Description
This Christmas Cranberry Pound Cake is a delightful holiday treat that is perfect for festive gatherings or as a thoughtful gift. The moist pound cake is studded with tart cranberries, creating a burst of flavor in every bite. Optional vanilla glaze adds a touch of sweetness for the perfect balance of flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, do not thaw)
- 1 tablespoon flour (to coat cranberries)
Optional Vanilla Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream, mixing until smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Add cranberries: Toss the cranberries with 1 tablespoon flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold them into the batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and glaze: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. If using the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.
- Add orange zest to the batter for a festive citrus twist.
- This cake keeps well for several days and also freezes beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
