Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake is a tasty Christmas cake made with fresh cranberries, toasty walnuts and a sweet caramel topping.

If you like Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and want a festive holiday version, you will love this Cranberry Upside-Down Cake, a deliciously simple holiday recipe. Check out all the Cake Recipes on the site, there’s all your favorites and more!

CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

When you hear “upside-down cake,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably pineapple. While pineapple upside-down cake is absolutely delicious, there’s another upside-down cake that is just as yummy and a perfect holiday treat.

Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake is one of those cake recipes that will be an instant hit at any family gathering this year. Whether you’re hosting or going as a guest, this gorgeous pastry will be a dessert that can double as a beautiful centerpiece.

Instead of maraschino cherries you get the beautiful red color from the fresh cranberries and instead of pineapple rings I’ve added walnuts to add a crunchy texture to the brown butter caramel that soaks into the delicious cake.

Enjoy some leftover Cranberry Upside-Down Cake with a cup of coffee the morning after your party to jumpstart you back into the holiday spirit. The natural tartness of the fresh cranberries, the sweetness of the caramel topping and a jolt of caffeine are just what you need to tackle the busyness of the Christmas season after a long night.

MORE HOLIDAY DESSERT RECIPES

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN COFFEE CAKE

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VARIATIONS ON CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN COFFEE CAKE

• Nuts: Try swapping out the walnuts for toasted almond slivers or pecans for a change of texture and flavor.
• White Chocolate: Taking some inspiration from a coffee shop classic holiday muffin, add White Chocolate Chips to make a White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake.
• Buttermilk: Give this cake a rich, tangy flavor that will pair nicely with the sweetness by substituting buttermilk for the sour cream.
• Mini Coffee Cakes: Make these into cupcake sized treats perfect for giving as gifts by dividing into a greased muffin tin. You will want to reduce the baking time to 25-30 minutes.
• Serve with: Serve slices of Cranberry Upside-Down Cake with a scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream or with a dab of Homemade Whipped Cream on top.

CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN COFFEE CAKE FAQS

Can you make Cranberry Upside-Down Cake in cast iron skillet? Yes, you can. You will need to keep a close eye on the cake so it doesn’t burn, since cast iron will get hotter than you’d expect.
Can you make Cranberry Upside-Down Cake gluten free? Yes, you can. Substitute almond or buckwheat flour for all purpose flour.

MORE EASY HOLIDAY DESSERT RECIPES

Pumpkin Bread

Easy Banana Bread (No Mixer!)

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Muffins

HOW LONG IS CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN COFFEE CAKE GOOD?

• Serve: You can keep Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature.
• Store: You can keep your cake in the fridge for up to 3 days, as long as you keep it tightly covered or sealed in an airtight container that will keep moisture out.
• Freeze: You can keep Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake for up to 1 month in the freezer. Once again, make sure to keep it tightly sealed.

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Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake is a tasty Christmas cake made with fresh cranberries, toasty walnuts and a sweet caramel topping.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 12 Servings

Calories 420 kcal

Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup brown sugar , packed
• 1 cup unsalted butter , softened (divided)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup walnuts , chopped
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a springform pan with baking spray.

2. Wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil to prevent leaking.

3. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl.

4. In a medium bowl add the brown sugar and 1/2 cup unsalted butter and microwave for 45 seconds until melted, then stir well and microwave for another 20 seconds.

5. Add the melted butter and brown sugar mixture to the springform pan and spread, then add in the cranberries and walnuts evenly.

6. Add the remaining 1/2 cup butter and sugar to your stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes.

7. Add in the eggs, vanilla and sour cream until fully combined, then add in the flour mixture until just mixed in (do not overmix the flour).

8. Carefully, slowly pour the batter over the cranberry walnut mixture.

9. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

10. Cool for 10 minutes, then turn a plate/cake stand upside down over the springform pan and carefully and quickly flip over before removing the cake from the pan.

Nutrition Facts

Cranberry Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 420 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 13g81%

Cholesterol 85mg28%

Sodium 339mg15%

Potassium 178mg5%

Carbohydrates 47g16%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 31g34%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 671IU13%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 80mg8%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.