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Festive Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe

Festive Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe


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4.8 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Cranberry poke cake delights dessert enthusiasts with its festive charm. Moist layers infused with tangy cranberry sauce create a delectable holiday treat you’ll savor to the last crumb.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1 package (12 oz/340 g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1 package (3 oz/85 g) cranberry gelatin
  • 1 container (8 oz/226 g) whipped topping
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent potential sticking.
  2. Mix Batter: Combine white cake mix with wet and dry ingredients, blending until achieving a smooth, velvety texture that flows effortlessly.
  3. Bake Cake: Pour batter into prepared dish, distributing evenly. Bake until a clean toothpick test confirms complete doneness, approximately 25-30 minutes.
  4. Create Perforations: After removing from oven, let cake rest for 10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon handle to puncture deep holes across the entire cake surface, ensuring complete penetration to the bottom.
  5. Prepare Cranberry Infusion: Whisk sweetened condensed milk and cranberry sauce until perfectly combined. Optional: Purée sauce for enhanced smoothness and elegant consistency.
  6. Saturate Cake: Slowly pour cranberry mixture over cake, allowing liquid to seep thoroughly into every created hole. Rest for 30 minutes to maximize flavor absorption.
  7. Craft Topping: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until forming glossy, stable peaks. Spread delicately across the entire cake surface, creating a luxurious cloud-like finish.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Decorate with fresh cranberries and optional powdered sugar dusting. Offer chilled or at room temperature to enhance taste complexity.

Notes

  • Optimize Batter Mixing: Blend cake mix ingredients gradually to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, silky texture that guarantees even baking.
  • Perfect Hole Creation: Use the handle of a wooden spoon with consistent pressure, making holes deeply and evenly distributed across the cake surface for maximum cranberry sauce absorption.
  • Control Liquid Penetration: Allow the cake to rest at least 30 minutes after adding cranberry mixture, enabling complete flavor infusion without making the cake soggy.
  • Stabilize Whipped Cream: Chill cream and mixing bowl beforehand to help achieve firmer, more stable peaks that hold their shape when spread on the cake.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 43 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg