Holiday Cherries & Nut Cake

A festive, deliciously moist cream cheese Bundt cake, loaded with chopped maraschino cherries and nuts, topped with a decorative drizzle of vanilla icing.

Recipe Ingredients:

Cake:
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour - divided use
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries, well drained
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Simple Icing:
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan or 10-inch tube pan; sprinkle with 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans; set aside.
2. for Cake: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition; set aside.
3. Combine 1 3/4 cups of the flour with the baking powder. Gradually add to cream cheese mixture, beating well after each addition.
4. Toss remaining 1/4 cup flour with the cherries and 1/2 cup chopped pecans; gently stir into batter.
5. Pour into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes.
7. Loosen cake from side of pan with knife; gently remove cake from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
8. For Simple Icing: Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and milk until smooth; drizzle decoratively over cake.

Makes 16 servings.