Desserts, Recipes · December 14, 2021

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Name: Cranberry Upside Down Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
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; 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed; 1/2 stick butter, salted; 12 oz. fresh cranberries; 1 Tbsp. maple syrup; 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

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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.

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.