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This cranberry buckle recipe combines a tender, buttery cake with tart cranberries creating a dessert that’s both festive and delicious. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this easy-to-make dessert pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

A cherry-topped dessert in a skillet with a slice removed and placed on a black plate nearby, surrounded by scattered fresh cherries.


 

A cranberry buckle is a rustic, nostalgic dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. With a light, fluffy batter and juicy cranberries, it’s a festive addition to your holiday dessert lineup. Baked in a skillet, this cranberry buckle puffs up while the tart cranberries sink slightly, giving the top a unique “buckled” look.

Why Cranberries Are Perfect for Dessert

Cranberries are beloved in holiday desserts for their vivid color and unique, tart flavor. We’ve shared all sorts of cranberry recipes with you like our Cranberry Orange French Toast, Cranberry Jello Salad, Cranberry Orange Bread, and one of my favorites, Cranberry Fluff.

This Cranberry Buckle may be the easiest one of all.  It starts with a simple cake batter, and fresh cranberries, everything is poured into a hot skillet and it is baked in the oven until you get this rustic, cake that is a little sweet, a little tart, and totally delicious.

A cranberry-topped dessert in a cast iron skillet, placed on a dark cloth.

What is the Difference Between a Buckle, a Cobbler, and a Crisp?

A buckle is made with a more traditional cake batter that is put in the pan first. The fruit is add on top of it and as the cake bakes the cake rises around the fruit making it look buckled in the center.

A cobbler is made with fruit that is sugared or in a syrup that is layered in a baking dish and topped with drop biscuit dough or a thin battered (more like a pancake mixture). The sugary fruit cooks beneath and around the crust. Try our Peach Cobbler or Pecan Cobbler.

Lastly, a crisp (sometimes called a crumble) is similar to a cobbler in that the fruit goes in first, but it is topped with a streusel that is crumbled on top of the fruit and bakes along with it.

Like most recipes that have been around forever, everyone makes their a little differently. Some people make something similar to a coffee cake with a crumbled topping and consider that the definition of a buckle. We prefer a simpler version similar to a cobbler where we let the fruit do the work of “buckling” the cake.

Ingredients on a table: flour, milk, fresh cranberries, vanilla extract, sugar, and a stick of butter.

Ingredients for a Classic Cranberry Buckle

When it comes out of the oven this rustic cake smells so good! Cut it into a wedge and serve it on a plate with a scoop of ice cream and you’ve got yourself the perfect winter dessert!

  • Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cake.
  • Fresh Cranberries: Provides tart flavor and a festive red color.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the batter and balances the tart cranberries.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure to the cake.
  • Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and creates a light texture.
  • Whole Milk: Adds moisture and richness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor.

Optional: Whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream. Cranberries are tart! Serving them with a little extra added sweetness takes the dessert to the next level!

Can I Use Frozen Cranberries?

We do not recommend using frozen cranberries for this recipe. The release a lot of moisture which makes it difficult for the cake batter to cook correctly. For this recipe you should only use fresh cranberries.

A cast iron skillet filled with batter topped with fresh cranberries, resting on a dark cloth.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cranberry Buckle

  1. Preheat and Prepare the Skillet. Cutyour butter into even portions and add it to your 10-inch skillet or 11×7 inch metal pan. Place the skillet or pan in the oven and preheat to 350°F.
  2. Make the Batter. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and baking powder, and whisk until fully mixed. Add the milk to the dry mixture, whisking until the batter is smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
  3. Add the butter. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and pour the melted butter into the batter, whisking until everything is well mixed.
  4. Assemble. Pour the batter into the skillet, and then distribute the fresh cranberries evenly over the top.
  5. Bake. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Serve. Let the buckle cool for a few minutes, then serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips for the Perfect Cranberry Buckle

  • Choosing the Right Skillet: A 10-inch cast iron skillet is ideal as it conducts heat evenly, creating a beautifully golden crust.
  • Testing for Doneness: The buckle is ready when a toothpick comes out clean from the center. This should take around an hour, but you may need a few extra minutes depending on your oven.
A slice of berry-topped dessert is served on a black plate with a fork, in front of the remaining dessert in a pan.

How to Store and Reheat

Storage: To keep it fresh, store your cranberry buckle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to five days.

Reheating: Warm up leftover buckle in the oven at 325°F for about 10-15 minutes. This helps restore its fresh-baked texture.

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Servings: 10
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Cranberry Buckle

Created By: Kat Jeter & Melinda Machado
This cranberry buckle recipe combines a buttery cake with tart cranberries creating a holiday dessert that’s both festive and delicious.
A baked dessert with a golden crust and topped with red cranberries in a cast iron skillet.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 2 cups Fresh Cranberries,
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 2 teaspoon Baking powder
  • 1 cup Whole Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Cut the butter into even portions and add it to a 10-inch skillet or 11×7 inch metal pan. Place the skillet or pan in the oven and preheat to 350°F.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and baking powder, and whisk until fully mixed.
  • Add the milk to the dry mixture, whisking until the batter is smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
  • Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and pour the melted butter into the batter, whisking until everything is well mixed.
  • Pour the batter into the skillet, and then distribute the fresh cranberries evenly over the top.
  • Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the buckle cool for a few minutes, then serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 227kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 86mg, Potassium: 147mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 320IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 69mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

This post originally appeared on Real Housemoms where we were contributors.