Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread

By á-2565

Sauteed cranberries add a tasty surprise to this cornbread. They go into the baking pan first and are covered with batter. When the bread is turned out, the berries make a glistening topping. Candied ginger adds zing to a loaf that can be served with dinner or as a snack.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/4 cups (4 1/2 ounces) fresh cranberries
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped candied ginger

Details

Adapted from marthastewart.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add cranberries, and stir to coat. Cook until cranberries begin to pop, about 1 minute. Pour into a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan, distributing cranberries evenly to cover bottom. Let cool.
Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter and 1/2 cup sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. With machine running, add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low, and slowly add flour mixture, mixing until combined. Fold in ginger. Pour mixture into pan over cranberries. Gently smooth top using an offset spatula.
Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool for 15 minutes. Invert pan to remove bread. Let cool completely on wire rack, cranberry side up. (Bread can be stored, wrapped, at room temperature overnight or refrigerated for up to 5 days.)