My thoughts have been very holiday-inspired lately, and with Christmas only 40 days away (yes, only forty), I have been making lists and planning for all of the goodies and food related gifts I'm planning to make. Nothing too crazy though.
This year, I'm taking great effort to keep things in our home simple and fun instead of complicated and frantic - something it's been in year's past. I'm still hoping to make all the goodies I want to make, and buy all the gifts I want to buy, yet still remain balanced and present so as not to miss the simple pleasures this season brings.
One thing I like to have on hand each year around the Christmas holidays is a list of ingredients that will yield me a quickly made treat should family or friends pop by unexpectedly. In keeping with my new simple ways, this year these ingredients need to be something that can be found in my cupboard regularly, and not only when I've made yet another trip to another store.
So, I took to the kitchen this weekend and came up with this most YUMMY cake. A cranberry buttermilk cake to be exact. Made so quickly and easily, of nothing more than a few things I had in the cupboard and freezer, this seasonally appropriate treat will be just the thing to get me through these upcoming holiday get-togethers. They are filled with cranberries and buttermilk, no refined flour, less-refined sugar, and iced with a maple-cream cheese confection that will make you wonder why you've spent so much time preparing baked goods during the holidays in past years. Give it a try, for I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Are you simplifying things this year? What are you making for the holidays? Do you like to give and receive food gifts? Have a great day!
Cranberry Buttermilk Cake, my recipe
3 tbsp butter, room temperature
1 cup demerara sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed spice or cinnamon
2 cups frozen cranberries
1 cup buttermilk
Topping:
1/4 cup cream cheese
2 tbsp maple syrup
~ Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
~ Using a hand mixer, combine the butter, egg, sugar and vanilla.
~ In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and mixed spice.
~ Combine the wet and dry ingredients, add the buttermilk and cranberries and stir until well combined.
~ Place in a greased 9 x 13" baking dish and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.
~ While the cake is baking combine the cream cheese and maple syrup until smooth.
~ Ice the cake with the cream cheese mixture and serve.
~ Enjoy!
Could you sub something for the demerara sugar? I don't have any, but the cake sounds great.
Posted by: Susan | November 16, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Sure..just use regular white sugar.
Posted by: Jan Scott | November 16, 2009 at 05:11 PM
Holy cow, that looks amazingly good... can't wait to try it!
Posted by: Tonya | November 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
This sounds heavenly. I think it's the first recipe I'll make in December to kick off cranberry and eggnog month. Thank you!
Posted by: blissmamaof3 | November 18, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Oh, I hope you like it!
Posted by: Jan Scott | November 18, 2009 at 09:22 PM