Grandma's Cranberry Orange Cake

Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 65 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

A moist, flavorful cake that is perfect for impressing company at your family's Thanksgiving feast! This recipe has been in my family for ages, and I make it every year to wide acclaim.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons cranberry-flavored liqueur
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup white sugar

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2 In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of white sugar, 1/3 cup of orange juice, eggs, buttermilk, cranberry liqueur, and vegetable oil using an electric mixer.
3 Add the dry ingredients and mix just until moistened. Fold in the chopped dates, cranberries and orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
4 Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan set over a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes.
5 Remove the cake from the pan and place on a serving plate. In a small saucepan, stir together 1 cup of orange juice and 3/4 cup of white sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
6 Use a turkey baster or large spoon to drizzle the sauce over the cake. Poke the cake with a fork or skewer to help it absorb all of the sauce, or until the cake is thoroughly moistened.