Cherry Nut Pound Cake
Monday, December 20, 2010 at 3:11PM in Brunch, Christmas, Quick Bread, baking, cake, desserts, fruit, holidays, recipes, snack I admit it, one of my guilty pleasures has always been maraschino cherries. I love them like crazy! I don’t even want to know what’s in them--it’ll ruin all the fun. They’re so pretty, all bright red and shiny--I love shiny! If we’re out for ice cream, and one of the kids doesn’t want the shiny cherry on top? Fork it over, kid--I’ll take care of that for you. I’ll even let it sink to the bottom sometimes, carefully eating around it, so I can enjoy it last.
Here’s another super simple recipe that you can serve for the holidays, or any time of year. Coincidentally, there are maraschino cherries in it--how lucky is that? My mom gave me the recipe quite a few years back, and I made it right away, because, you know--cherries? Yeah. My husband loves this, too! He’s not a a huge fan of desserts (I know!), but he adores this cake. By the way, I really do mean “super simple.” It’s all in one bowl--no mixing wet, mixing dry, blending and alternating. Easy!
Since it’s a pound cake, it improves every day. Like shortbread cookies. Now, I don’t really know why this is, and I’ve even looked into it--but can’t find a good reason for it. I’m assuming it’s something about the butter? Maybe the Butter Gods shine their golden buttery light down on buttery baked goods and demand they get better with each day that passes. Same thing with the Bacon Gods, I assume--except they demand that you eat all of the bacon in one damn sitting. But don’t quote me on that.
Anyway, you could make this in the next couple of days, and it would be perfect to serve for Christmas. In fact, I made mine on December 13th, and we’re still enjoying it this week, seven days later! Just keep it covered, on the counter. Unless your kitchen is super warm--mine’s on the cool side this time of year, so it’s ok. In warmer climates, store it in the fridge. The Butter Gods don’t approve of warm weather.
Cherry Nut Pound Cake
makes one 10 inch round cake
1/2 pound (2 sticks) of butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp vanilla powder (totally optional)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped maraschino cherries, stems removed! (I used one 10 oz. jar, plus half of another to get the 1 cup chopped cherries)
Heat oven to 350F. Grease 10 inch round cake pan, set aside.
In a standing mixer, or large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and blend well.
Add the yogurt (or sour cream), vanilla, vanilla powder (if using), flour and baking powder. Blend just until moist.
Fold in the walnuts and cherries. Pour into prepared pan and bake for one hour--cake tester should come out clean.
Cool in the pan, on a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and remove the cake: plate inverted on top of the cake pan, turn the cake out on to the plate, then flip it right side up on to your serving plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.
Elle | Print Article | Share Article | Email Article | 21 Comments tagged Cake, cherries, cherry, cooking, holidays, maraschino, new england, nuts, pound cake, recipe, simple
Reader Comments (21)
i'm pretty sure pound cake and i are best friends :) especially when it's studded with cherries and nuts!
Love that bright red
This is such a great sounding and festive looking cake. I'm going to have to make this very soon. Thanks for the recipe Elle!!!
Mmm...cake. I also love maraschino cherries. And those gummy glace cherries in fruitcake. There's something so appealing about completely adulterated fruit, especially at Christmas.
Hi Elle, Wanted to let you know I made your recipe for fig bars and they were fabulous! They will be going on the trays I'm giving this year. I never really card for date bars but these are wonderful. I too had to use an immersion blender for the mix but it was well worth the extra step. Thank you!
Coincidence that I had just popped a chocolate covered maraschino cherry in my mouth as I loaded this page? I think not. If there's something wrong with that, don't tell me! :-D Love these flavors!
You are so funny! You had me laughing about your butter and bacon gods!
Seriously, this cake sounds like a great recipe and so easy too!
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
pound cake, cherries and a whole lotta love going on! love the greek yogurt, love that it's a small cake and love that you can eat this for breakfast in the morning w/a latte!!
One bowl sounds right on time, especially right now! And I know how they make those cherries, and I still can't get enough. The allure of Maraschino cherries is very strong! lol
This is lovely! i love the cherries and the nuts.. Great photos!
I was so tickled reading your post. Because of those pretty cherries! I have loved them as long as I can remember, probably from that first Shirley Temple drink as a girl! If all the naysayers are serious about 'balance' they would leave us alone in this love. It's not like I take the gargantuan jar from Costco and eat every one in one sitting or anything (really, I promise!)!
I didn't have the time to make my holiday fruitcake this year but I think this pound cake might be doable; both looks and sounds fabulous!
This sure looks good - and FESTIVE! Enjoy the holidays with your family Elle!
i suppose there are a number of uses for those icky cherries, but i've not yet found one that excites me. this one has potential though--nice work, and happy ho-ho time!
What a lovely cake. So festive! Merry Christmas Elle!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Megan!
Sounds delicious. I've had this crazy cherry craving lately. This would be perfect. Happy New Year!
Ooo, YUMMERS! This looks good! I need a piece warmed up right now! Chilly here :)
How did I miss this? Yummy! I love pound cake. This looks fabulous.
That is one gorgeous looking cake Elle!
Ohhhhh....I too just love cherries! Any type of cherry makes me happy...fresh or otherwise. Love the looks of this cake!
I live in Southern NH - fun to find another food blogger in NH. :-)
Mmmmmm looks wonderful. I'm not sure I like desserts that get better with time. With two teenage boys, a tween girl, and their friends that pop by nothing usually last more than a day or so.
You know what? I think pistachios would be a yummy substitution for the walnuts.
~ingrid