4.8 from 33 votes
Cranberry Cake with Warm Vanilla Butter Sauce
I make this Cranberry Cake with Warm Vanilla Butter Sauce every Christmas without fail! It really is one of my favorite cakes. It is SO easy to put together, you really can't mess it up. The butter sauce is EVERYTHING!!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Cooling Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 10 Servings
Calories: 840 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 4 cups cranberries fresh, a 12-oz bag is 3 cups
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 oz can evaporated milk
- 4 cups flour spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
For the sauce:
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Dump all the cranberries in a colander, rinse them, and set them aside to dry. (If you really love cranberry, you can add up to 5 cups of cranberries. I used 4 and thought it was perfect.)
- Add the softened butter and 2 cups of sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add the evaporated milk and combine.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat until just barely combined, scraping the sides and bottom as necessary. Fold in the cranberries using a wooden spoon.
- Spray a standard-size (10-12 cup) bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Over the sink, sprinkle a couple teaspoons of flour all over the inside of the pan, and shake it so that it completely covers the interior. Dump any remaining flour. You just want a thin layer so that your cake inverts nice and easy.
- Spoon the batter into the pan, smoothing the top with a spoon. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes. The cake is done when it is a deep golden color and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out dry. It was closer to 50 minutes in my oven.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Set a timer so you don't forget.
- Invert the cake onto a plate or cake stand.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar and cream, and heat until sugar is melted and sauce is hot. Don't let it boil! Remove from heat, let it sit for a minute, then stir in vanilla.
- Serve warm sauce over cake. I like it best served over each individual slice, but you can drizzle it over the whole cake if you want. Don't do all of it, just enough to make it pretty. The cake can be served warm or at room temperature.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Source: Lulu the Baker
Nutrition Information
Serving
1slice
Calories
840kcal
(42%)
Carbohydrates
124g
(41%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
37g
(57%)
Saturated Fat
23g
(115%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
106mg
(35%)
Potassium
117mg
(3%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
82g
(164%)
Vitamin A
1225IU
(25%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
177mg
(18%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 840
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 840kcal | 42% |
| Carbohydrates | 124g | 41% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 37g | 57% |
| Saturated Fat | 23g | 115% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 106mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 117mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 82g | 164% |
| Vitamin A | 1225IU | 25% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 177mg | 18% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.