Berry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

My dad's birthday is Christmas. Each December he chooses a cake for the celebration. Being an avid reader of newspapers and the Internet, he's made some unique choices over the years. I always look forward to stretching my baking skills with his requests. In the past there has been a red velvet cake, an Italian cream cake and an "interesting" confection involving cherry pie filling and Dream Whip to name a few.

This year, my dad had just one requirement - portability. My folks were heading out of town for New Year's and my dad wanted something that would travel. Pound cake is a great road warrior so to the Babble Family Kitchen I turned. Julie VR had posted a cranberry orange pound cake with cream cheese that I was anxious to try. It turned out great but there was one complaint. With my folks leaving the day after Christmas, there were no leftovers! I made the cake again today with dried cherries and orange oil to accommodate my bare pantry. It turned out just as well. Enjoy!

Berry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened slightly
8 oz softened cream cheese
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
zest of 1 orange or dash of orange oil
1 1/2 t pure vanilla extract
2 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1t kosher salt
2 c chopped fresh cranberries (freeze first then pulse in food processor) or 2 cups dried sour cherries

1. Preheat oven to 325 and spray loaf pan(s) with nonstick spray. I used a set of 3 loaf pans in graduated sizes.

2. Cream the butter and cheese in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment. Add sugar and mix until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add zest or oil. Add vanilla extract.

3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

4. Add flour mixture to the batter and mix just until combined. Gently fold in the fruit.

5. Distribute batter among the loaf pans and bake until done. My smallest pan took 30 minutes to bake. The other pans were done after 45 minutes.

The original recipe can be found at http://blogs.babble.com/familykitchen. Thank you Julie!