Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Ingredients

2	sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1	8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1½	cups sugar
	zest of 2 oranges
4	eggs
1½	teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2	cups unbleached all-purpose flour (use bread flour or Better for Bread flour if at high altitude)
1½	teaspoons baking powder
1½	teaspoons salt
2	cups fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
For the glaze:
¾	cup confectioner’s sugar
1	tablespoon melted butter
	zest of 1 orange
2	tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour two medium size loaf pans, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar. When mixer is light in color and fluffy, add in zest. With mixer on low, add in eggs, one at a time, incorporating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in cranberries. Divide batter evenly between the loaf pans. Place on a baking sheet, and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven. Place cakes on a wire rack to cool. After about 5 minutes, lay cakes on their sides, and allow to cool for another 5 minutes. Flip cakes onto their other sides and cool for another 5 minutes. Remove cakes from pans, and let cool on the wire rack. While still warm, drizzle with orange glaze (recipe follows). Serve warm or at room temperature. For the glaze: Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Add more juice or sugar to achieve desired consistency.

*Recipe courtesy of sophistimom.com