Description
Elegant Layered Cranberry White Christmas Cake
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240mL) water
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 4 cups whole cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2 ¾ cups (360g) cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons (90g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120mL) vegetable oil
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 5 large egg whites (at room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- ½ cup (120mL) whole milk, at room temperature
- ½ tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup (82g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (480mL) whole milk
- 2 cups (450g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cranberry Sauce: Combine water and sugar; heat until dissolved. Add cranberries and cook until burst and thickened (8–20 mins). Cool completely and chill for 1 hour.
- Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk dry ingredients. Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Beat in egg whites, sour cream, and vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients with the milk/vinegar mixture. Divide batter between two prepared 8-inch pans and bake for 32–38 minutes. Cool completely.
- Frosting Base: Whisk sugar, flour, and salt in a pot. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-low heat until boiled and thickened (approx. 10 mins). Pour into a bowl, cover surface with plastic wrap, and cool completely (approx. 2 hours).
- Frosting: Cream softened butter until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat the cooled milk base into the butter, 2 Tbsp at a time, until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla.
- Assemble: Slice each cake into two layers (4 total). Layer cake, thin frosting, and cranberry sauce (leaving a ½-inch border). Apply a thin crumb coat and chill for 30 minutes. Finish frosting and chill for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for a tart flavor.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Chill the cake to set the frosting properly.
- Prep Time: 138 minutes
- Cook Time: 80 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg