Description
Merry christmas cranberry poke cake delivers festive cheer with its irresistible blend of tangy cranberries and sweet vanilla. Rich layers soaked in cranberry sauce promise a delightful holiday dessert you’ll savor to the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
Cranberry Sauce Layer:
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
Topping and Frosting:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/4 cup white chocolate shavings (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
- Mix white cake mix with water, vegetable oil, and eggs using an electric mixer until smooth and well-combined.
- Gently fold fresh cranberries into the cake batter, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly, then bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, prepare the cranberry sauce by combining cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan.
- Simmer the cranberry mixture over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until berries burst and sauce thickens.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes evenly across the entire cake surface.
- Pour the warm cranberry sauce over the cake, allowing it to seep into the holes.
- Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour to cool completely and let flavors meld.
- Whip cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream, beating until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the chilled cake.
- Optionally, sprinkle chopped pecans and white chocolate shavings on top for extra texture and decoration.
- Chill the cake for an additional 30 minutes before serving to set the frosting.
Notes
- Enhance berry flavor by briefly cooking cranberries before adding to batter, which concentrates their natural sweetness and reduces excess moisture.
- Prevent cranberries from sinking by lightly dusting them with flour before folding into cake mix, ensuring even distribution throughout the dessert.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting white cake mix with almond or coconut flour-based alternative, maintaining the cake’s light texture and festive taste.
- Modify frosting for dairy-free diets by replacing cream cheese and butter with vegan cream cheese and plant-based margarine, keeping the creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-42 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg