CRANBERRY-ALMOND POUND CAKE

Cranberry-Almond Pound Cake image

When you want an extra-special dessert for the holidays, it's hard to beat a seasonal homemade cake. I like to drizzle mine with a simple but elegant glaze flavored with amaretto. -Jackie Howell, Tucson, Arizona

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h30m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup amaretto
4 ounces almond paste
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and divided
2-1/4 cups sugar, divided
6 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
GLAZE:
1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
5 teaspoons 2% milk
2 teaspoons amaretto
Sugared cranberries and sliced almonds, toasted, optional

Steps:

In a small saucepan, combine dried cranberries and amaretto. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool., In a large bowl, beat almond paste, half of the butter, and 1/4 cup sugar until well blended. Add remaining butter and remaining sugar; cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract., Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Fold in fresh cranberries and dried cranberry mixture. Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan., Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55-65 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Combine glaze ingredients; beat until smooth. Drizzle over cake. If desired, top with sugared cranberries and sliced almonds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 465 calories, Fat 20g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 108mg cholesterol, Sodium 187mg sodium, Carbohydrate 66g carbohydrate (46g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein.