Cranberry Orange Pecan Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
For the pecan topping:
- 1/2 cup (60g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (55g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (60g) chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 10-inch (25cm) tube pan or Bundt pan and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in the cranberries, orange zest, and orange juice.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- To make the pecan topping, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, chopped pecans, melted butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the batter in the pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Invert the cake onto a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Tips and Variations:
- To make the cake more festive, you can add a few drops of red or green food coloring to the batter to give it a holiday hue.
- You can substitute the cranberries with dried cranberries or cherries if you prefer.
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt or chopped fresh rosemary to the pecan topping for extra flavor and texture.
- Serve the cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Presentation:
- Once the cake is completely cool, you can dust it with powdered sugar or a mixture of powdered sugar and cinnamon.
- Arrange fresh cranberries or holly leaves around the base of the cake for a festive touch.
- Write a holiday message on top of the cake with icing or a piping bag.
Enjoy your delicious Cranberry Orange Pecan Upside-Down Cake this holiday season!