Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 10" pie plate or 9" square cake pan. Melt 1 tablespoon butter, and drizzle it into the bottom of the pan., Spread the chopped cranberries and nuts in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the 1/2 cup sugar., In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, 3/4 cup melted butter, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla, and almond extract., Spread the thick batter over the cranberries and nuts in the pan, using a spatula or your wet fingers., Sprinkle coarse white sparkling sugar atop the batter., Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean of batter or crumbs., Remove the cake from the oven. Serve warm, or at room temperature; just as it is, or with whipped cream or ice cream.