Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cake

This Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Cake is a simple, homey dessert filled with tender apples, tart cranberries and a hint of cinnamon. It bakes right in your crock pot, making it especially nice when your oven is busy.

We enjoyed the Slow Cooker Apple Cake I made a while back so much that I decided to try another version, this time adding cranberries.

I’m so glad I did!

The combination of sweet apples and tart cranberries is delicious, especially served warm with a little scoop of vanilla ice cream.

And because it’s made in the slow cooker, it’s a lovely option for a holiday brunch or dessert when you want to keep things simple.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cranberry Cake

• Made in the slow cooker. No need to turn on the oven.
• Filled with fruit. Chopped apples and cranberries add flavor and moisture.
• Simple ingredients. Everything you need is easy to find at the grocery store.
• Lightened up a little. Greek yogurt replaces some of the oil.
• Perfect for fall and winter. Apples, cranberries and cinnamon are a wonderful combination.
• Great for brunch or dessert. Delicious on its own or served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This easy cake is made with basic baking ingredients and plenty of fruit.

• Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a little caramel flavor.
• Canola oil: Keeps the cake moist and tender.
• Plain nonfat Greek yogurt: Replaces some of the oil while adding moisture.
• Egg: Helps hold the cake together.
• Vanilla extract: Adds flavor.
• All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the cake.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Help the cake rise.
• Cinnamon: Adds a little warmth and spice.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness.
• Granny Smith apple: Adds a slightly tart flavor and holds its shape nicely.
• Fresh or frozen cranberries: Provide bright, tart little bursts of flavor.

You can use frozen cranberries without thawing them first.

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

Ideal slow cooker size: 4 quarts.

Line your slow cooker with parchment paper so that it covers the bottom and extends 3 to 4 inches up the sides. Smooth out the parchment as much as possible. This will make the cake easier to remove when it’s done.

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, canola oil, Greek yogurt, egg and vanilla until creamy and well blended.

Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Step 4: Add the Apples and Cranberries

Stir the flour mixture into the sugar mixture until well combined.

Fold in the chopped apples and cranberries.

The batter will seem thick, almost as though there’s too much fruit for the amount of batter. Don’t worry. That’s how it should be.

Step 5: Fill the Slow Cooker

Scrape the batter into the prepared slow cooker and spread it evenly.

Step 6: Cook on HIGH

Cover and prop the lid slightly open at one end with the handle of a wooden spoon (affiliate link) or chopstick to allow steam to escape.

Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Begin checking after 2 hours. If the cake isn’t done, continue cooking for another 15 to 30 minutes before checking again.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

When the cake is done, remove the stoneware insert and let the cake cool.

Carefully lift the cake out using the parchment paper as handles. Peel away the parchment and transfer the cake to a serving plate.

Cut into 9 pieces.

My favorite way to serve it: Slightly warm, with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s also delicious on its own and makes a lovely addition to a holiday brunch.

My Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Cake

Use a 4-quart slow cooker (affiliate link). A larger slow cooker will spread the batter more thinly and may change the cooking time.

Don’t skip the parchment paper. It makes removing the cake so much easier.

Expect a thick, fruit-filled batter. It may seem like there isn’t enough batter for all those apples and cranberries, but it works.

Check early. Slow cookers vary quite a bit in how hot they run. Begin checking after 2 hours to avoid overcooking.

Allow some steam to escape. This helps prevent excess moisture from collecting beneath the lid. Follow your slow cooker’s guidance about venting during cooking.

Let the cake cool before lifting it out. It’s delicate while hot and will be easier to handle after resting.

Can You Use Frozen Cranberries?

Yes! Both fresh and frozen cranberries work well in this recipe.

If you’re using frozen cranberries, there’s no need to thaw them first.

Simply chop them and fold them into the batter.

The cake may take a little longer to cook when made with frozen berries, so rely on the toothpick test rather than the clock.

Easy Substitutions and Variations

• Try a different apple. Granny Smith apples provide a nice tart contrast, but Honeycrisp, Braeburn or another firm baking apple should work.
• Add orange zest. A little freshly grated orange zest would be delicious with the cranberries.
• Add chopped nuts. A small handful of chopped walnuts or pecans would add a little crunch.
• Use dried cranberries. You can substitute dried cranberries, but because they’re sweeter and less juicy than fresh berries, the finished cake will be different. I prefer fresh or frozen for this recipe.
• Add a little more spice. A pinch of nutmeg or ginger would be nice alongside the cinnamon.

How Many Calories and WW Points ?

According to my calculations, each serving has 192 calories.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

If you’ve made this Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Cake, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

More Easy Apple and Cranberry Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoy this slow cooker apple cranberry cake, here are a few more recipes from Simple Nourished Living:

• Slow Cooker Apple Cake – The original apple cake that inspired this cranberry variation.
• Low-Fat Pumpkin Cranberry Scones – A delicious combination of pumpkin and cranberries.
• Cranberry Apple Oatmeal Cookies – Another easy way to enjoy apples and cranberries together.
• Old-Fashioned Mini Cranberry Nut Breads – A lighter version of a classic cranberry quick bread.
• Slow Cooker Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars – Another sweet treat you can make in your crock pot.
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Nut Bread – An easy homemade quick bread baked in the slow cooker.

I love how one good recipe can lead to another.

That’s exactly what happened with this cake. We enjoyed the original slow cooker apple cake so much that adding cranberries seemed like a natural next step.

If you make this Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Cake, I’d love to hear how you liked it.