christmas chocolate cake w/ sugared cranberries

How To Make christmas chocolate cake w/ sugared cranberries

• Step 1
  Place parchment paper over a large rimmed baking sheet. Place a rack over the baking sheet & top w/ parchment paper.In large pot, bring water and sugar to a boil. Place heat on med-low and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Let cool 2-4 mins. Stir in fresh cranberries, continue stirring until coated. With a slotted spoon, spoon out berries & place on rack to dry. About 1 hr.
• Step 2
  While berries are drying, make the cake. Heat oven to 350. Spray the cake pan w/ cooking spray & then lightly flour. In medium bowl, combine the 1st 4 ingredients for cake, plus add a dash of salt.
• Step 3
  In large bowl, beat butter & brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time and then beat in the vanilla. Slowly beat in flour mix, scraping the bowl after each flour mix add in. Beat in buttermilk & eggnog. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour mix into pan and w/ a spatula, even it all out. Bake about 60 mins or until a toothpick inserted nearest the center, comes out clean. Let cool. Once cranberries are dry, spread sugar out on a piece of parchment paper and lightly roll out cranberries in sugar until coated. Let dry. In microwave safe bowl, microwave cream cheese frosting until soft, but not totally melted. Place cooled cake on a decorative serving plate. Spoon frosting over cake. Top w/ sugared cranberries.
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