Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Cake: A Delightful 5-Point Holiday Dessert
As the festive season approaches, finding delicious yet mindful dessert options for Thanksgiving gatherings can be a delightful challenge. This incredible Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Cake offers the perfect solution, allowing you to indulge in the warm flavors of the holidays without derailing your health goals. At just 5 WW points per serving, it’s a testament to how scrumptious and satisfying a lighter dessert can be.
Whether you’re hosting a grand feast or contributing a cherished dish to a loved one’s table, this Thanksgiving Cake truly stands out. It beautifully complements traditional holiday treats like classic pumpkin or comforting apple pie, providing a fresh, vibrant, and slightly lighter alternative that everyone will adore. This isn’t just any cake; it’s a symphony of seasonal tastes, featuring crisp fresh apples, sweet-tart dried cranberries, crunchy chopped walnuts, and an inviting blend of warm baking spices that infuse every bite with truly comforting depth and holiday cheer.
When developing this recipe, our primary goal was to create a reduced-sugar cake that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. While it thoughtfully incorporates regular granulated sugar, its Weight Watchers friendly point value remains impressively low thanks to strategic ingredient substitutions. We’ve cleverly swapped out traditional high-fat oil for wholesome unsweetened applesauce and rich sour cream for creamy nonfat Greek yogurt, significantly cutting down on fat and calories while maintaining essential moisture and a tender crumb. The true star, however, might just be the tender, naturally sweet apples baked right into the cake, providing a delightful texture and a burst of natural sweetness. The walnuts add a welcome, earthy crunch, and the dried cranberries contribute a perfect chewy, tart counterpoint. This cake truly embodies the joyful spirit of Thanksgiving, proving that healthy eating can be utterly delicious and deeply satisfying.
If you’d like to make some other recipes to accompany it, you can check out my baking recipe collection here, featuring more Weight Watchers friendly options.
Why You Should Bake This Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Cake
Discover why this Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Cake is destined to become a beloved staple in your holiday baking repertoire. It’s not just a dessert; it’s a smart choice that consistently delivers on flavor, convenience, and health-conscious eating.
- Abundant Fall Flavors: Every bite of this cake is a vibrant celebration of autumn. It masterfully brings together the very best of fall produce and spices, creating a harmonious blend that perfectly captures the essence of Thanksgiving. The sweet, juicy notes of fresh apples mingle beautifully with the tangy burst of dried cranberries, while toasted walnuts add an inviting earthy richness. A thoughtful combination of warm cinnamon and aromatic nutmeg further elevates these flavors, ensuring a truly cozy and festive culinary experience. This cake strikes a perfect balance, being neither overly sweet nor too rich, allowing each distinct flavor to shine through and complement the others.
- Effortlessly Delicious & Impressive: The holiday season is inherently a busy time, and this recipe is ingeniously designed with your convenience and enjoyment in mind. Despite its incredibly impressive taste and delightful texture, this Thanksgiving cake is remarkably straightforward to prepare. It utilizes common pantry ingredients and simple, easy-to-follow mixing techniques, making it highly accessible even for novice bakers. The result? A moist, tender crumb generously packed with flavor that will undoubtedly impress all your guests, leaving them to believe you spent hours perfecting this holiday masterpiece.
- Lightning-Fast Preparation for Busy Holidays: From the moment you gather your ingredients to the exciting point of popping the cake into the oven, the total prep work for this recipe is surprisingly quick. You can easily whip up the entire batter by hand, eliminating the need for complex and noisy kitchen machinery. The most time-consuming step is simply peeling and thinly slicing the apples, which is a small, worthwhile investment for the incredible texture and natural moisture they impart to the finished cake. This means significantly less stress in the kitchen and much more precious time to enjoy the holiday festivities with your loved ones.
Recipe At a Glance: Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Cake
Here’s a quick summary of what to expect when making this delicious and healthy holiday dessert:
- Serving Size: Each delightful slice is approximately 91g.
- Number of Servings: This recipe yields 12 generous servings, perfect for a family gathering.
- Time to Cook: Approximately 45 minutes of baking time, plus prep.
- WW Points Per Recipe: Each serving is only 5 WW points, with the entire recipe totaling 64 points. (Click here to view the recipe in the WW app. A Weight Watchers login is required to access the full details).
Key Ingredients You’ll Need for Your Thanksgiving Cake
This wholesome Thanksgiving cake recipe relies on a thoughtful selection of ingredients that collectively contribute to its delicious taste, tender texture, and impressively lower point value. Let’s delve deeper into what makes each component essential for this perfect holiday dessert:
- 1 ⅔ cup All-purpose flour: This forms the fundamental structure of our cake, ensuring a light and airy crumb that’s not too dense.
- 1 tsp Baking powder: A crucial leavening agent that helps the cake rise beautifully and evenly during baking.
- ¾ tsp Baking soda: Working in conjunction with the Greek yogurt, baking soda provides an additional lift and contributes to the cake’s tender texture.
- ¼ tsp Table salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and adding depth.
