Ingredients
🎂 INGREDIENTS FOR CRANBERRY ALMOND CAKE
| Ingredient | Quantity | Notes / Substitutions |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 1 ½ cups | Use gluten-free 1:1 baking flour if desired |
| Baking powder | ¾ tsp | – |
| Baking soda | ¾ tsp | – |
| Salt | ¼ tsp | – |
| Unsalted butter, softened | 6 tbsp | Room temperature for best texture |
| Granulated sugar | ⅔ cup | Can swap with coconut sugar for a richer flavor |
| Large eggs, room temperature | 2 | – |
| Vanilla extract | 1 tsp | – |
| Almond extract | 1 tsp | Optional but adds great flavor |
| Buttermilk | ⅔ cup | Substitute with milk + 1 tsp lemon juice |
| Cranberries | 1 ¼ cups | Fresh or frozen (do not thaw) |
Instructions
🍒 INSTRUCTIONS FOR CRANBERRY ALMOND CAKE
| Step | Action | Details / Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preheat oven | Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan or springform pan with parchment paper. |
| 2 | Prepare dry ingredients | In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. |
| 3 | Cream butter and sugar | In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. |
| 4 | Add eggs and flavoring | Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla and almond extracts. Scrape down sides of the bowl. |
| 5 | Combine wet and dry ingredients | Add the dry ingredients to the wet in three additions, alternating with buttermilk. Mix just until combined. |
| 6 | Fold in cranberries | Gently stir in the cranberries — don’t overmix. The batter will be thick. |
| 7 | Transfer to pan | Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. |
| 8 | Make streusel topping | In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, almonds, melted butter, and cinnamon. Mix until crumbly. |
| 9 | Add topping | Sprinkle streusel evenly over the cake batter. Press lightly so it adheres. |
| 10 | Bake | Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. |
| 11 | Cool and serve | Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Optional: dust with powdered sugar. |