Arctic Cranberry Cake with Butter Sauce

This dessert is a real sleeper. To read it, it sounds “ho hum” but the first bite will pop your eyes wide open.

Ingredients
Cranberry Cake
  • 3 cups flour (750 mL)
  • 4 tsp. baking powder (20 mL)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt (2 mL)
  • 3 tbsp. butter or margarine (45 mL)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar (375 mL)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla (7 mL)
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (375 mL)
  • 3 cups cranberries (750 mL)
Butter Sauce
  • 3/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar (375 mL)
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk or cream (175 mL)
Directions
To Prepare the Cake
  1. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
  2. Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. It does not get all creamy and fluffy as it does in a butter cake, as the ratio of butter to sugar is not high enough. That is the way it is supposed to be.
  3. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternatively with the milk, beating after each addition, just until mixed.
  4. Stir in the cranberries. (If you are using large commercial cranberries, chop them up a bit. Try a quick whir in the food processor.)
  5. Spread the batter in a greased 9 x 13″ (23 x 33 cm) pan. Bake in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 30 – 40 minutes., until golden brown and the top springs back when lightly touched.
To Prepare the Butter Sauce
  1. Combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer for two minutes and remove from heat. A wire whisk is very useful to keep the sauce smooth. Serve the sauce warm over the cake.
Serves 12 - 15
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