Cranberry Pumpkin Upside-down Cake

Caramel-coated walnuts and cranberries top this tender cake. It's very easy to make. Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/2 hours. Notes: This cake looks and tastes best the day it is made. To toast the walnuts, bake in a 350° oven until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. If using frozen cranberries, measure while frozen, then thaw before using.

Yield: Makes 9 servings

Ingredients

• 1/4  cup  butter, plus more for pans
• 1/2  cup  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon  dark or light rum
• 1 1/3  cups  cranberries (see Notes)
• 2/3  cup  toasted coarsely chopped walnuts (see Notes)
• 2  large eggs
• 1  cup  canned pumpkin
• 1/3  cup  canola or other vegetable oil
• 1  cup  granulated sugar
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  baking powder
• 1  teaspoon  cinnamon
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• Lightly sweetened softly whipped cream

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9-in. square pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in brown sugar until blended. Remove from heat and whisk in rum. Pour mixture into prepared pan, evenly covering the bottom.

3. In a small bowl, combine cranberries and walnuts; arrange evenly over brown sugar mixture.

4. In a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed, beat eggs, pumpkin, oil, and granulated sugar until smooth. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture. Spread batter evenly over cranberries and walnuts.

5. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool 10 minutes in pan. Run a thin-bladed knife between cake and sides of pan, then invert cake onto a serving platter. Remove pan and parchment, and let cool at least 20 minutes. Serve slightly warm or cool, with whipped cream.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

423 (43% from fat)

Protein:

5.2g

Fat:

20g (sat 4.9)

Carbohydrate:

56g

Fiber:

2.1g

Sodium:

225mg

Cholesterol:

62mg