Orange-cranberry Oat Cake - Magazine Prize Tested Winner

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups fresh cranberries (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons orange peel (finely shredded)
• 1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
• 1/2-3/4 cup nuts (toasted, then chopped) (optional)
• 1/3 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed ) (optional)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange peel (finely shredded)
• 2 -3 teaspoons orange juice

Recipe

• 1 cake preparation:.
• 2 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 3 grease and flour tube or bundt pan; set aside.
• 4 in a bowl stir together flour, oats, baking powder, soda and salt.
• 5 in a large mixing bowl beat butter on medium mixer speed for 30 seconds.
• 6 add 1 cup sugar; beat until combined.
• 7 add eggs; beat until well combined.
• 8 alternately add flour mixture and milk, beating on low speed after each addition until combined.
• 9 toss chopped cranberries with 2 tablespoons sugar; fold into batter with orange peel, and orange extract (optional), and chopped nuts (optional).
• 10 spoon batter into prepared pan; spread evenly.
• 11 bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. (my cake was done in 50 minutes.) cool in pan 10 minutes. remove from pan ~ cool on rack ~ while cake is hot, punch holes in cake with a toothpick and spoon 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice over cake, if desired.
• 12 drizzle orange glaze over completely cooled cake.
• 13 orange glaze preparation:.
• 14 in small bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar, finely shredded orange peel, and 2-3 teaspoons orange juice to make a drizzling consistency.
• 15 makes 12 servings.