Indulge in the irresistible blend of rich dark chocolate and tart cranberry with our delightful Chocolate Cranberry Cake! This poke cake recipe not only ensures maximum moisture but is also incredibly simple to whip up. Trust us, this stunning and scrumptious best cranberry cake recipe will quickly become your go-to cranberry dessert!
Chocolate cranberry cake
Indulge in the delightful fusion of rich dark chocolate and tart cranberries with our exquisite Chocolate Cranberry Cake! This tantalizing treat is not only a feast for the taste buds, but it’s also a visual stunner that will impress your family and friends.
What sets this cake apart is its poke cake method, which makes it incredibly moist and flavorful. Poke cakes are known for their unique preparation, where holes are poked into the baked cake, allowing a luscious mixture of flavors to seep in. The result? A cake that’s bursting with moisture and flavor in every single bite!
Imagine slicing into this beauty and having the decadent dark chocolate mingle perfectly with the bright, zingy notes of fresh cranberries. Each morsel offers a perfect balance of sweetness and tang, making it an ideal dessert for any occasion—be it a cozy family gathering, a festive holiday dinner, or simply a treat for yourself!
Plus, this recipe is super easy-to-make, perfect for both seasoned bakers and beginners alike. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to whip up a cake that is not only incredibly delicious but also beautifully presents on any dessert table.
Looking for yummy cake recipes? Try our Chocolate Toffee Cake, moist Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and classic yellow cake recipe with chocolate frosting
Chocolate and cranberry cake
All you need to whip up this yummy cranberry cake are a few simple ingredients:
- dark chocolate cake mix
- eggs
- canola oil
- water
- mini chocolate chips
- granulated sugar
- cornstarch
- cranberries
- chocolate ice cream syrup
- whipping cream
- powdered sugar
- instant vanilla pudding mix
- leaves for garnish
Poke cake recipe
Start by baking your dark chocolate cake by following the package instructions (for mine, I needed 3 eggs, 1/3 cup of canola oil, and water). Then fold in mini-chocolate chips. Once mixed, evenly distribute the batter into two 8″ or 9″ cake pans that have bee sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Then pop them in the oven and bake according to the package directions.
HINT: If you would rather make the chococlate cake from scratch, use our easy chocolate cake recipe.
Cake mix cake recipes
While your cakes are baking, it’s the perfect time to whip up some homemade cranberry sauce!
Start by combining sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan, stirring until there are no lumps. Next, add 1/2 cup of water along with fresh cranberries. Heat the mixture over medium-high until it reaches a gentle simmer, and watch as the cranberries begin to pop and release their vibrant color—this should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
Once the cranberries have popped, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a heatproof bowl to cool. Leave the delicious sauce in the pan to use in the next step.
Chocolate cake with cranberries
Once your cakes and sauce have cooled down, use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes all over the cakes. This step helps all the delicious flavors soak in and make your cake super moist!
Now, take that delicious chocolate sauce and gently drizzle it into the holes!
Next, gently drizzle the cranberry sauce (just the sauce, not the cooked cranberries) into the holes you made in the chocolate cake. It’s a perfect way to add a burst of flavor!
Cranberry cake recipe
Whip up your whipping cream with an electric mixer for a fluffy texture! Now add in the powdered sugar and instant pudding mix for a delicious twist.
Helpful Tip: Adding pudding mix to your whipped cream not only enhances its flavor but also stabilizes it! This means it stays perfectly whipped even after a few hours on the table.
Cranberry cake
Top your dish with the delicious cooked cranberries and add a touch of elegance by garnishing it with a few decorative (and non-toxic!) leaves from your garden—like these lovely rose geranium leaves. Isn’t it beautiful?

Best cranberry cake recipe


Dark chocolate cranberry cake
Experience the bliss of our Chocolate Cranberry Cake—a luscious blend of rich dark chocolate and tart cranberries! This poke cake method ensures incredible moisture and flavor, with each bite bursting with sweetness and tang. Perfect for any occasion, this easy-to-make dessert is sure to impress family and friends. Treat yourself to a slice of this stunning cake today!

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Dark Chocolate Cake baked into round pans
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups cranberries heaping
- 3-4 Tablespoons chocolate syrup like you use on ice cream
- 1 pint whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant vanilla puding mix
- leaves garnish
Instructions
- Start by baking your dark chocolate cake by following the package instructions (for mine, I needed 3 eggs, 1/3 cup of canola oil, and water). Then fold in mini-chocolate chips. Once mixed, evenly distribute the batter into two 8″ or 9″ cake pans that have bee sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Then pop them in the oven and bake according to the package directions
Cranberry Sauce
- While your cakes are baking, it’s the perfect time to whip up some homemade cranberry sauce!Start by combining sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan, stirring until there are no lumps. Next, add 1/2 cup of water along with fresh cranberries. Heat the mixture over medium-high until it reaches a gentle simmer, and watch as the cranberries begin to pop and release their vibrant color—this should take about 2 to 3 minutes.Once the cranberries have popped, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a heatproof bowl to cool. Leave the delicious sauce in the pan to use in the next step
Poke and Fill
- Once your cakes and sauce have cooled down, use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes all over the cakes. This step helps all the delicious flavors soak in and make your cake super moist!
- Now, take that delicious chocolate sauce and gently drizzle it into the holes!
- Next, gently drizzle the cranberry sauce (just the sauce, not the cooked cranberries) into the holes you made in the chocolate cake.
Frosting
- Whip up your whipping cream with an electric mixer for a fluffy texture! Now add in the powdered sugar and instant pudding mix for a delicious twist.
- Generously pile whipped cream on just the top of the cake for a delightful finishing touch
Pile on Cranberries and Garnish
- Top your dish with the delicious cooked cranberries and add a touch of elegance by garnishing it with a few decorative (and non-toxic!) leaves from your garden—like these lovely rose geranium leaves. Isn’t it beautiful?
Notes
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- Pies: Mom’s EASY Apple Pie from Scratch, Grandpa’s Favorite Cherry Pie Recipe, irrisistable peach pie recipe, and save the leftover crust for these simple, yummy Pie Crust Pinwheel Cookies, or these chocolate nutella cupcakes, peanut butter and jelly cupcakes
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The chocolate and cranberry combination was so yummy!
This looked and tasted fabulous!
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
My family ate this in one sitting. Yum