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Cranberry Poke Cake

Featured in: Sweet Endings and Treats

This stunning Christmas cake combines pure white layers with vibrant homemade cranberry-orange filling that adds both beautiful color and incredible flavor. The cream cheese whipped frosting provides perfect richness while staying light and fluffy, and white chocolate adds elegant touches throughout. While it looks totally professional, the straightforward preparation makes it achievable for home bakers. Every slice reveals that gorgeous red filling while delivering the perfect balance of tender cake, tangy fruit, and creamy frosting!
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Updated on Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:23:50 GMT
A layered dessert featuring a yellow cake base topped with cream, cranberries, and festive green and red decorations. Pin it
A layered dessert featuring a yellow cake base topped with cream, cranberries, and festive green and red decorations. | tasteofcook.com

Let me share my favorite holiday showstopper this Cranberry Poke Cake that never fails to wow everyone at Christmas gatherings. I love how the bright cranberry sauce creates beautiful ribbons through the snowy white cake and that cream cheese frosting is absolutely dreamy. The best part? It's so much easier to make than it looks!

What Makes This Cake Special

Every time I make this cake people can't believe how the sweet and tart flavors dance together so perfectly. That white chocolate drizzle and those pretty dried cranberries on top make it look like it came from a fancy bakery but it's our little secret how simple it really is.

Let's Gather Our Ingredients

  • White Cake Mix: Trust me egg whites only keep it beautifully white.
  • Cranberry Sauce: Fresh or canned both work wonderfully.
  • Red and Green Sprinkles: For that festive touch.
  • Cream Cheese: Make sure it's properly softened.
  • Powdered Sugar: For silky smooth frosting.
  • Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla makes a difference.
  • Whipped Cream: Homemade is lovely but store bought works too.
  • White Chocolate: For that elegant finish.
  • Dried Cranberries: These make it extra special.

Let's Make Some Magic

Start with the Cake
Those egg whites keep it perfectly white just fold those sprinkles in gently.
The Fun Part
Poking those holes and watching the cranberry sauce create pretty streams is so satisfying.
Whip Up the Frosting
Make sure that cream cheese is super soft for the smoothest frosting ever.
Make It Pretty
That white chocolate drizzle and cranberry garnish makes it look absolutely magical.

My Best Tips

After making this cake countless times I've learned a few tricks. Don't rush the chilling time it really helps everything set perfectly. And be gentle with those sprinkles too much mixing and your cake won't be white anymore!

Keeping It Fresh

This cake actually gets better after a day in the fridge as all those flavors meld together. Just keep it covered and it'll stay perfect for about three days though it never lasts that long in my house!

Make Your Own Sauce

Sometimes I love making my own cranberry sauce it's so easy and makes the cake extra special. Just simmer those fresh cranberries with sugar and orange juice until they burst it's like making jewels for your cake.

Mix It Up

Feel free to play with the flavors! A hint of almond extract in the frosting is divine and sometimes I'll use candy melts instead of white chocolate. It's such a flexible recipe you can really make it your own.

Perfect for Parties

This cake never fails to draw oohs and aahs at holiday gatherings. The way those cranberry ribbons show through when you slice it is just gorgeous and everyone always asks for the recipe.

Common Questions

Yes you can definitely use a different cake mix but white really shows off those pretty cranberry streams best. Making it ahead actually helps all the flavors develop. Just skip the freezer for this one the creamy elements don't thaw well.

Holiday Joy

There's something so special about bringing this cake to the holiday table. It's become such a tradition in my family and I love seeing everyone's faces light up when they spot those beautiful cranberry swirls.

A rectangular layer cake topped with a vibrant cranberry layer and green decorations, served on a white plate with a small bowl of cranberry sauce in the background. Pin it
A rectangular layer cake topped with a vibrant cranberry layer and green decorations, served on a white plate with a small bowl of cranberry sauce in the background. | tasteofcook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What consistency should the cranberry sauce be?
The cranberry sauce should have a pudding-like consistency after adding the cornstarch slurry. You can leave small chunks or process until smooth based on preference.
→ How deep should I poke the holes?
Poke holes about 2/3 of the way down into the cake, not all the way to the bottom. Space them about an inch apart for even distribution of filling.
→ Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes, this cake actually benefits from chilling at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the filling to set and flavors to develop. Store in the refrigerator.
→ Why add sprinkles to the cake batter?
The red and green sprinkles add festive color to the cake. Add them gently without overmixing to avoid coloring the entire batter.
→ Can I use store-bought cranberry sauce?
While homemade cranberry sauce provides the best flavor and texture, you could substitute with store-bought sauce in a pinch. Just ensure it's not too thin.

Conclusion

This Christmas dessert features a white cake filled with homemade cranberry-orange sauce, topped with cream cheese whipped frosting and white chocolate. Despite its impressive appearance, it's surprisingly simple to make.

Cranberry Poke Cake

A festive poke cake filled with orange-spiced cranberry sauce and topped with cream cheese frosting and white chocolate drizzle. Perfect for holiday gatherings.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes


Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (1 9x13 cake)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries.
02 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice.
03 1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar.
04 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional).
05 Dash of ginger and nutmeg (optional).
06 2 tablespoons corn starch dissolved in 2 1/2 tablespoons water.
07 16.25 oz box white cake mix (plus box ingredients).
08 1 tablespoon red sprinkles.
09 1 tablespoon green sprinkles.
10 8 oz cream cheese, softened.
11 1 cup powdered sugar.
12 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
13 2 1/2 cups whipped topping.
14 3.5 oz white chocolate, finely chopped.
15 1 tablespoon coconut oil.
16 1/3 cup dried cranberries.

Instructions

Step 01

Cook cranberries with sugar, orange juice and spices until burst. Add cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened to pudding consistency.

Step 02

Prepare cake mix according to box. Gently stir in sprinkles. Bake in 9x13 pan at 350°F.

Step 03

While warm, poke holes 2/3 deep, 1 inch apart. Fill holes with cranberry sauce and spread remaining on top. Chill 4+ hours.

Step 04

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over chilled cake.

Step 05

Top with dried cranberries. Drizzle with melted white chocolate mixed with coconut oil.

Notes

  1. Can chill overnight for best results.
  2. Store cake in refrigerator.
  3. Can use homemade whipped cream instead of topping.

Tools You'll Need

  • 9x13 baking dish.
  • Large saucepan.
  • Electric mixer.
  • Wooden spoon handle.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Eggs.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 65 g
  • Protein: 5 g