I originally published this Cranberry Upside Down Cake recipe on my old mom blog in December 2017. But I love it so much. And, it’s made from scratch so I feel like it belongs over here on the farm blog with us where it can continue to live in all its holiday glory.
I know people have a love/hate relationship with cranberries. Personally, I use to dislike them, but as I grow and learn different ways to use them in recipe, the more I’ve come to appreciate this humble berry. And in Cranberry Upside Down Cake, the cranberries make it so special and memorable.
All the holiday flavors
When it comes to the flavors of the holidays, you have pumpkin, apple, pear, chocolate, peppermint and cranberry. And I realize that the cranberry flavor is probably the one least liked. It’s also one of those flavors you forget about until the holidays roll around. Unlike apples and pears, which makes an appearance in pie and tarts throughout the summer and fall…and pumpkin that always shows up the second the clock strikes midnight on Sept. 1…and chocolate that should just be a part of daily life…the cranberry sits on the sidelines waiting for it’s season. (We can discuss peppermint later.)
But this cake will make you a believer in the little ol’ cranberry. It’s packed full of flavor with the berries, maple syrup, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. It’s moist and a perfect balance of sweet tarty-ness.
Making Cranberry Upside Down Cake
To make this cake you start by combining the cranberries with maple syrup and some brown sugar. Right away there’s some sweetness cutting the tart flavors in the cranberries. It’s this beautiful – almost caramelization – of flavors that really makes this cake melt in your mouth. In fact, this cake is so delicious that I used the recipe and then adapted it to create my Apple Upside Down Cake.
Once the cranberries have cooked down, you add them to the “bottom” of the cake before adding the batter. The batter itself is full of cinnamon, vanilla and other delicious ingredients that keep it soft and moist.
My baking essentials
There’s a few standard pieces that I always use when baking and I wanted to share them with you.
- Stoneware Mixing Bowls
- Stoneware Batter Bowl
- Metal Whisk
- Spatula set
- 9-inch Round Cake pan
- Stainless Steel Hand Mixer
Additionally, I don’t remember where I got this cake stand. I think it’s from the Target Magnolia collection years ago. But, I love it and I was able to find some white cake stands pretty similar to it.
- Stoneware Cake Stand Ivory
- Emma Cake Stand White
- Round Glass and Wood Dessert Stand – I actually have this one too.
- Stoneware Cake Stand
For the full, printable recipe continue reading below and make sure to check out the other delicious desserts on the site {HERE}.
Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope that you love this recipe and share it with your family. Please let me know what you think below and I hope you come back again to see what we’re up to at Sugar Maple Farmhouse.

Cranberry Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 3/4 Tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 & 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 stick of butter, salted
Cranberry Mixture Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 stick butter, salted
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries
- 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine brown sugar, butter and maple syrup in a small pot and stir continuously until the butter has melted.
- Add the cranberries and cinnamon and let the mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes. Continue stirring frequently.
- While the cranberries cook down combine your dry ingredients for the cake in a separate bowl.
- Add the butter, milk, sour cream and eggs and mix well. I use a hand mixer but you can also use a stand mixer.
- Last add the cinnamon and vanilla and mix thoroughly.
- Butter a 9-inch, round cake pan. Make sure you coat the sides well.
- Add your cranberry mixture to the bottom of the pan. Tap it lightly a few times on the counter so that you can even it out.
- Add your cake batter on top of it and again even out the batter.
- Put the cake in the oven for 50 minutes and then check it. You might need another 10 minutes to cook it through the center.
- Once the cake is done let it cool completely. Then run a knife around the sides of the pan to make sure the cake isn’t sticking to it.
- Add a plate or cake stand to the top of the cake and then flip it. Just get help if you plan to use a cake stand.
- If it doesn't come out of the pan perfectly and you're missing some cranberries at the top, top it off with some extra cranberry sauce.
This looks so good. Will give it a try!
This cake sounds so delicious. I will have to make this for Christmas
I have never heard of cranberry upside down cake! This looks so so good! What a creative and super festive idea!!!
I would love this! I am all about cranberries. I can’t wait to make it.
That looks so good. Your food pictures always make hungry. This is perfect for the season.
What a luscious looking cake. I have never seen a cranberry upside down cake. I know this would be the hit of any holiday party.
Do you know I don’t think I would have thought of using cranberries on a cake like this – it sounds like it would be delicious though.
This looks so good. Cranberries are delicious and I’m sure this is too. I’ve never tried a cranberry cake, so I’d like to try this.
Your Upside Down Cranberry Cake looks so perfect for the holidays. I have some fresh cranberries in the fridge and plan to try your recipe soon.
I literally want this for every meal!! It looks so delicious!!
I would like to bake this one this season. Frankly, I’ve saved so many great recipes to try. Wow, need to find time to do it all.
This looks like an amazing dessert! I have a bag of cranberries that I need to use, so I think I’ll make this soon!
Oh YUM! I think I would love this cake. Looks absolutely delicious.
This cake looks so beautiful and festive and sounds absolutely delicious.
Cranberries are pretty much only used for cranberry sauce in the UK, so it’s so nice to see a cake made from these beautiful berries! I’ll give it a try over the season!
I think I may be the only one in my household that likes cranberry desserts. Using maple syrup is such a great way to cut back on the tartness. I so want to try this cake.
We don’t have cranberries here in Philippines, But I guess I can buy at selected grocery stores,I bet my wife will love this cake.
Om this really looks yummy. Want to try to bake a vegan version. You’ve inspired me ❤
Oh my Yum! that looks good. This is incredible I’d love to try this. My family would love to have this at Chrismas.
My daughter tried cranberries for the first time at Thanksgiving and loved them. I might have to make this for her! It looks delicious!
This looks amazing! I will have to try and make it sometime! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to make this cake. I absolutely adore cranberries so i know I’ll love this recipe!
My grandma made a cranberry upside down cake with pineapple. This looks delicious.
This looks amazing. I love upside down cakes.
I love cranberries! This sounds delicious! I’m not really a fan of the typical pineapple upside cake, but this sounds great.
This recipe sounds so good. I love cranberries but never thought to use them in a cake.
I am drooling over this cake! I can’t resist it!
This looks simply amazing. I’m not keen on making a gazillion types of cookies this year, since it’ll just be the four of us (= I’ll end up eating most of the cookies!), so we may have to try this instead for Christmas dinner’s dessert!
That looks so delicious and yummy!
Wow this looks delicious!!
This sounds like an amazing combination of tart and sweet! Plus, it’s such a beautiful cake. I’ll have to make this one.
This is so decadent! I would definitely try! ❤️
Wow this looks so amazing. I would love to get ahold of a slice of this!
Oh, I love cake. This is looking delicious. I’ll have to try it.
This looks and sounds so yummy! definitely going to have to try this recipe
I have a baking dish that is unused that would work perfectly for this recipe. You’ve inspired me!
This cake sounds and looks amazing. I will have to give it a try. I can see us enjoying it during this Holiday season with a good scoop of vanilla ice cream. YUM.
I made this for a family holiday dinner. EVERYONE loved it~kids, adults, cake lovers, cranberry lovers and non~cranberry lovers. It was moist and delicious. This recipe goes into my ‘bake again!’ File.