Description
Indulge in the festive flavors of the season with this delightful Christmas Cranberry Pound Cake. A moist and tender cake studded with juicy cranberries, perfect for holiday gatherings or a sweet treat any time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, do not thaw)
- 1 tbsp flour (for tossing cranberries)
Optional Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp orange juice or milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or a bundt pan.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and almond extracts.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the sour cream, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Add Cranberries: Toss the cranberries with 1 tablespoon of flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold them into the batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60–70 minutes (50–60 minutes for a bundt pan), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Glaze: Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, orange juice (or milk), and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake before serving.
Notes
- This festive cake can be made a day ahead and stored at room temperature.
- Add a little orange zest to the batter for extra holiday flavor.
- Serve with whipped cream or ice cream for a decadent touch.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
