Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake

Here’s a delightful recipe for Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake that’s perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest (about 1 orange)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup orange juice

For the Glaze (optional):

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add Eggs and Flavorings: Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract and orange zest.
5. Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the orange juice. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Gently fold in the chopped cranberries.
6. Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake: Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it with aluminum foil.
8. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Make the Glaze: If using the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
10. Serve: Slice and enjoy your Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake!

Tips:

• For added texture, consider mixing in some chopped nuts, like walnuts or pecans.
• This cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days or frozen for longer storage.

Enjoy your delicious Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake!