Nutritious Festive Coffee Cake

As seen in: Cakes & Cupcakes for Any Occasion: Sweet Celebrations Made Simple

This better-for-you coffee cake swaps in Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour, packed with fresh cranberries and drizzled with a light yogurt topping. It's just right for holiday morning gatherings.

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Refreshed on Sat, 26 Apr 2025 14:37:38 GMT
A slice of cranberry cake dusted with powdered sugar sits on an ornate plate beside a fork. Save it
A slice of cranberry cake dusted with powdered sugar sits on an ornate plate beside a fork. | iamcooker.com

I've gotta tell you about my all-time holiday favorite - this amazing Cranberry Coffee Cake that's always a hit! Through lots of kitchen experiments, I've nailed down this super moist bundt cake packed with tangy cranberries. Adding Greek yogurt makes it incredibly soft, and trust me, that almond drizzle on top? It's honestly like magic. The smell that fills my home when I'm making this is just unbelievable!

Reasons To Fall For This Coffee Cake

This treat has become my morning must-have during holidays! Those tangy cranberries really stand out against the rich, buttery cake base. And that almond touch? Brilliant! I'm crazy about how you can whip it up in less than an hour but it still looks fancy with that simple drizzle. When I need to wow guests without spending forever cooking, this is what I make.

What You'll Need For The Cake

  • Greek Yogurt: This is what makes the cake so wonderfully moist.
  • Butter: Don't skimp here - quality really shows!
  • Sugar: Just the right amount to work with those tangy cranberries.
  • Eggs: They bring richness and help everything hold together.
  • Flour Blend: Mixing different flours creates an amazing texture.
  • Baking Powder & Soda: These make it nice and fluffy.
  • Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen with great results.
  • Vanilla & Almond Extract: Together they create magic flavor.
  • Powdered Sugar: For that beautiful finishing touch.

The Cooking Process

First Things First
Make sure you beat the butter and sugar until it's super fluffy. Don't rush this part - it's the foundation for amazing texture!
Combining Wet Stuff
Adding eggs and yogurt transforms everything into this gorgeous, smooth mixture.
Dry Ingredient Prep
Mix all the dry things separately so your leaveners spread out evenly.
Careful Combining
This matters tons! Just mix until everything comes together, then gently fold in those gorgeous cranberries.
Prep Your Pan
Get every little corner of your bundt pan greased up - nothing worse than cake that sticks!
Watch It Bake
Your house will smell incredible! Check on it when you hit about 40 minutes.
Finishing Touch
That almond drizzle is like the perfect final touch on your masterpiece.

Insider Tricks

  • Warm Things Up: Everything mixes way better at room temperature!
  • Don't Overdo It: Mixing too much will make your cake tough.
  • Choose Fresh: When you can, grab fresh cranberries for best flavor.
  • Custom Drizzle: Make it as thick or thin as you want.
  • Thorough Greasing: Every tiny spot of that pan needs attention!

Storage Smarts

This cake stays amazing! It'll be good for two days on your counter if wrapped up nicely, or about five days in your fridge. If you're planning way ahead, just pop it in the freezer tightly wrapped. This trick saves me so much stress during crazy holiday times!

Common Queries Cleared Up

I've gotten tons of great questions from folks who've tried this! Yep, dried cranberries work fine, just use them sparingly. If you're out of yogurt, sour cream does the trick perfectly. And making this in small loaf pans? They turn out super cute and make awesome gifts!

A sliced bundt cake topped with cranberries and dusted with powdered sugar on a decorative plate. Save it
A sliced bundt cake topped with cranberries and dusted with powdered sugar on a decorative plate. | iamcooker.com

Common Questions

→ Can I use frozen cranberries?

You can definitely use frozen cranberries. Just let them thaw completely and gently dry them with paper towels to get rid of extra water that might make your cake soggy.

→ How long does this cake keep?

When wrapped well, this cake stays good for about 2 days on your counter. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months if you want to make it ahead.

→ Can I use regular whole wheat flour?

White whole wheat flour makes the cake lighter, but regular whole wheat works too. Just know your cake might turn out a bit heavier with the standard variety.

→ What type of Greek yogurt works best?

Go for low-fat or full-fat Greek yogurt for the juiciest cake. Fat-free works in a pinch but won't give you quite the same moisture level.

→ Why use both whole wheat and all-purpose flour?

Using both flours gives you the best of both worlds. You get the goodness from whole wheat plus the soft, fluffy texture that comes from all-purpose.

Final Thoughts

A tasty coffee cake that blends good-for-you ingredients with seasonal tastes, ideal for holiday get-togethers and lazy weekend mornings.

Cranberry Cake

A lighter take on coffee cake packed with tart cranberries, creamy Greek yogurt, and nutritious whole wheat flour, finished with a simple yogurt-almond drizzle.

Preparation
15 Mins
Cooking Duration
40 Mins
Complete Duration
55 Mins
By: sofia


Complexity: Moderate

Origin: American

Output: 10 Portions (1 bundt cake)

Diet Types: Plant-Based (with dairy/eggs)

What You'll Need

01 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter (one stick), at room temp.
02 1 cup with 2 extra tbsp white sugar.
03 2 big eggs, warmed to room temperature.
04 1 cup thick Greek yogurt.
05 1 tsp real vanilla flavoring.
06 1/2 tsp pure almond flavoring.
07 2 cups whole white wheat flour.
08 3/4 cup regular flour.
09 1 tsp baking soda.
10 1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder.
11 1/2 tsp salt.
12 3/4 cup cranberries, fresh.
13 3/4 cup icing sugar (for topping).
14 2 tbsp Greek yogurt (for topping).
15 1/2 tsp almond flavoring (for topping).

Preparation Steps

01 Step

Heat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a bundt pan that holds 10 cups.

02 Step

Beat the butter with sugar till light and fluffy. Drop in eggs one by one, then mix in yogurt and flavorings.

03 Step

Stir together both types of flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

04 Step

Stir dry stuff into wet mixture until just blended. Gently mix in cranberries.

05 Step

Fill the pan with batter and bake for 40-45 mins. It's done when a toothpick comes out without batter.

06 Step

Mix icing sugar, yogurt, and almond flavoring. Add extra sugar if you want it thicker.

Additional Tips

  1. Thawed frozen cranberries work too.
  2. Keeps fresh for 2 days on the counter.
  3. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Required Equipment

  • Bundt pan that fits 10 cups.
  • Electric mixer for beating.
  • Several mixing bowls.

Allergen Notice

Review ingredients for possible allergens and seek professional medical advice if uncertain.
  • Dairy in butter and yogurt.
  • Wheat found in flour.
  • Eggs included.
  • Tree nuts from almond flavoring.

Nutritional Information (Each Portion)

Consider these values as estimates rather than definitive health guidance.
  • Energy: 376
  • Fat Content: 11 g
  • Carbohydrates: 62 g
  • Protein Content: 9 g