Cranberry Vanilla Coffee Cake

What could be more perfect than this recipe. I had about 2 cups of cranberries in the freezer and some vanilla sugar in my pantry that I have been adding pods to forever. I orginially saw the post on 3 B's Baseball, Baking and Books and have since seen it on quite a few blogs. So, I guess I was not the only one who was wowed by this recipe. I liked the taste of it so it will be a repeater. If you already have vanilla sugar on hand it is a quick throw together for company. Next time I make it, I will try another fruit, like blueberries.

Cranberry Vanilla Coffeecake
adapted from this recipe from Epicurious

1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries (6 oz)
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick (4 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened, divided
2 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk


Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Generously butter a 9- by 2-inch round cake pan. Line bottom with a round of parchment paper and butter parchment.

Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a food processor with tip of a paring knife. Add sugar and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Pulse cranberries with 1/2 cup vanilla sugar in processor until finely chopped.

In a bowl combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a mixer beat together 1 stick butter and 1 cup vanilla sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down side and bottom of bowl. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture and milk alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour, until just combined. Spread half of batter in pan, then spoon cranberry mixture over it, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge. Top with remaining batter and smooth top. Blend remaining 1/4 cup vanilla sugar with remaining Tbsp each of butter and flour using your fingertips. Crumble over top of cake. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into cake (not into cranberry filling) comes out clean and side begins to pull away from pan, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 30 minutes, then remove from pan onto cooling rack and cool completely. Flip onto serving platter and dust with confectioners if desired.