the cake. In a medium saucepan, sauté the fresh cranberries (you can also use frozen cranberries if you’d like), sugar, and salt over medium/low heat and cook until the cranberries start to burst. Add the 2 tablespoons of water and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
To make the simple syrup, simply combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat to allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Set aside and allow the simple syrup to cool.
Prepare the cream cheese cake frosting
Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy, then add the vanilla and mix well.
Recipe for sugared cranberries
To make these candied cranberries, start by heating ½ of the sugar with the water until the sugar is dissolved. Keep the other 1/2 of the sugar in a bowl and set aside.
Next, add in the cranberries. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain off the excess water before folding the cranberries in the remaining sugar to coat the outside.
Putting together the sugared cranberry cake
To assemble this fresh cranberry layer cake, place the first layer flat side up in the center of a plate or cake stand. Brush the top with half of the simple syrup and then spread the cranberry cake filling evenly on top.
Place the second cake layer flat side down on top of the first layer. Use the remaining simple syrup and brush the top of the cake. Frost the top of the cake, pushing it to the edges to allow it to slightly drip down. Spread the frosting around the outside of the cake as well.
Finally, arrange the sugared cranberries in a pile in the center of this recipe for cranberry cake! For a little more sweet sugary goodness, make sure to sprinkle a little bit of the extra sugar from the bowl over the top of the cake as pictured. Slice and serve.
Fresh Cranberry Cake Recipe with Sugared Cranberries
Equipment
- 2 9-inch round cake pans
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 2 saucepans
- 1 mixer stand mixer or hand mixer
- 1 cake stand optional
Ingredients
Layered Spice Cake Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ c butter room temp
- 2 c sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 ¾ c cake flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp cloves
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 ¼ c whole milk
Cranberry Filling Ingredients:
- 3 c frozen or fresh cranberries
- ½ c sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp water
Simple Syrup Ingredients:
- ½ c water
- ½ c sugar
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 - 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ c butter room temp
- 1 c powdered sugar packed
- 1 tsp vanilla
Ingredients for Sugared Cranberries:
- 1 c frozen or fresh cranberries
- 1 c sugar
- ½ c water
Instructions
To make the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line 2 - 9” round cake pans, or use nonstick.
- In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time until well combined. Add the vanilla and mix.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, and spices).
- Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the butter and sugar, starting and ending with the flour until all the ingredients are well combined, but not overmixed.
- Divide evenly between the two pans and place in the oven to bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, until a knife comes out cleanly.
- Allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes before flipping the cake out of the pan and allowing to cool completely before assembling.
To make the cranberry filling:
- In a medium sized saucepan, place the cranberries, sugar and salt over medium/low heat and cook until the cranberries start to burst. Add the water and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. (Can be made ahead of time and placed in the refrigerator.)
- To make the simple syrup:
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat to allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
To make the frosting:
- Using a hand (or stand) mixer, beat together the cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and mix.
To make the sugared cranberries:
- Heat ½ of the sugar with the water until sugar is dissolved and add in the cranberries. Remove from heat and strain off the excess water before rolling the cranberries in the remaining sugar to coat the outside.
To assemble:
- On a plate/cake stand place the first layer flat side up in the center of the plate. Brush the top with half of the simple syrup and then spread the cranberry filling evenly on top.
- Place the second layer, flat side down evenly on top of the first layer. Use the remaining simple syrup and brush the top of the cake. Add the frosting on top, pushing it to the edges to allow it to slightly drip down.
- Arrange the sugared cranberries in a pile in the center of the cake.
Enjoy this cranberry dessert recipe
Cranberries are such a lovely seasonal fruit and using them in a spiced cake recipe is such a great way to enjoy them. Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy making our cake with cranberries!
More holiday dessert recipes you’ll love
- 26 of the Best Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
- Easy 4-Ingredient White Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Balls Recipe
- Easy Apple Berry Crisp Recipe
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