Festive Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe: A Sweet Holiday Delight

Sweet memories often bloom around a festive cranberry poke cake that sparks conversations and delights gatherings.

Clusters of ruby-red berries nestle between moist cake layers, creating unexpected bursts of tangy flavor.

Each slice tells a story of comfort and celebration, inviting friends to savor something special.

Soft vanilla notes blend perfectly with sharp cranberry essence, making this dessert a seasonal favorite.

Bakers who love simple techniques will appreciate how quickly this cake comes together.

Delicate holes absorb rich cranberry sauce, ensuring every bite feels luxurious and indulgent.

You’ll want to bookmark this recipe for upcoming holiday moments that demand something extraordinary.

Why Cranberry Poke Cake Is a Holiday Favorite

• Cranberry Poke Cake Highlights
• Requires minimal cooking skills with straightforward box cake mix and simple assembly steps, perfect for novice bakers wanting a hassle-free dessert experience.
• Delivers stunning visual appeal and tangy-sweet flavor profile that makes it ideal for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or winter gatherings where impressive desserts shine.
• Can be prepared in advance and refrigerated, allowing busy hosts to plan dessert ahead without last-minute kitchen stress while maintaining delicious taste and texture.
• Offers flexible options like adjusting cranberry sauce smoothness, adding extra garnishes, or experimenting with whipped cream consistency to suit personal preferences.

What You’ll Need to Make Cranberry Poke Cake

• White Cake Mix: Classic base for creating a light, fluffy canvas for the cranberry flavors.
• Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and helps bind ingredients.
• Water: Helps create smooth cake batter consistency.

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds creamy sweetness and helps liquid penetrate cake.
• Cranberry Sauce: Provides tart flavor and festive red color, preferably smooth or whole berry style.

• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, light whipped topping with soft texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes whipped cream.
• Fresh Cranberries: Natural garnish with bright, festive appearance.
• Additional Powdered Sugar: Optional decorative sprinkle for extra sweetness.

Instructions for Cranberry Poke Cake

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

• Cake mix
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Water

Mix until silky smooth.

Step 2: Bake the Base

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Slide into the hot oven and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, typically 30-35 minutes.

Step 3: Create Cake Craters

Let the cake cool for 10 minutes. Grab a wooden spoon handle or a similar tool. Poke holes across the entire cake surface, making sure to reach all the way to the bottom.

Step 4: Craft the Cranberry Drench

• Sweetened condensed milk
• Cranberry sauce

Blend until perfectly smooth. For extra silkiness, pulse the cranberry sauce in a blender first.

Step 5: Soak the Cake

Slowly drizzle the cranberry mixture over the cake, ensuring it seeps into every hole. Let the cake absorb the liquid for at least 30 minutes.

Step 6: Whip Up the Topping

• Heavy cream
• Powdered sugar

Beat until stiff peaks form and the mixture looks cloud-like.

Step 7: Finish and Decorate

Spread the whipped cream evenly across the cake. Scatter fresh cranberries on top. Dust with a light snowfall of powdered sugar if desired.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Chill or serve at room temperature. Watch your guests swoon over this festive dessert!

Top Tips for a Better Cranberry Poke Cake

• Adjust Sauce Consistency: Blend cranberry sauce beforehand for a smoother, more even distribution throughout the cake's holes, ensuring every bite is deliciously moist.
• Prevent Cake Dryness: Allow cake to cool slightly before poking holes to help them maintain structural integrity and maximize sauce absorption.
• Control Sweetness Level: Reduce powdered sugar in whipped topping if using sweetened condensed milk, which already adds significant sweetness to the dessert.
• Customize Cranberry Flavor: Experiment with homemade or different brands of cranberry sauce to create unique taste profiles and personalize the cake's flavor.
• Storage Tip: Refrigerate cake for up to 3-4 days, covering with plastic wrap to maintain freshness and prevent the whipped topping from losing its fluffy texture.

How to Store and Reheat Cranberry Poke Cake

• Store the cranberry poke cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover the top with plastic wrap to prevent drying out and maintain moisture.
• Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to preserve its texture and flavor.
• Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on low power. Avoid overheating to prevent the whipped cream topping from melting or becoming watery.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving to let it come to a slightly cool room temperature, which enhances the flavors and makes the texture more enjoyable.

Drinks and Sides That Go with Cranberry Poke Cake

• Elevate Cranberry Cake's Taste Experience with Strategic Pairings
• Crisp champagne or prosecco complements the cake's sweet-tart profile, cutting through the richness and refreshing the palate with elegant bubbles.
• Hot spiced chai tea or cinnamon-infused coffee creates a cozy contrast, enhancing the cake's fruity and creamy notes with warm, comforting undertones.
• Serve alongside vanilla bean ice cream or a light lemon sorbet to balance the cake's dense texture and amplify its cranberry brightness.
• Sprinkle toasted almond slivers or crushed pecans on top to introduce a delightful textural element and nutty undertone that harmonizes with the cake's sweet-tangy essence.

Fun Cranberry Poke Cake Variations to Try

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace white cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Swap heavy cream with coconut whipped cream and use dairy-free condensed milk substitute made from coconut milk.
• Low-Sugar Option: Use sugar-free cake mix, replace sweetened condensed milk with unsweetened almond milk, and add stevia or monk fruit sweetener to adjust sweetness.
• Vegan Adaptation: Substitute eggs with flax eggs, use vegan cake mix, replace condensed milk with coconut cream, and top with dairy-free whipped topping made from coconut cream.

Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade cranberry poke cake delivers festive winter magic with its tangy-sweet flavor profile. Moist layers infused with cranberry sauce create a delightful dessert you’ll crave throughout holiday gatherings.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fresh Produce:

• 1 package fresh cranberries

Cake Base Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Filling and Topping Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 (3 ounces/85 grams) package cranberry gelatin
• 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) container whipped topping
• ¼ cup powdered sugar

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with grease to prevent sticking.
2. Craft the cake batter by blending the white cake mix with essential liquid and solid ingredients until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
3. Transfer the cake mixture into the prepared baking dish, ensuring an even distribution. Place in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges completely clean.
4. After removing the cake from the oven, allow it to cool slightly for approximately 10 minutes. Create a network of deep holes across the entire surface using a wooden spoon handle, piercing all the way to the cake’s bottom.
5. Create a luscious cranberry infusion by whisking sweetened condensed milk and cranberry sauce together until thoroughly integrated. For a more refined texture, consider puréeing the cranberry sauce beforehand.
6. Gently cascade the cranberry mixture over the cake, ensuring complete penetration into every hole. Let the cake rest for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the liquid to thoroughly permeate the crumb.
7. Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff, glossy peaks form. Delicately spread this cloud-like topping across the entire cake surface.
8. Embellish the dessert with fresh cranberries and an optional dusting of powdered sugar. Serve either chilled or at ambient temperature to maximize flavor complexity.

Notes

• Boost moisture by ensuring you poke deep holes through the entire cake, allowing the cranberry mixture to penetrate completely.
• Customize the sweetness level by adjusting the amount of powdered sugar in the whipped cream topping to suit personal taste preferences.
• Select high-quality cranberry sauce for more robust flavor, preferably homemade or artisan brands that offer richer fruit complexity.
• Consider dairy-free alternatives like coconut whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping to make the recipe suitable for lactose-intolerant guests.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg