Cranberry Walnut Squares

Sweet and Tangy

• Servings: makes about 15 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.

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

Directions

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.