Cranberry Walnut Squares

This combination of cranberries, chopped walnuts and a butter dough bakes to produce sweet and tangy layers, like an upside down cake.  When it bakes the batter cooks to a golden brown surface, almost like a cookie but it's cake underneath.  Be sure to let it cool completely before cutting. 

Makes about 15 squares.

Ingredients

2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, you can use the berries without defrosting), picked through to remove stems
3/4 cup and 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs

1. Pre-heat oven to 325° F.
2. Melt the butter in two parts:  1/4 cup and 1/2 cup.
3. Add the 1/4 cup melted butter to a 9 x 9-inch baking pan.
4. In a bowl combine well the cranberries, chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of the sugar.  Spread this mixture in the pan over the melted butter.
5. Using an electric mixer on medium speed or by hand with a whisk, beat the 2 eggs well.  Add the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar, the flour and the remaining 1/2 cup melted butter to the eggs and combine well, beating at medium speed for about 2 minutes to create a soft dough.  Spread this on top of the cranberry-walnut mixture.
6. Bake 1 hour until the top is golden brown and the berries are bubbling.
7. Let cool before cutting into squares.

 

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