Ingredients
Method
Make the jam filling
- Grate the zest of an orange into a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Slice off the peel, removing the white, cottony pith that sticks to the fruit, and slice between the membranes to release the orange segments.
- Cut the segments into 1/4-inch wide pieces and toss these into the pan and add the orange juice.
- Put the cranberries in the pan, stir in the sugar, set the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Cook, stirring almost constantly, until the cranberries pop and your spoon leaves tracks, between 5 – 10 minutes.
- Scrape the jam into a bowl and taste it, if it’s too tart, add more sugar to taste.
- Cool to room temperature. (The filling can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator)
Make the shortbread cake dough
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Working with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, (or with a hand mixer in a large bowl), beat the butter on medium speed until soft and smooth.
- Add 1 cup of sugar and continue to beat until it dissolves into the butter.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the egg and egg yolk and, beating until they too are absorbed.
- Beat in the vanilla.
- Add the flour mixture, mixing only until it is incorporated; since this is a delicate dough, one that should not be over beaten, you might want to finish mixing in the flour by hand using a sturdy spatula.
- You’ll have a thick dough, one that is quite malleable.
- Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface and gather it together in a ball, then divide in half and pat each half into a disk.
- Wrap the disks in plastic and refrigerate them for 15 to 30 minutes. (If needed, the dough can be refrigerated overnight; set it out at room temperature for about 20 minutes before proceeding)
Assembling and baking
- While the dough is chilling, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Generously butter a 9” springform pan (preferably nonstick), line the bottom with parchment paper, and butter the parchment paper.
- Work with one piece of dough at a time.
- For the bottom layer, either roll out the dough to size between two pieces of plastic wrap — it’s an easy enough dough to roll — and lay it in the pan, or put the dough in the pan and press it lightly and evenly across the bottom with your fingertips.
- Spread the cranberry filling over the dough.
- Unwrap the second piece of dough, but leave it on the plastic.
- Press and/or roll it until it is just the diameter of the pan.
- Carefully lift the dough and invert it on the filling, lift off the plastic and use your fingers to even it as necessary so that it covers the filling.
- Brush the top of the cake lightly with water and sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top of the cake is lightly golden and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and cool for about 20 minutes, then run a blunt knife around the cake, release the sides of the springform pan, and let cool to room temperature.
- Once cooled, serve as is, dusted with powdered sugar, or topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
