Festive Ina Garten Cranberry & Apple Cake Recipe

Ina Garten’s cranberry & apple cake blends rustic charm with sophisticated flavors that dance across your palate.

Seasonal fruits bring vibrant color and tangy sweetness to this delightful dessert.

Soft, tender crumbs mingle with bursts of tart berries and juicy apple chunks.

Each slice promises a delectable experience that feels both homemade and elegant.

Warm spices infuse the cake with comforting aromas that invite memories of cozy gatherings.

Home bakers can easily master this recipe with basic pantry staples and minimal technical skill.

The combination creates a dessert so irresistible, you’ll want to share it with everyone: prepare to fall in love.

Why This Cake Is Cranberry Apple Comfort

• Burst with Seasonal Fruit Flavors: Dive into a delightful combination of tart cranberries and sweet apples that capture the essence of autumn in every bite.
• Create Effortless Elegance: Whip up this stunning dessert with minimal preparation, turning simple ingredients into a show-stopping cake that looks like it came from a professional bakery.
• Enjoy Versatile Serving Options: Savor this cake warm straight from the oven or at room temperature, making it perfect for casual gatherings or elegant dinner parties with zero stress.

Stock Your Pantry for Fall-Inspired Baking

• Cranberries: Fresh and tart berries that add a vibrant flavor and beautiful color to the cake.
• Apple: Provides sweetness and texture, best when using a firm baking variety like Granny Smith.

• Orange Zest: Brings bright, citrusy notes and enhances the overall fruit flavor.
• Orange Juice: Adds moisture and complements the tartness of cranberries.

• Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the cake together.
• Granulated Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps with the cake's golden color.
• Butter: Adds richness and contributes to the cake's tender crumb.
• Vanilla: Enhances the overall flavor profile with its warm, sweet aroma.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates a tender, soft texture.
• Flour: The main structural component of the cake.
• Kosher Salt: Balances and enhances the sweetness of the cake.

• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes to the fruit mixture.
• Cinnamon: Provides warm, aromatic spice that complements the fruits.

How to Layer Cranberry Tartness with Apple Warmth

Step 1: Fire Up The Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 325°F (163°C), getting ready for a delicious baking adventure.

Step 2: Create Fruity Magic

• Fresh cranberries
• Diced apple
• Brown sugar
• Orange zest
• Orange juice
• Ground cinnamon

Stir everything together and let the flavors mingle while you prepare the batter.

Step 3: Whip Up The Batter Brilliance

• Crack eggs and beat on medium-high for two minutes
• Lower the speed and gently blend in
• Granulated sugar
• Softened butter
• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream
• Slowly fold in flour and kosher salt until just combined

Step 4: Layer The Deliciousness

Spread the fruit mixture evenly across a 10-inch glass pie dish. Carefully pour the batter over the fruit, making sure every fruity bit gets covered.

Step 5: Sprinkle Sweet Finish

Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon, then dust it over the batter for a delightful crackly top.

Step 6: Bake To Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 55-60 minutes. Watch for golden edges and a clean toothpick test.

Step 7: Serve And Savor

Let the cake cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy every single bite of this heavenly dessert!

Smart Tips for That Perfect Cake Crumb

• Fruit Selection Matters: Choose ripe, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp and plump, fresh cranberries for maximum flavor and texture in your cake.
• Zest Booster: Grate orange zest carefully to release essential oils, adding a bright, aromatic dimension that elevates the entire dessert's taste profile.
• Butter Temperature Trick: Allow melted butter to cool slightly before incorporating into the batter, preventing egg scrambling and ensuring smooth, silky mixing.
• Fruit Distribution Magic: Gently fold and spread fruit evenly throughout the batter, creating balanced layers of cake and fruit in every delicious bite.
• Topping Transform: Generously sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture to create a crispy, caramelized top that adds irresistible crunch and sweet warmth to the cake.

Store Your Cake and Keep the Flavors Bright

• Refrigerate: Shield your cake's freshness by sliding it into an airtight glass container, creating a moisture barrier that preserves its delicate texture. Tuck the container near the back of the refrigerator where temperature remains most consistent, keeping your dessert delectable for 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Slice the cake into individual portions before freezing, which allows easier thawing and prevents potential waste. Wrap each slice separately in parchment paper, then place inside a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. Frozen cake maintains peak quality for approximately 2 months, offering a delightful treat whenever cravings strike.
• Reheat: Revive chilled cake slices by warming them gently in the oven instead of the microwave.

