Get into the Holiday Spirit with This Food and Cocktail Pairing

It might be sacrilegious to talk about the holidays before Halloween, but we’re getting into the spirit of fall and all things cozy with two simple and scrumptious cranberry recipes. Whether you’re having a quiet Saturday morning at home or need something to take to a friend’s house, these cozy concoctions are the embodiment of autumn, winter and the holidays all in one.

Blue Plate’s Chef shares his recipe for a Cranberry Ginger Oatmeal Bake. This quick-bread-style bake features cranberries, chopped walnuts and warm spices. Blue Plate Chef suggests serving the bake with cranberry jam, whipped cream or maple syrup.

If you’re feeling fancy, add cranberry jam and cinnamon-brown-sugar syrup to sparkling wine to create a spritzy cocktail to accompany the bake. See cocktail recipe below.

Cranberry Ginger Oatmeal Bake

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

⅓ cup packed, light brown sugar

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup roughly chopped walnuts

½ cup white cake mix

1 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups heavy cream

1 ½ tablespoons butter

4 eggs

½ tsp vanilla paste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Lightly grease a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan with butter.

2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream, vanilla and eggs until blended. Pour over the oat mixture and stir until evenly mixed.

4. Pour into greased baking pan and cover with foil,  bake until the cream is absorbed, the oats are firm, and the top is lightly golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Use a thin skewer/toothpick to test the center of the cake, it should come out clean, with no streaks of batter.

5. Serve with either whipped cream, maple syrup or cranberry jam.

Festive Cranberry Bubbly

Approximately 8 servings

Ingredients

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp light brown sugar

2 Tbsp water

Cranberry jam (homemade or store-bought)

Instructions

1. Combine water, cinnamon and brown sugar in a medium saucepan set over high heat.

2. Whisk continuously until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil.

3. Reduce heat to a simmer and whisk for 5 minutes or longer, or until syrup thickens.

4. Remove from heat and transfer to a clean glass container.

5. To a glass of champagne or sparkling wine, stir in 2 Tbsp of cranberry jam and 1 Tbsp of cinnamon-brown-sugar syrup to make a festive holiday cocktail. Enjoy with the Cranberry Ginger Oatmeal Bake!