50+ Friends Club Cookbook -- Cakes and Frostings -- Cranberry-Almond Poundcake

Return to
Cookbook Index | Chapter Index

Cranberry-Almond Poundcake

From the Kitchen of: Pepper
Source: USAWEEKEND, 11/99

2	cups	cranberries, fresh or frozen
1/2	cup	dried cranberries
1/4	cup	amaretto liqueur*
3	cups	all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon	salt
1 1/4	teaspoons	baking powder
1/2	teaspoon	baking soda
4	ounces	almond paste (at room temperature)
1/2	teaspoons	bitter almond extract (or almond extract)
2 1/2	cups	sugar
1	cup plus 2 Tbs. (10 ounces)	unsalted butter
6		eggs
1	cup	sour cream
Glaze
2	tablespoons	amaretto liqueur*
1 1/2	cups	confectioners' sugar
		*For non-alcoholic option - substitute water.

Two hours before baking: In small saucepan, heat amaretto and add dried cranberries. Let cool, stirring occasionally, until the fruit has soaked up all the liquid.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan, tapping out excess flour.
Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, using the paddle of an electric mixer on low speed, combine almond paste, almond extract and sugar until mixture looks like wet sand. Add butter; beat at medium speed until very fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula. Add eggs, one by one, beating until blended. On low speed, beat in 1/3 of dry ingredients and 1/3 of sour cream; scrape bowl with a rubber spatula. Repeat twice more. Finally, beat batter for 20 seconds, until smooth. Fold in all berries.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Level top with a spatula and tap pan gently on counter to distribute. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool cake in pan for 20 minutes, then turn it onto a wire rack.
Make the glaze while cake is cooling. Sift the confectioners' sugar into a small bowl and slowly blend in the amaretto with a fork until smooth. Drizzle the warm cake with the glaze.
Serves: 20.
Per serving: 402 calories, 5g protein, 1g fiber, 17g fat (9.5g saturated), 56g carbohydrates, 147mg sodium.