Cranberry ginger upside-down cake

Serves: 6 with leftovers 

INGREDIENTS

Base:

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
  • 2 ½ cups fresh cranberries

Cake:

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground star anise, optional
  • 2/3 cup milk

METHOD

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper.

Spread butter on base of pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pat down firmly. Spread cranberries over sugar.

For cake:

Beat butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in ginger and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and star anise. Beat 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, then beat in half the milk. Repeat, finishing with dry ingredients.

Spread batter over cranberry base. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until top is deep brown and a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes on cooling rack. Run a knife around sides of pan to release. Invert onto a serving platter. Let cool fully.