Cranberry-Pear Cake Bars

Name: Cranberry-Pear Cake Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 0.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan; 2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled); 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon salt; 1.75 cups packed light-brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from 1 orange); 2 firm pears, peeled, halved, cored, and thinly sliced (about 2 cups); 8 ounces fresh or thawed frozen cranberries (about 2 cups); 0.5 cup walnut pieces; Whipped cream, for serving (optional)

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By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on January 16, 2019

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

Yield:

18

Sweet pears and an orange-scented crumb balance tart cranberries, making this cake delicious as an afternoon snack or as a dessert with whipped cream.

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from 1 orange)
2 firm pears, peeled, halved, cored, and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
8 ounces fresh or thawed frozen cranberries (about 2 cups)
½ cup walnut pieces
Whipped cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with butter. Line bottom and two sides with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on sides; butter paper, and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and zest until smooth. Add flour mixture; mix just until moistened (do not overmix). Fold in pears, cranberries, and walnuts.
Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan set on a rack. Using parchment overhang, lift cake from pan, and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 18 squares; serve with whipped cream, if desired.