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Photo:Noam Galai/WireImage
Noam Galai/WireImage
I may have been an event planner in another life because I love to host. From conceptualizing the gathering to welcoming guests at the door with cocktails, I could name few situations more ideal than a friendly soirée. And my favorite part of the weeks-long planning process is the desserts.
After everyone’s had their fill of the main meal, I like to entice them with an impressive dessert. During the warmer months, I might rely on something fresh like ourOatmeal Cookie Fruit PizzaorStrawberry Poke Cake. But for the colder seasons, I may have just found my new favorite dessert courtesy of Ina Garten’spre-holidays party menu:Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake.
How to Make Ina Garten’s Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake
This is basically a three-step dessert: make the fruit mixture, make the cake batter and bake. You’ll need your oven preheated to 325°F and a 10-inch pie pan. To make the fruit mixture, you’ll combine fresh cranberries, a Granny Smith apple, light brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice and cinnamon in a bowl. Set that aside while you prepare the batter.
Grab your electric mixture and beat together extra-large eggs on medium-high speed. Ina recommends using a paddle attachment for this step. Next, add granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract and sour cream until combined. Lastly, add in the flour and salt. Be sure to do this step at low speed so the flour doesn’t scatter all over the place.
When you’re ready to bake, pour the cranberry mixture into a pie pan, then cover it completely with the batter. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar, which will create a delicious crust. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. When it’s finished, a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
My Notes on Ina Garten’s Easy Cranberry & Apple Cake
At first glance, I had my doubts about this cake. I wondered if the cake would stay together, and I was worried about how the cranberries would fare after an hour of baking. Here are my thoughts:
At the end of the day, this cake is a super-simple and delicious dessert that’s perfect for the holidays. The orange, cranberry and cinnamon create a flavor profile reminiscent of a spicedcranberry saucewith a slight bite from the green apple. Plus, the texture of the cake top sparks a memory of those festive holiday cakes. Unfortunately, my partner and I ate so much of the cake so quickly that there wasn’t any left to share with friends and family—oops!Luckily, I plan to make it again for the holidays, and I know everyone—even the cranberry haters—will love it.
Make this recipe for your upcoming festivities, or try some of our highly rated cranberry desserts, such as our easy, three-stepApple Crisp with Cranberriesor this tangy and lusciousCranberry Buttermilk Pie.
24 Cranberry Recipes You’ll Want to Make Forever
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