Holiday Jam Cake

Name: Holiday Jam Cake
Ingredients: vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray, for pan; 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for pan; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 cups granulated sugar; 4 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups one 18-ounce jar seedless blackberry preserves; 1 cup finely chopped pecans; confectioners' sugar (optional)

15 ingredients

5 steps

Ingredients

vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray, for pan
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for pan
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups one 18-ounce jar seedless blackberry preserves
1 cup finely chopped pecans
confectioners' sugar (optional)

Directions

1

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour a 10-inch-by-4-inch tube pan. In a large bowl, stir together 3 cups flour, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and salt. Pour buttermilk into 2-cup glass measure or bowl. Stir in baking soda and set aside; it will foam slightly.
2

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
3

With mixer at low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until just blended. Beat in preserves and pecans until just mixed, then finish mixing by hand with a spatula.
4

Scrape batter into pan and smooth top. Bake until cake is springy to the touch and shrinks from sides, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 65 to 70 minutes. (If baking as holiday gifts, pour into three smaller pans and begin checking for doneness after 30 minutes.).
5

Transfer to wire rack and cool completely in pan. To remove from pan, run a knife or thin spatula around the edges and center tube. Turn cake onto plate and lift off pan. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.