Cranberry poke cake is a delicious dessert that is perfect at any time of the year — not only for the holidays! It’s a simple cake that is easy to make and can be customized to fit your taste preferences. The cake is made by poking holes in a baked cake and filling those holes with a cranberry sauce. The sauce seeps into the cake, making it moist and flavorful.
I love making Cranberry Poke Cake because it is so delicious. Moreover, you can use any flavor of cake mix that you like and any type of cranberry sauce. You can also add other flavors to the cake, such as orange zest or vanilla extract. The cake can be served warm or cold, and it is always a hit with my family and friends.
Ingredients
You know I love baking, and I always make it a point to have all the ingredients I need before starting any recipe. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make a delicious Cranberry Poke Cake:
For the cake:
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
For the filling:
- 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup of orange juice
For the topping:
- 1 container of whipped topping
- 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
It’s important to have all the ingredients measured and ready before starting the recipe. This will make the process smoother and quicker.
For the cake, I recommend using a white cake mix as it complements the tartness of the cranberry filling. You can use any brand of white cake mix you prefer. In addition to the cake mix, you’ll need whole milk, eggs, and vegetable oil to make the cake batter.
For the filling, you’ll need a can of whole berry cranberry sauce and orange juice. The orange juice adds a citrusy flavor to the cranberry sauce, which complements the sweetness of the cake.
For the topping, you’ll need whipped topping and fresh cranberries. The whipped topping adds a creamy texture to the cake, while the fresh cranberries add a pop of color and tartness.
So, these ingredients are easy to find in any grocery store and are relatively inexpensive. With these ingredients, you can make a delicious Cranberry Poke Cake that’s perfect year round.
Instructions
Making a Cranberry Poke Cake is not as hard as it seems. You just need to follow a few simple steps to create a delicious cake that will impress your guests. Here’s how I make it:
Preparing the cake
- Preheat you oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
- Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, milk, eggs, and oil for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Once the batter is well mixed, pour it into the prepared pan.
- Bake the cake for about 25-30 minutes or until it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Once the cake is done, let it cool for about 10 minutes.
Making the filling
While the cake is cooling, make the cranberry filling:
- Heat the cranberry sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat until it turns into more of a liquid than a gel.
- Let it cool for a few minutes.
Assembling the cake
Once the cake has cooled for about 10 minutes, it’s time to assemble your cake:
- Take the top side of a wooden spoon and poke holes all around the cake.
- Then, pour spoonfuls of cranberry sauce into the holes in the cake, making sure to spread it out evenly.
- Chill the cake for about an hour.
- After the cake has chilled, spread whipped cream over the top of the cake. You can garnish the cake with fresh cranberries and mint leaves to give it a festive look.
That’s it! With these simple steps, you can make a delicious Cranberry Poke Cake that will be the star of any party.
Tips and Variations
Tips for making the perfect cake
I have a few tips that can help you create the perfect cake:
- Use fresh cranberries: Fresh cranberries add a tartness that complements the sweetness of the cake. Frozen cranberries can be used if fresh ones are not available, but they may be too mushy and not hold their shape.
- Poke the cake while it’s still warm: Poking the cake while it’s still warm ensures that the holes are big enough to hold the cranberry sauce and that the sauce will seep into the cake. Waiting for the cake to cool may result in smaller holes that won’t hold as much sauce.
- Chill the cake before adding whipped cream: Chilling the cake for at least an hour before adding whipped cream ensures that the cake is firm and the whipped cream won’t melt.
Variations to try
Cranberry Poke Cake is a versatile dessert that can be customized to suit your taste. Here are a few variations to try:
- Orange Cranberry Poke Cake: Add orange zest to the cake batter and use orange juice in your filling. Top the cake with orange-flavored whipped cream.
- White Chocolate Cranberry Poke Cake: Add white chocolate chips to the cake batter. Top the cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and fresh cranberries.
- Chocolate Cranberry Poke Cake: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the cake batter. Top the cake with chocolate-flavored whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Experiment with different flavors and toppings to create a Cranberry Poke Cake that is unique and delicious.
Conclusion
Cranberry Poke Cake is a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed during the holiday season or any time of the year. It’s easy to make and can be prepared in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences.
One of the great things about Cranberry Poke Cake is that it can be customized to suit your taste. You can add different toppings, such as whipped cream or fresh berries, or experiment with different flavors of cake mix. You can also adjust the sweetness level by using more or less sugar in the recipe.
Another benefit of cranberry poke cake is that it’s a relatively healthy dessert option. Cranberries are packed with antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients, and the cake itself is not overly sweet or heavy. Plus, you can use low-fat or sugar-free ingredients to make the recipe even healthier.
Try Cranberry Poke Cake if you haven’t already. It’s a unique and tasty dessert that is sure to impress your friends and family. Give it a try and see for yourself!