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This cranberry orange cream cheese pound cake is perfect for the holidays! It’s rich and moist, easy to prepare, and full of wintertime flavors like cranberry, citrus, cinnamon and nutmeg. And since it keeps very well both on the counter and in the freezer, it’s also a great make-ahead option for the busy season
Cream cheese pound cake dressed up for the holidays with cranberries, orange zest, and spices.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cup (340 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 3 cups (600 grams) granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 2 cups (200 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries
ORANGE GLAZE:
- 2 cups (456 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease a 12 cup bundt cake pan.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy, about 3-4 minutes on high speed. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each, and scraping the bowl down as needed. Add the vanilla.
- Add the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. Mix on low only just until no streaks of flour remain. Add the cranberries and gently fold in by hand.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs, about 70-85 minutes
- Let cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
TO MAKE THE GLAZE:
- Mix together the powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice and enough milk to make a thick but pour-able glaze.
- Pour glaze over the bundt cake and let set for a few minutes before serving.
- Notes:
- If using frozen cranberries, no need to thaw.
- Make ahead: wrap in plastic at store at room temperature for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for up for 2 months. Add glaze just before serving.