- ⅔ cup Granulated sugar: We use a moderate amount of regular sugar to achieve that classic sweet taste without an excessive point count. It balances the natural tartness of the apples and cranberries perfectly.
- ⅓ cup No-sugar-added dried cranberries: These gems provide a wonderful chewy texture and a delightful burst of tartness, complementing the sweetness of the apples without adding unnecessary sugars.
- ⅓ cup Chopped walnuts: Adding a delightful crunch, an earthy flavor, and healthy fats, walnuts enhance the overall texture and depth of the cake, making each bite more interesting.
- 2 small or 1 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced: Granny Smith apples are specifically chosen for their firm texture and pleasant tartness, which holds up exceptionally well during baking and contrasts perfectly with the cake’s sweetness. Slicing them thin allows them to soften beautifully atop the cake, creating an appealing visual and textual element.
- ½ cup Unsweetened applesauce: This is a key ingredient for keeping the cake incredibly moist and tender while significantly reducing the need for added oil or butter, thus naturally lowering the calorie and fat content without sacrificing flavor.
- 2 Eggs: Eggs act as a vital binder, adding essential structure, richness, and helping the cake rise, contributing to a perfect and consistent texture.
- ¾ cup Nonfat plain Greek yogurt: A fantastic and healthy substitute for sour cream or other dairy fats, Greek yogurt adds incredible moisture and a subtle tang, enhancing the cake’s tenderness and subtly boosting its protein content.
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a comforting aroma and a layer of exquisite depth to the cake.
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon: This classic fall spice is absolutely essential for that quintessential Thanksgiving flavor, providing warmth, sweetness, and a comforting aroma.
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg: Complementing the cinnamon, nutmeg adds a subtle, earthy, and highly aromatic note that completes the holiday spice profile.
Step-by-Step Baking Instructions for Your Thanksgiving Cake
Follow these clear, detailed instructions to effortlessly create your perfect and delicious Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Cake.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to a moderate 350°F (175°C). It’s crucial to properly grease an 8×8-inch square baking dish or a 9-inch round baking pan. You can use butter, baking spray, or line it with parchment paper for effortless removal. This crucial first step ensures even baking and prevents your beautiful cake from sticking.
- Combine Dry & Wet Ingredients Separately: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together all your dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and table salt. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, gently whisk together your wet ingredients: the granulated sugar, unsweetened applesauce, eggs, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Be sure to mix them thoroughly until well combined, but hold off on adding the apples, cranberries, and walnuts at this initial stage.
3. Fold and Rest the Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredient mixture, folding gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. The key here is to avoid over-mixing, as this can overdevelop the gluten in the flour and result in a tough, chewy cake. Once a smooth batter has formed with no visible flour pockets, gently fold in the dried cranberries and chopped walnuts. If you decide to incorporate some diced or thinly sliced apple pieces directly into the batter for extra moisture and fruit distribution, this is the perfect moment to add them. Allow the batter to rest for 5-10 minutes; this critical step allows the flour to fully hydrate and the leavening agents to begin their important work.
4. Transfer & Artfully Arrange Apples: Pour the prepared batter evenly into your greased baking dish. Take your peeled and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples and artfully arrange them over the top of the batter. You can create a beautiful, decorative pattern or simply spread them out in an appealing layer. Gently press the apple slices down slightly into the batter. This ensures they cook evenly and remain delightfully nestled in the cake as it bakes, creating a lovely, caramelized top layer.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your cake in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-55 minutes. The exact baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven’s specific calibration, the size and material of your baking pan, and how densely you’ve arranged the apple slices. To prevent the apple topping from over-browning or burning during the latter part of the baking process, loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes. The cake is perfectly baked when a wooden toothpick inserted into the very center comes out clean, with no wet batter clinging to it, and the top of the cake springs back lightly when gently pressed with your finger. Allow it to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving to allow the structure to set.
Customizing Your Thanksgiving Cake: Variations & Substitutions
This Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Cake recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to tailor it perfectly to your personal preferences, dietary needs, or simply to add a creative twist for the holidays.
- Further Reduce the Points Even More: For an even lower point count, consider substituting some or all of the granulated sugar with a zero-calorie sweetener that measures 1:1 with sugar. Keep in mind that artificial sweeteners can sometimes subtly alter the texture or taste, so we recommend experimenting to find your preferred balance. You can easily adjust the points in the Weight Watchers app’s recipe builder to accurately see the impact of your modifications on the nutritional value.
- Elevate with a Delicious Topping or Frosting: While truly delicious on its own, this cake also serves as a fantastic canvas for various complementary toppings. A simple, elegant vanilla glaze, a light dusting of powdered sugar, a tangy cream cheese frosting (perhaps a lighter version), or even a healthier Greek yogurt-based topping would enhance its flavors beautifully. Always ensure the cake has completely cooled to room temperature before applying any frosting or glaze to prevent it from melting and sliding off, ensuring a pristine finish.
