Cranberry-Pear-Walnut Cake

This recipe came out of the November 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  I made it for the first time this weekend.  It was yummy.   I love cranberries - and pears - so this was right up my alley.

Somehow I messed up the caramel sauce that goes on it.  It was edible - and actually really good - but it was a little bit grainy, like the sugar didn't get completely dissolved.  I had never made caramel sauce before, so I'm not sure what happened.  Oh well. 

Here's the recipe with my notes:

Cranberry-Pear-Walnut Cake 

2 1/2 C all-purpose flour, divided
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
3 Tbsp butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C milk
2 C fresh cranberries
2 C pear, peeled, cored, and chopped (I didn't peel mine)
3/4 C chopped walnuts
1 recipe Caramel Sauce

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease and flour a 9x9x2-inch pan.

Combine 2 cups of the flour, the baking powder, cinnamon, and allspice; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. 

Beat in sugars.

Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating on low after each addition until combined.

In a bowl, toss cranberries, pears, and walnuts with remaining 1/2 cup flour.

(I wouldn't use as much flour here next time.  It seemed like a lot and I think the cake could have done without a spoonful or two less.)

Gently stir into batter.

Spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

Cool 15 minutes on a wire rack.

Remove from pan; cool on rack.

Top cake with whipped cream and serve with caramel sauce.

(I skipped the whipped cream.)

Caramel Sauce  In a large saucepan, combine 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream, and 2 Tbsp light-color corn syrup.  Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.  Boil 3 minutes.  Remove from heat; stir in 1 tsp vanilla.  Cool slightly.

I took the cake to my sister's house for the Duck's game.

 Here it is ready to cut into:

Here it is on my plate: