SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RECIPE - CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CAKE

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CAKE


Ingredients :



1 pkg. (8 oz.) of cream cheese, softened
1 cup of butter, softened
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 1/4 cups of sifted cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 jar (8 oz.) of maraschino cherries, drained & chopped
1 cup of chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
4 eggs
2 tablespoons of milk


Method : 


In large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar, vanilla and spices. 
Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. 
In small bowl, combine flour with baking powder; gradually add 2 cups of the flour mixture to butter mixture. To remaining flour mixture add maraschino cherries and 1/2 cup of the chopped pecans; fold into batter.
Grease 10 inch bundt pan or tube pan; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. 
Let cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Loosen edge; remove from pan. 
Cool completely on wire rack. 
In small bowl, beat powdered sugar and milk until smooth. 
Spoon icing over cake.
Garnish with pecan halves and candied cherries.