- Creative Mix-In Ideas for Added Flavor and Texture: If your daily points allow for a little extra indulgence, or if you simply want to experiment with different textures and flavors, try incorporating other delightful ingredients. Chopped pecans can introduce a different nutty profile (lightly toast them for an extra layer of flavor!). Diced pears can offer a softer, more delicate fruit texture, while plump raisins provide another sweet and chewy element. For a truly decadent touch, a sprinkle of sugar-free caramel morsels or even miniature dark chocolate chips could be a surprisingly delightful addition.
- Festive Thanksgiving Decorations: Make your cake truly shine and stand out on the holiday table with thoughtful and festive decorations. Beyond a simple powdered sugar dusting, consider edible glitter, creating a stencil to form a cinnamon leaf pattern, or garnishing with candied cranberries and vibrant orange zest for a burst of color. Small edible autumn-themed toppers, like mini pumpkins or maple leaves, can also add to the festive appeal, transforming it into a true centerpiece.
- Individual Portions: Thanksgiving Cupcakes or Muffins: This versatile batter can easily be transformed into delightful individual portions, perfect for serving at a buffet or for portion control. Simply scoop the batter evenly into a lined cupcake or muffin pan. When making this version, it’s advisable to par-cook your apple slices slightly before adding them to the top of each cupcake, as they won’t have as much oven time as a full cake to soften properly. Be sure to adjust your baking time accordingly; cupcakes and muffins will typically bake much faster, so keep a close eye on them and use the toothpick test for perfect doneness.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Cake
Achieve baking perfection with these valuable tips and tricks for your Weight Watchers Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Cake, ensuring every slice is a delightful experience.
- Optimal Serving Temperature: This cake is truly at its best when served slightly warm, fresh from the oven, allowing its comforting aromas and tender texture to fully develop and delight the senses. A light dusting of powdered sugar is a simple yet elegant finish, but it’s equally delightful served at room temperature. For an extra special treat, consider pairing it with a dollop of light whipped cream or a small scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream.
- Enhance Moisture with Apples in Batter: For an even more apple-rich and moist cake, feel free to mix some finely diced or grated apple pieces directly into the batter along with the cranberries and walnuts. This ensures apple flavor and moisture throughout. However, be mindful not to add too much, as excessive moisture can affect the cake’s delicate structure and baking time. A good guideline is to add roughly the same volume as the nuts and cranberries, about ⅓ cup.
- Optimal Storage for Freshness: To keep any leftover cake fresh and delicious for days, transfer it to an airtight container once it has completely cooled down to room temperature. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, a quick reheat in the microwave for 15-30 seconds will effortlessly restore its tender, warm texture, making it feel almost freshly baked.
- Strategic Baking Shelf Placement: For the most consistent and even baking results, always place your cake pan on the middle rack of your oven. Placing it too high can lead to the top browning too quickly or even burning before the inside is fully cooked. Conversely, placing it too low can result in an overcooked bottom and an undercooked top, preventing a uniform rise and that desirable golden finish.
- Avoid the Pitfall of Over-Mixing: Over-mixing the cake batter is a common pitfall that can unfortunately lead to a dense, tough, or even ‘rubbery’ cake. Once you’ve combined the wet and dry ingredients, mix only until the flour streaks have just disappeared and the cranberries and walnuts are evenly distributed throughout the batter. A few small lumps in the batter are perfectly acceptable and, in fact, preferable to an over-mixed batter where the gluten has been excessively developed.
- Reliable Test for Doneness: Beyond strictly adhering to the suggested baking time, it’s always wise to perform a reliable doneness test. Insert a clean wooden toothpick or a thin skewer into the very center of the cake. If it comes out completely clean, with no wet batter clinging to it, your cake is perfectly baked and ready. If it comes out with wet crumbs, give it a few more minutes in the oven and test again until clean.
Complementary Weight Watchers Desserts
If you loved this healthy Thanksgiving cake, you might also enjoy these other Weight Watchers-friendly baking recipes:
Weight Watchers Carrot Cake
Sweet Potato Cake
Weight Watchers Banana Cake
Thanksgiving Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cup All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- ¾ tsp Baking soda
- ¼ tsp Table salt
- ⅔ cup Granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup No-sugar-added dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup Chopped walnuts
- 2 small or 1 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced, You can also mix some sliced or diced apples into the batter if preferred
- ½ cup Unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Eggs
- ¾ cup Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8×8 square dish or 9-inch round baking pan.
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In one bowl, mix the dry ingredients, and in another bowl, whisk the wet ingredients, leaving out the apples, cranberries, and walnuts.
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Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a batter forms, then mix in the dried cranberries and chopped walnuts (if adding some apple pieces to the batter, add them now). Be careful not to over-mix. Allow the batter to rest for 5-10 minutes.
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Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and then arrange apple slices over top in your desired pattern. Press them down slightly into the batter.
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Bake the cake for about 45-55 minutes or until thoroughly baked, covering during the last 20 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning. Baking time will depend on the exact baking pan you use and how you arrange the apple slices. The cake should spring back up when you gently poke it with your finger.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info