Cranberries and oranges compliment each other so well. It's no wonder both fruits are abundant at the same time of the year.
Cranberry Orange Upside Down Cake combines tart cranberries with the sweetness of oranges in a moist and tender cake.
Cranberry Orange Upside Down Cake
Text and Photo by Jac Kyles Baker
Makes one 6 inch cake
Ingredients
4 TB unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup + 1 TB sugar
3 TB sour cream
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 TB orange juice
1/4 tsp orange zest, finely grated
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cranberry orange preserves (recipe below)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
Preparation
Grease/butter a 6 inch round microwave safe pan.
In a large bowl, stir flour and baking powder together in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl: beat 3 TB sugar, salt, orange zest and butter until light and creamy. Stir in sour cream, orange juice and almond extract. Beat in egg until combined.
Make a well in the bottom of the flour bowl. Add about a third of the liquid mixture to the well and stir in some of the flour. Repeat until the liquid and flour form a smooth batter.
Stir 1 TB sugar into cranberry preserves. Spread the cranberry mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the cake batter evenly over the cranberry mixture to completely cover.
Microwave on MED HIGH (70% power)** for 2 minutes, checking cake's progress after 1 minute. Microwave at 80% power for another 2 minutes, checking cake's progress after 1 minute. Test doneness by sticking a toothpick into center of cake; it should come out clean.
Carefully remove pan from microwave and cool on rack for 10 minutes. Invert pan to remove cake on a plate. Remove cake from plate and cool completely on rack.
Cook's Notes
** Microwave power varies. Adjust power and times accordingly.
Cranberry Orange Preserves
Ingredients
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 medium oranges)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Carefully remove from microwave and cool on rack. Coat pastries with granulated sugar, if desired.
Cover cranberries. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes.
Carefully remove bowl. Stir in sugar and orange juice. Return to microwave, uncovered. Microwave on HIGH 2 minutes.
Carefully remove bowl. Stir preserves and cook on HIGH 2 minutes. The preserves will bubble. CAUTION: preserves and bowl will be hot!
For a thicker preserve, microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes more.
Cool to room temperature. Store in a clean and dry (preferably glass or ceramic) container.
Keep preserves refrigerated.