Bold Swaps That Reimagine This Seasonal Dessert

• Winter Berry Blast: Replace cranberries with mixed frozen berries for a colorful and tangy seasonal variation that brings vibrant flavors to the classic cake.
• Tropical Paradise Remix: Swap apples with diced mangoes and add shredded coconut to the fruit mixture, creating a sunny and exotic dessert with a sweet tropical essence.
• Spiced Autumn Comfort: Incorporate diced pears instead of apples and increase cinnamon to 2 tsp, then add ground nutmeg and cloves for a warm, rich autumn-inspired cake that captures cozy seasonal feelings.
• Nutty Cranberry Crunch: Fold chopped pecans or almonds into the batter and sprinkle additional nuts on top before baking, adding delightful texture and nutty depth to the original recipe.

End with a Slice That Feels Like a Hug

Cranberry apple cake emerges as pure autumn magic, blending tart fruit with sweet comfort.

Ina Garten’s masterpiece captures seasonal warmth with sophisticated simplicity.

Rustic charm meets elegant dessert in this delightful dish.

Fruit-laden layers whisper stories of harvest celebrations and family gatherings.

Kitchen aromas promise delectable memories waiting to unfold.

Passionate bakers and dessert enthusiasts: share this recipe, spark culinary conversations, and spread delicious inspiration across your networks!

Ina Garten Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s cranberry and apple cake delivers a perfect balance of tart and sweet seasonal flavors. Rustic charm meets elegant dessert in this simple yet sophisticated French-inspired treat that brings warmth to your autumn table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruit and Produce:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over for stems
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (2 oranges)
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) freshly squeezed orange juice

Dairy and Eggs:

• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• ¼ pound (113 grams, 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• ¼ cup (60 grams) sour cream

Dry Ingredients and Sweeteners:

• ½ cup (100 grams) light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 cup (200 grams) plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1–1/8 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 163°C / 325°F, ensuring an optimal baking temperature for the cake.
2. Create a vibrant fruit medley by combining / of cranberries, 1 finely diced apple, / ½ cup of brown sugar, of orange zest, / ¼ cup of fresh orange juice, and of ground cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl. Allow the flavors to meld together while preparing the remaining components.
3. Activate the stand mixer and whip 2 eggs on medium-high speed for approximately 2 minutes until they become light and fluffy. Gradually reduce the mixer’s speed and incorporate / of granulated sugar, / ¼ pound of softened butter, of pure vanilla extract, and / ¼ cup of creamy sour cream. Mix until the ingredients are just harmoniously combined.
4. Gently fold / of all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt into the wet mixture, ensuring a smooth and consistent batter without overmixing.
5. Distribute the prepared fruit mixture evenly across the bottom of a 10-inch glass pie dish, creating a colorful foundation for the cake.
6. Carefully pour the cake batter over the fruit layer, making certain that the entire fruit mixture is completely covered and sealed beneath the batter.
7. Craft a delicate topping by combining / of granulated sugar with ⅛ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, then delicately sprinkle the mixture across the cake’s surface.
8. Position the pie dish in the preheated oven and bake for 55–60 minutes. The cake is perfectly done when a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean and the edges are gently bubbling.
9. Allow the cake to cool slightly, then serve warm or at room temperature, inviting everyone to savor the delightful blend of tangy cranberries and sweet cake.

Notes

• Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar generously to create a caramelized crunch that contrasts beautifully with the cake’s soft interior.
• Distribute fruit evenly throughout the batter to guarantee uniform baking and lock in those delicious fruit juices.
• Cool melted butter slightly before mixing to prevent accidentally cooking the eggs and maintain a smooth batter consistency.
• Incorporate fresh cranberries and crisp apples for the most vibrant flavor and optimal texture in your cake.
• Add orange zest and juice to brighten the overall taste and provide a zingy counterpoint to the sweet cake base.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 310
• Sugar: 29g
• Sodium: 160mg
• Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 70mg