Cranberry & Apple Xmas Cake
This festive Christmas apple cake is studded with fresh cranberries and has a slight sugar crunch on top! It will be super popular with friends and family!
This may well be the best cake I've ever made. Ok guys, hear me out! Just to make you understand why I think so, I have made this three times in the last few weeks already! The first time I made it was obviously a test cake but my son basically lost it with happiness. He totally surprised me by saying this is his now most favorite cake ever, even better than lemon cake! And believe me, that's a big compliment.
To be fair, he's not the only one. Everyone in my family went nuts for the cake - me including. It's the perfect combination of sweet and sour. You have the slight apple taste and the strong sourness of the fresh cranberries. But paired with a delicious slight sugar crust on top plus lots of powdered sugar. It's seriously the BEST combination!
Sometimes, it's funny how recipes come about. I remember being out for a walk with my husband a few weeks back and thinking about adding fresh cranberries to a baked good. He was definitely not convinced. Plus we didn't have any at home. I don't know about other countries but here in Germany, winter is the only time you can get fresh cranberries (unfortunately). That's a pity because I love snacking on them raw - have you done that? So sour but so good!
So next time I saw them at the shop (finally!) I remembered my plan and I bought a package. And this is what it got me to. Delicious cake! I might just have to make another batch this weekend - I cannot stop thinking about it!
It would also make the perfect cake for the holidays! It's so festive looking, like a big baked Christmas tree! And the way the cranberries nestle on top makes them almost look like Christmas baubles to me. I'm sure your guests would be very impressed!
Will you make this cake for the festive season? Or how about The Best Honey Apple Cake?
This festive Christmas apple cake is studded with fresh cranberries and has a slight sugar crunch on top! It will be super popular with friends and family!
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2/3 cups sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup apple sauce
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2/3 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 large apple (a tart kind like Granny Smith)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
In a big bowl, cream together butter and sugar for one minute.
Add buttermilk and apple sauce and mix in well.
Pre-heat oven to 180°C (356°F).
In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cornstarch.
Add dry to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
In a small bowl, mix together fresh cranberries and 1 tbsp sugar. Put aside.
If you rinse and drain the cranberries just before mixing them with the sugar, the sugar will stick to them better.Grate the (unpeeled) apple and fold it into the batter.
Pour it into a Christmas shaped silicone form (or just a regular one if you don't have that) and spread it to all corners.
If you don't use a silicone baking form, make sure to grease it well!Add the sugared cranberries on top of the batter and press them in slightly. Sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar on top. Bake at 180°C for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool off for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy!
