Cherry Loaf Cake

This cherry-studded cake is a favourite around holiday time!
And lighter than cherry pound cake.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cherry syrup from the maraschinos
10-12 oz jar maraschino cherries
2 tbsps ground almonds

Start by emptying the maraschino jar into a colander over a bowl to drain the cherries and reserve the syrup. Once the cherries have drained toss them with the ground almonds. This keeps the cherries from sinking to the bottom of the cake. You could chop the cherries before coating with ground almonds, but I prefer mine whole.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Cut in the butter until crumbly then add the eggs, vanilla and cherry syrup. Mix until smooth.

Fold the cherries in using a spoon. Don't turn the mixer on for this step.

Spread the batter into a well greased 9 X 5" loaf pan.

Bake at 350 F for 1 hour and 20-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cool on rack 20 minutes then remove, cover with a clean towel and cool completely before slicing.

Some people frost their cherry loaf but I like mine plain.

And if you're looking for pound cake this is the one to try!
https://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-best-and-easiest-pound-cake.html
My best and easiest pound cake!