MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It’s a tradition that I have been carrying on since we moved to this neighborhood around 10 years ago! Home-made goodies to share with friends and neighbors at Christmas! Nothing more says you care than when you take the time to make something special for your loved ones!

This year, I wanted to try holiday loaves and I found the perfect recipe…Light and fruity and very Christmassy!!!! This recipe makes four gift loaves. Find the original recipe here.

Here’s what you will need…

For the cake…  

Self-raising flour: 225 g
Sugar: 225 g
Butter: 225 g/1 cup/4 sticks
Eggs: 4
Baking powder: 1 tsp
Fresh cranberries: 125 g
Pistachios: 50 g

For the drizzle…
Orange: 1
Sugar: 75 g

 

Method

Soften the butter.
Sieve flour and baking powder together and keep aside.
Chop the pistachios.
Wash and dry the cranberries.
Zest and juice the orange.
Mix together the ingredients for the drizzle and keep aside.

Pre-heat oven to 375 F and prepare loaf pans by lightly buttering them.

Cream butter, sugar and orange zest till light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, making sure the egg has mixed in completely before adding the next one.
Fold in sifted flour and baking powder mixture.
Lightly fold in 3/4th of the cranberries and pistachio nuts.

Divide equally into four mini loaf pans placed on a large baking sheet.
Tap on the counter to even out the batter.
Sprinkle the rest of the nuts and cranberries on top of the four loaves. Reduce temperature to 350 F. Bake for 25-30 minutes till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Remove baking tray from the oven. Poke some more holes randomly in the warm cakes and drizzle the orange juice/sugar mixture. Wait for the loaves to cool before serving or wrapping them up for gifting.

These cakes are super delicious and so beautiful to look at…with the perfect crumb…!!!