Description
Ina Garten’s easy cranberry and apple cake merges rustic comfort with seasonal charm. Warm spices, tart cranberries, and sweet apples create a delightful dessert you’ll savor during crisp autumn gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over for stems
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup plus 1 tbsp (225 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ lb (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tbsp grated orange zest (from 2 oranges)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C), setting the stage for a delightful baking experience.
- Fruit Fusion: In a medium bowl, combine cranberries, diced apples, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and ground cinnamon, allowing the flavors to intertwine and develop a vibrant, aromatic profile.
- Batter Creation: Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, whip eggs at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and sour cream, blending until smooth and cohesive.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Gently fold flour and salt into the wet mixture at low speed, maintaining a silky-smooth consistency without overmixing.
- Assembly: Spread the fruit mixture evenly across a 10-inch glass pie plate, creating a luscious base for the cake.
- Batter Application: Pour the prepared batter over the fruit layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle a delicate layer of granulated sugar and cinnamon across the batter’s surface for an added hint of sweetness and warmth.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake until the cake turns golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool slightly, releasing its enticing aromas before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Fruit Prep Technique: Macerate cranberries and apples with brown sugar and orange zest for 15-20 minutes to intensify flavor depth and soften fruit texture.
- Mixing Mastery: Avoid overmixing batter to prevent tough, dense cake; mix just until ingredients are incorporated for a tender crumb.
- Temperature Timing: Let cake cool for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow structural setting and enhanced flavor melding.
- Storage Savvy: Store covered at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days, bringing to room temperature before serving for optimal taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg