What do you do with leftover cranberry sauce after the turkey is gone? Cranberry sauce…
Cranberry Sauce Upside-Down Cake
What to do with cranberry sauce when the turkey is gone? Bake a cake! Even though cranberry sauce keeps for months or longer, why let it hang around.
I’ve been baking this cake for a while and retested today with a delightful candied orange cranberry sauce by David Lebovitz. I like this sauce so much I could eat it straight up!
Wow this cake is good, IMO! The crumb is light, a little buttery, almondy, with a tangy-sweet topping. Doesn’t even need whipped cream or ice cream, but if you please then go ahead! It makes a lovely coffee break treat or dessert, and very holiday-ish dessert.
Use your any cranberry sauce, except jellied, which I don’t think would be right for this cake. I’m pretty sure you’ll be looking for more sauce to bake another cranberry cake!
Cranberry Sauce Upside-Down Cake
Keep in mind that cranberry sauces will vary in moisture which can affect how the cake turns out of the pan with the topping in place. I've made this cake mostly with homemade cranberry sauces and usually need to do a little patchwork but the cake still looks great.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter, divided use
- 1 cup (~110g) cranberry sauce, divided use (see note)
- 2 Tbsp chopped crystallized ginger optional
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1-1/2 tsp grated orange zest
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (35g) well-packed almond meal or almond flour or substitute 3 Tbsp flour
- 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (120g) milk
Instructions
- PREHEAT oven to 350F.Generously spread 2 tablespoons butter on the bottom of a 9-inch metal (preferably non-stick) or glass baking dish. The butter will be a thick layer and it does not need to be super even — don’t skimp, the cranberry needs the butter for the upside-down topping. If using ginger, stir it into sauce. Spread 3/4 cup sauce over the butter to about 1/2-inch from the edge of the pan. Reserve remaining cranberry sauce for topping later.
- BEAT remaining 6 tablespoons butter and sugar with an electric mixture until fluffy. Beat in egg, orange zest, and almond extract.
- WHISK together flour, almond meal, baking powder, and salt.ADD flour mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, beating after each addition and scraping sides of bowl. Beat on medium speed 30 seconds until smooth.
- SPREAD batter over cranberry sauce. Bake 25-30 minutes until cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly touched.
- IMMEDIATELY INVERT cake onto a plate. Let stand 2 minutes then remove pan. Some of the cranberry may stick to the pan. Scrape it off and patch it onto the cake. Top with remaining 1/4 cup sauce for a fresh, lush look. Serve slightly warm or cool completely. Cake keeps at room temperature, covered, for 2-3 days .
Notes
Ginger-Orange Cranberry Sauce Combine 12 ounces (1 bag) fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered stirring occasionally until about half the berries burst, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Sauce will thicken.
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