If there’s one dessert that truly captures the joy of the holiday season, it’s this Cranberry Christmas Cake — a bright, festive, sweet-tangy treat that celebrates everything magical about winter baking. Bursting with juicy cranberries, rich buttery crumb, and hints of orange and vanilla, this cake is everything a holiday dessert should be: nostalgic, beautiful, and irresistibly delicious.

Cranberries often shine in sauces and drinks during the Christmas season, but when baked into a soft, moist cake, they transform into something extraordinary. Their natural tartness cuts through the sweetness of the batter, creating the perfect flavor balance. Every bite offers moist cake, bright cranberry pops, and warm cozy holiday aromas.

Whether you’re hosting a Christmas dinner, bringing something to a festive gathering, or simply craving a cozy winter dessert, this Cranberry Christmas Cake is guaranteed to impress. It’s easy to make, beautifully festive, and a dessert centerpiece without requiring complicated techniques.

Let’s explore what makes this cake so special, along with tips, variations, and everything you need for holiday baking success.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Christmas Cake

Perfect for Christmas & winter holidays
With its festive colors and bright flavor, this cake belongs on every holiday dessert table.
Sweet meets tart
Fresh cranberries add bursts of flavor that balance the sweetness of the cake.
Moist, rich crumb
Butter and eggs create a soft, dense, luxurious texture.
Beautiful presentation
A snowy dusting of powdered sugar or a glossy cranberry glaze makes it look stunning.
Easy yet impressive
No layers, no complicated steps — mix, bake, glaze, and serve!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups fresh cranberries

For the Cranberry Glaze (optional but stunning):

1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp cranberry juice
Extra fresh cranberries for topping

Instructions

Preheat the oven.
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add eggs and flavorings.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest.
Combine dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
Mix the batter.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until incorporated.
Fold in the cranberries.
Gently fold the fresh cranberries into the batter.
Bake.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely.
Make the glaze.
Whisk powdered sugar with cranberry juice until smooth.
Decorate and serve.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake and top with cranberries.

Cranberry Christmas Cake

A festive holiday cake bursting with tart cranberries, sweet buttery crumb, and a bright cranberry glaze. Perfect for Christmas celebrations.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1 5

Servings: 10 slices

Course: Dessert, Holiday

Cuisine: American, Christmas

Calories: 340

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Cake Batter

2 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter softened
3 eggs large
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp salt
2 cups fresh cranberries

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tbsp cranberry juice
fresh cranberries for topping

Equipment

Mixing bowls
Hand mixer or stand mixer
Cake pan
Cooling rack

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch cake pan.
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and orange zest.
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed.
Fold in fresh cranberries.
Spread batter into prepared pan and bake 45–55 minutes.
Let cool completely.
Mix powdered sugar and cranberry juice to make glaze.
Drizzle glaze over cooled cake and top with fresh cranberries.

Notes

For extra brightness, add more orange zest or finish with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Tips for the Best Cranberry Christmas Cake

1. Use fresh cranberries for the best texture

Frozen cranberries work too, but add them frozen — don’t thaw.

2. Don’t overmix the batter

Overmixing = dense cake. Mix until just combined.

3. Add orange zest

It enhances the cranberry flavor and adds festive warmth.

4. Let the cake cool before glazing

Warm cake will melt the glaze immediately.

5. Want more glaze?

Double the glaze ingredients for a thick, snowy drizzle.

Fun Variations

Cranberry Orange Christmas Cake

Add 2 tbsp fresh orange juice to the batter for citrus depth.

Cranberry Almond Cake

Replace ½ cup of flour with almond flour and add almond extract.

Cranberry White Chocolate Cake

Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips for extra sweetness.

Cranberry Vanilla Bean Cake

Use vanilla bean paste for a rich, floral vanilla flavor.

How to Serve This Cake

With hot chocolate or spiced tea
As a Christmas morning treat
With vanilla ice cream
With whipped cream and sugared cranberries
As a holiday dessert centerpiece

How to Store

Room temperature: 2 days in airtight container
Refrigerator: up to 5 days
Freezer: freezes beautifully for up to 3 months

Fun Cranberry Facts

Cranberries are one of the few fruits native to North America.
They are naturally very tart, making them ideal for baking.
Early colonists used cranberries for both food and dye.
Their bright color and flavor make them a symbol of winter holidays.