Lemon Cranberry Bundt Cake

This post comes from our contributor Jill of a Better Happier St. Sebastian.

Lemon Cranberry Bundt Cake
serves 12-14

For the cranberries:
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
Grated zest from one lemon
1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the lemon cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, at room temp
1 teaspoon lemon extract
juice from one lemon
1 cup fat-free milk

Preheat oven to 350°, and prepare a bundt pan with butter and flour. Over medium heat in a small saucepan, heat the cranberries until they release juices, stirring occasionally. Add 1/4 cup sugar and lemon zest. Continue stirring until the mixture reduces, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and set aside. Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, until well incorporated. Stir in lemon extract, and lemon juice. Add flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating until smooth. Pour half the cake batter into prepared bundt pan. Add cranberry mixture evenly on top, and pour remaining cake batter. Bake for 60 minutes, until edges have browned and the cake is cooked through. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Cool another 10 minutes before topping with cranberry jam (recipe below).

Cranberry Jam Topping
2 generous cups of fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup water

Pulse the fresh cranberries in a food processor until finely chopped. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the cranberries and stir until they release juices. Let the cranberries reduce for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in sugar, and lemon juice. Slowly add the water, stirring until completely smooth. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened. Continue whisking over heat until it reaches a jam consistency. Add extra water, one tablespoon at a time if needed. It should be thick, but spreadable. Remove from heat, and spread on top of cranberry bundt cake.