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Indulge in the moist and easy-to-make Chocolate Cranberry Cake, featuring a delightful blend of dark chocolate and cranberry that's sure to impress!
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5 from 4 votes

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Poke Cake

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.
Course cake, cake recipes, christmas, Dessert, dessert recipe
Cuisine cake recipes, christmas, christmas dessert, dessert, dessert recipes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 slices
Author Beth Gorden

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

If you would rather make the chococlate cake from scratch, use our easy chocolate cake recipe.
NOTE: You will only need one round cake for this recipe. You can make 2 cakes or leave one for snacking or to make into cupcakes.
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.