Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake.

Ruby red fresh cranberries are drizzled in honey then topped with a spiced pumpkin batter and baked into a stunningly festive, dense and delicious cake. This dessert will be a showstopper at any fall or holiday celebration.

An image of a cranberry cake on a white plate with scattered cranberries

It’s cranberry season here on the Cape (yay!), which means those tart and gorgeous ruby red gems have been harvested from the local cranberry bogs and are now ready for blending, chopping, roasting, boiling and baking. They’re ready to have a place on this Cranberry Seacuterie Board, in this Cranberry and Apple Baked Brie or this Baked Salmon with Cranberry Relish.

And the cranberries are ready to be drizzled in honey, covered with spiced pumpkin batter and baked in this Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake.

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake via JennySheaRawn.com

If you love the tartness of cranberries and the earthiness of pumpkin, you’ll love this pretty, festive dessert. Make it for Thanksgiving or “Friendsgiving” this year and serve with homemade whipped cream, vanilla Greek yogurt (as we did here) or vanilla ice cream.

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake via JennySheaRawn.com

How do you make this cranberry cake?

  • Preheat your oven to 350. Grease (with butter or cooking spray) the bottom and sides of TWO 9-inch round cake pans. Place the cranberries evenly on the bottom of each pan and drizzle honey over the cranberries.
  • Combine cake mix, pumpkin, butter, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon in a large bowl and beat with a handheld mixer on low until combined.
  • Pour batter overtop the berries, equally between the two pans.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and let cool.
  • Serve your cranberry cake with vanilla Greek yogurt, homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes:

  • This recipe makes TWO 9-inch cakes and easily serves 16 (depending on the size of your slices).
  • To keep this recipe simple and quick (that’s what we all need this holiday season, right?!), I used a boxed organic vanilla cake mix (Organics), but if you have a great homemade vanilla cake or pumpkin cake recipe, I’m sure it would work just as well.

An overhead image of a slice of cranberry cake on a white plate next to a bowl of cranberries.

This is not a “light” dessert, but does have some nutritional benefits.

The powerhouse ingredients include:

  • 100% pumpkin puree provides immune-system and eye health supporting Vitamin A and digestive health supporting and hunger satisfying fiber
  • Fresh cranberries are rich in health-promoting proanthocyanidins (these “PACs” help prevent bad bacteria from sticking in the urinary and digestive tract), rich in immune-system supporting Vitamin C and digestive health supporting and hunger satisfying fiber

Because the cranberries are very tart (that’s what makes them so good!) and just slightly sweet, they are drizzled with honey. I found this cranberry honey from Sid Wainer & Son, but regular honey will work just as well.

An overhead image of a cranberry upside down cake on a white plate with a silver cake cutter.

Give this Cranberry Cake a place on your harvest table this year. And let me know how you like it!

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake via JennySheaRawn.comHere’s how to make this festive cranberry cake:

Note: this recipe makes 2 separate cakes – one for your family and one to share! It’s not intended to be a double layer cake.

an image of a cranberry pumpkin cake

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake. Ruby red fresh cranberries are drizzled in honey then topped with a spiced pumpkin batter and baked into a stunningly festive, dense and delicious cake. This dessert will be a showstopper at any fall or holiday celebration.
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 233 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 24 ounces fresh cranberries washed and picked over (2 12 ounce bags)
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 box organic vanilla cake mix (mix only; not prepared)
  • 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 stick salted butter melted
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350. Grease (with butter or cooking spray) the bottom and sides of TWO 9-inch round cake pans. Place the cranberries evenly on the bottom of each pan, there will be some overlap. Drizzle honey evenly over pans of cranberries.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pumpkin, butter, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. Beat with a handheld mixer on low until well combined. 
  • Pour batter equally between the two pans, overtop the cranberries. 
  • Bake for 27-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely. 
  • Once cool, run a knife along the outer edges of the cakes. To remove the cakes, place a large plate overtop the cake and flip it over. Tap the bottom of each pan lightly then remove pan. If a few cranberries stick to the pan, replace onto the cake with your fingers.
  • Serve with vanilla Greek yogurt, homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. If not enjoying right away, store in the refrigerator.

Notes

...
Note: this recipe makes 2 separate cakes – one for your family and one to share! It’s not intended to be a double layer cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 284mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 243IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake
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A cranberry pumpkin upside down cake on a white platter

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake via JennySheaRawn.com