I know people have a love/hate relationship with cranberries. Personally, I dislike them. I find them bitter and tart and basically not at all sweet. That said, I’m in love with this Cranberry Upside Down Cake!
At Christmas time I feel like you only get a few flavor options for desserts: peppermint, chocolate, orange or cranberry.
I strongly dislike like orange flavor in anything except oranges and maybe creamsicles. Chocolate and peppermint are delicious but if I’m craving a fruit dessert then they obviously don’t cut it.
This leaves me with the cranberry.
As I was debating how to make a cranberry cake I was reminded that I do like cranberries occasionally when they are simmered down and sort of melted with other sweet ingredients that cut the bitterness.
For that reason I decided to make an upside-down cake since the fruit gets caramelized in sugar and is usually deliciously sweet.
I am so happy I went this route! This cake is drool-worthy and my husband and I just started eating it with a fork when I was done with the photos. It’s perfect for the winter holiday season and I’m going to make it again to take with to my grandma’s on Christmas.
Check out the full recipe below!
Cranberry Upside Down Cake
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 milk
- 3/4 Tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 & 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 stick of butter, salted I tend to use salted butter in desserts versus adding table salt. If you want to use unsalted then add ½ tsp. of salt
Cranberry Topping Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 stick butter, salted
- 12 oz. of fresh or frozen cranberries I like to use fresh
- 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.
Happy eating, friends!
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Not a big fan of cranberry either, but my husband loves it, especially cranberry sauce. I think I might just give this one a go 🙂
I once bit into a raw cranberry – won’t do that again! I love them cooked though and this looks both delicious and festive!
Cranberries are awesome! This is a great twist on an upside down cake! I’m loving this recipe.
I don’t really like cake, but I really like cranberries. I think I might try this in my instapot and see how it turns out!
Wow this looks absolutely delicious! I doubt mine would look this good but I’m sure going to try it! Thanks for the recipe!
Yum! This looks so good! I love cranberries
That’s such a beautiful cake. I’ve never had a dessert made with cranberries but I imagine I would love it!
This is beautiful, and so perfect for the holidays. I’ve already got my menu ready for this year, so I’ll save this to try out later.
This looks so yummy and festive! Cranberries are always such a great touch for holiday food!
Yum looks delicious I may try this recipe!
This cranberry upside down cake is really gorgeous and it would be nice to take with you during family gatherings. I think it’s a must try!
I love how versatile Cranberries can actually be. What a great version of an upside down cake. I was looking for a dessert to make for our new years dinner and I think this is it.
My mother-in-law would love this. I’m so excited, will be making this for Christmas day. Brownie points for me!!
This cake sounds so delicious! I can’t get enough of cranberries. Pinning for later!
I’ve heard of pineapple upside cake but not cranberry! Looks totally delicious.
This looks so good! I love cranberry, so I will have to try and make this very soon. MAybe it would be good for Christmas!
I’ve always loved pineapple upside down cake so the idea of swapping out the fruit out for cranberries is genius. It’s a great holiday option. I also love chocolate and peppermint, but like you am not the biggest fan of orange flavored desserts.
Yum! This looks incredible, and so perfect for the holiday season!
Yum! I absolutely love cranberries and all things tart! The upside down cake style makes for such a pretty presentation as well. Cant wait to test it out!
This looks simply amazing. I love a good dessert recipe and will have to save this one for later.
Oh my goodness! I love cranberries and this looks incredible. I will have to give this a try! Yum
This looks incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this before and would love to try it this week while my daughters are home on holiday break!
I think I need to try this! this looks so good and so pretty.
I’m not usually a big fan of cranberries but I love dessert foods. I might have to get over my distaste for cranberries in order to try this one out!
This looks AMAZING!!! I must try this!
This is a beautiful cake! I used to dislike cranberries but like them now!
Awww yeah. Get that wonderful cranberry deliciousness in my belly ASAP! That looks beyond delicious.
Yum! I love pineapple upside-down cake so this would be a really fun and festive take on it. So creative!
I’ve never had a cranberry upside down cake but it seems perfect for the upcoming holiday parties I have scheduled! So pretty and I’m sure just as delicious.
Oh my word, this looks incredible. I bet it’s creamy, sweet and tart and I am living for that right now. Delicious!!!
That cake looks so festive! I have made an upside down apple cake, but not a cranberry cake!
Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious! It will definitely be one of my Christmas desserts ?
Wow this looks delicious! I think I’m going to need several slices of this!
I have never tried cranberry upside down cake before. This looks really good and festive!!
I wish I liked cranberries because this looks so good! I do like pinapple upside down cake
I’m seiously trying not to eat my screen! This upside down cake looks so decadent. Must try!
What a beautiful upside down cake! It looks so pretty and delicious. I’ve never made an upside down cake, but this is perfect for the holidays.
I love cranberries!! This is a great version of an upside down cake! Can’t wait to try it!
This looks so good. I can’t wait to try it. Hopefully I can find some cranberries.
This looks SO good!! I am drooling!
This is absolutely droolworthy! Can’t wait to give this a try!
This cranberry look so moist and festive. I am drooling over this. I should make it for Christmas!
My husband would love this cake! It looks delicious!
This cake looks like it would be so delicious. I definitely want to give this a try!
This sounds like a great winter dessert. I like cranberries and upside-down cakes are always enticing because they sound exotic and fancy.
Looks amazing! I’ve never tried to bake with cranberries before.
I tried making a pineapple upside down cake and it was good. But I would love to try making one with cranberries. Your recipe for this cake is awesome. I love how it turned out. Looks divine!
I have never heard of a cranberry upside down cake. It looks and sounds delicious.
I’m not a huge cranberry fan but this sure does look amazing. I would totally give this a try.
Wow, this looks amazing! Perfect holiday treat and I’m gonna try it@
I’m a huge cranberry fan and this looks amazing! I’ve never tried anything like this before but it’s on my menu now!
Noooooooo! I’ve been doing so well on my weight loss plan! LOL I love cranberries but I have never seen a cranberry upside down cake before. I’m not a fan of maple flavor, though, so I think I’ll switch that out to honey.
Wow, I’m so making this!!!!!!
This looks so good! I love cranberries, so I will be making this one evening.
Looks like an absolutely stunning Christmas dessert! Can’t wait to try it, my brother is nuts about cranberry sauce I think he will love this!
I would have never thought of making a cranberry upside down cake. Looks delicious!
This looks absolutely delicious. I will have to try it.
Delicous! I can’t wait to try to make this for Thanksgiving next week. I need to up the baking game.
This looks so good. Super festive too. I’m adding it to my list this season.
Even though I don’t like the taste of cranberry sauce, I do think this cake looks amazingly delicious and deserves a try. Thanks for sharing.
That cake looks so delicious! It would be perfect to make and serve over the holidays!
This looks so good! I want to make it, we love cranberries!
This looks delicious. I am not a fan of cranberry but I like the idea of upside-down cake.
I enjoy cranberries as long as they are sweetened on my dressing. I’ve never thought about having a cranberry cake this looks amazing!
I must try to make it at home, after reading all recipes. firstly I will purchase all ingredients and then try to make them, then I will share my experience with you as well.
Do you add the dry mix to the wet before or after the vanilla and cinnamon? It wasnt specified in the directions.
I’m not usually a big fan of cranberries but I love dessert foods. I might have to get over my distaste for cranberries in order to try this one out!