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Apple Cranberry Cake Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 106 reviews
  • Author: lina
  • Total Time: 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Apple Cranberry Cake is a delightful autumn-inspired dessert that combines the tartness of fresh cranberries with the sweet, tender flavor of apples in a moist, fluffy cake. Made with simple ingredients like Greek yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla, this cake offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, finished with a beautiful apple and cranberry topping. Ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy teatime treats, it’s baked to golden perfection using a convection oven for even browning.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or baking flour, sifted or aerated)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 oz salted butter (melted, 1/2 cup)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (low-fat)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Fruit Toppings

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries (divided: 1 cup for batter, 1 cup for topping)
  • 1 large apple (peeled and cored; use sweet, firm varieties like Fuji, Gala, Envy, or Honeycrisp, sliced thinly)

Instructions

  1. Preheat & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). If available, use the convection bake setting for even cooking. Line the bottom of a 9×3-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides and bottom with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder to evenly distribute the leavening agent.
  3. Combine Sugar, Butter & Eggs: In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar, melted butter, and eggs vigorously for 1–2 minutes until the mixture becomes light in color, smooth, and fluffy, creating a good base texture.
  4. Add Yogurt & Vanilla: Gently whisk in the Greek yogurt and vanilla extract just until the ingredients are combined, ensuring the batter remains creamy.
  5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, about one cup at a time. Whisk just until combined after each addition to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cake.
  6. Fold in Cranberries: Carefully fold in 1 cup of fresh cranberries into the batter, distributing them evenly without breaking them up.
  7. Prepare Topping: Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan. Arrange thinly sliced apple pieces in a circular pattern on top of the batter. Interspace the remaining 1 cup of cranberries between the apple slices for decoration and additional tartness.
  8. Bake the Cake: Place the cake pan on the middle rack (especially important if not using convection). Bake for approximately 45 to 50 minutes if using convection, or up to 1 hour in a conventional oven. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick or tester into the center; it should come out clean or with just a few crumbs. Continue baking in 5-minute increments if necessary.
  9. Cool & Remove from Pan: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan directly on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Then release the sides of the springform pan. Carefully slide a spatula or your hand under the cake, between the parchment and the cake, to transfer it onto a serving plate, discarding the parchment paper.
  10. Serve: Dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar just before serving for a lovely finish.
  11. Enjoy: This cake is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for a couple of days.

Notes

  • Sift or aerate the flour to ensure a lighter cake texture.
  • Use sweet and firm apple varieties such as Fuji, Gala, Envy, or Honeycrisp to maintain shape during baking.
  • Do not over-mix the batter once the flour is added to keep the cake tender.
  • If you do not have a springform pan, a regular cake pan lined well with parchment paper will also work.
  • Using a convection oven speeds up baking and produces a nicely browned cake on top.
  • Allow the cake to cool sufficiently before removing it from the pan for clean edges.
  • Dusting with powdered sugar is optional but adds a nice touch for presentation.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple cranberry cake, autumn cake, fruit cake, baked dessert, Greek yogurt cake, holiday dessert

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Find it online: https://yummybylina.com/apple-cranberry-cake-recipe/