15 Cranberry Cakes Bursting With Holiday Flavor

upside down cranberry cake on white cake stand
Photo: Kim

No holiday gathering is complete without a cranberry dessert, and while cranberry sauce is tradition, cake is more fun. You'll find no canned cranberry sauce or dried cranberries here, just fresh cranberry desserts bursting with sweet/tart flavor. From cranberry upside-down cakes to cranberry breakfast cakes and even decadent cranberry cheesecakes, these cranberry cakes are worthy of your holiday dessert spread.

01 of 16

Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

a slice of cranberry- and pecan-topped coffee cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background
Scott M.

Half of the fun of this cake is turning it over to reveal a sweet mixture of cranberries and pecans baked onto the bottom. "The tartness of the cranberries, the crunchiness of the nuts and sweetness of the gooey topping complement each other extremely well," says reviewer gggllitch.

02 of 16

Ultimate Cranberry Pudding Cake

closeup of a cranberry-studded cake slice with a hot butter sauce
Jenniffer Farmer Baltzell

This cranberry Bundt cake is doused in a hot butter sauce, making it one to save for special occasions. You can also serve the sauce in a bowl in the center of the cake for a beautiful presentation, like reviewer ILA8030 suggests.

03 of 16

Cranberry Upside-Down Sour Cream Cake

Upside-Down cake with cranberry topping
abapplez

This stunning, fresh cranberry upside down cake will be the star of any holiday gathering. Sour cream makes the cake extra moist.

04 of 16

Cranberry Sour Cream Kuchen

cranberry cake with slice removed
AllrecipesPhoto

Make a holiday tradition out of this German coffee cake: "This is a holiday breakfast favorite in our home. It is equally delicious served warm or cold, and it also freezes well, so you can make it ahead."

05 of 16

Cranberry Apple Cake

three slices of poundcake with nuts, cranberries, and icing
Molly

Two classic fall flavors, apple and cranberry, only get better when paired together. Drizzle it with a vanilla glaze for an extra special touch.

06 of 16

Olive Oil Cranberry Bundt Cake

Olive Oil Cranberry Bundt Cake
elinor3

No butter? You can still get a moist result using olive oil. Some reviewers suggest adding a little orange zest, which pairs beautifully with cranberries.

07 of 16

Fresh Cranberry Cake

square cranberry cake with fresh cranberries and whipped cream
lutzflcat

This simple, fresh cranberry cake can easily transition into other seasons by swapping cranberries for other fresh berries. It's served with a creamy vanilla sauce.

08 of 16

Cranberry Orange Cake

slice of bundt cake on a white plate
lutzflcat

Orange juice and orange zest gives light orange flavor to go alongside fresh cranberries in this Bundt cake. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.

09 of 16

Cheesecake with Cranberry Glaze and Sugared Cranberries

cheesecake topped with cranberry glaze, sugared cranberries, and lemon zest curls
LauraF

Here's a make-ahead dessert that will look beautiful on your Thanksgiving table: "Cranberries and orange are a natural pairing, and I wanted to combine them in a cheesecake fit for the Thanksgiving table. The cranberry glaze is a really beautiful color, and the sugared cranberries are the perfect topping. Most of the work is done the night before, so it's not even that hard to make," says recipe creator LauraF.

10 of 16

Nana's Cranberry Kuchen

cranberry bread
Chef Mo

Kuchen, which is German for cake, typically contains a fruit or custard filling and a topping of some sorts, or in this case, a fresh cranberry filling and a crunchy streusel topping.

11 of 16

Cranberry Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

cranberry muffins with white icing and candied cranberries
Kim

These orange-cranberry cupcakes are topped with a rich, white chocolate buttercream. For a truly stunning presentation, try adding some frosted cranberries as a garnish.

12 of 16

Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake

bundt cake with sugared cranberries on top
Kim's Cooking Now

"I bought the cutest little 4.5-cup capacity Bundt® pan to bake smaller cakes for just me and my husband. This recipe fit perfectly in it, and was just the right amount for us," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Kim's Cooking Now. "Cranberries and orange peel are finely chopped and beat into the batter, so you get those flavors throughout the cake. Decorating with the sugared cranberries is optional, but makes for a beautiful presentation."

13 of 16

Fresh Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

upside down cranberry cake on white cake stand
Kim

This cranberry upside-down cake has a brown sugar and cranberry bottom and is served with a homemade whipped cream.

14 of 16

Cranberry Coffee Cake

cake with cranberry and nuts in casserole dish
Diana Moutsopoulos

Whether you enjoy it as breakfast or dessert, we think pairing this coffee cake with vanilla ice cream is always a good idea. "Going to make again Christmas eve for a nice treat on Christmas morning," says reviewer Bubby.

15 of 16

Really Cranberry Orange Yummy Gummy Pudding Cake

Really Cranberry Orange Yummy Gummy Pudding Cake in metal pans
Patti

Dried orange peel, orange juice concentrate, and orange extract give intense citrus notes to this dense cranberry cake. If you prefer a lighter cake, recipe creator Trisha777 suggests adding three eggs to the batter.

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