PREPARATION: 30 minutes
COOKING: 1 hour
COOLING: 15 minutes in pan(s) and 45 minutes on a wirerack
TOTAL: 2 hour 30 minutes
PORTION(S): 8-10 desert size servings
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
With the rack at the bottom position, preheat the oven to 325 °F (160 °C).
If cherries are in syrup, strain them well in a colander while keeping the syrup and rince them well. Wipe them between layers of paper towels to remove any excess liquid and prevent them from sinking into the batter. Cut them into small pieces of about 1/4 in (1/2 cm) each. Set aside.
Cream well the butter and sugar together.
Add the eggs one by one and beat well after each addition until light and fluffy.
Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts.
On the side, mix well and sift the 3 cups of flour and baking powder.
Fold dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with the lukewarm milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. As a general rule, I add the dry ingredients in 3 portions and the milk in 2 portions.
Toss the glacé chopped cherries into the 1/4 cup of flour and fold them in while mixing well.
Grease, flour and line with parchment paper a tube pan or two (2) 9x5 inch loaf pans and pour the mixture.
Bake for 45-60 minutes, depending upon the size of your cake pan(s). After about 45 minutes, prick the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out dry, the cake is ready. If not, repeat this step every 5 minutes with a new toothpick until it comes out completely dry.
Let the cake cool in the pan(s) for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
NOTES:
Optionally, at serving time, you can decorate the cake by pouring some of the syrup from the (wild) cherries on it.