Cranberry-nut Coffee Cake

Mom loves coffee cake, so there are a number of coffee cake recipes in her recipe box. This one is a quick bread and is easy to make. Because I love cranberry, especially in the Fall, this coffee cake was a timely treat. I especially like the pairing of cinnamon with cranberry for a nice flavor blend.

I often make my own cranberry sauce because it is easy. But I had a can of whole cranberry sauce that I used for this recipe. Canned whole cranberry sauce is not like the jelly sauce that keeps the form of the can when it comes out because it has whole cranberries mixed in for more of a classic cranberry sauce. Also, the recipe calls for Bisquick mix, but you can easily make your own using flour, baking powder, salt, and butter, as I note in the recipe below.

Cranberry-nut Coffee Cake 

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. melted butter
• 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup water or milk
• 2/3 cup whole cranberry
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. water

Mix the brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon; set aside. Combine flor, baking powder, salt, butter, granulated sugar, egg and water/milk. Beat vigorously. Spread batter ina greased 9x9x2. Sprinkle with nut mixture. Spoon cranberry sauce over top. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Prepare the icing by blending the confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and water. Drizzle or spread icing while the cake is still warm. Enjoy!