Dry Cherry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake

3 /4 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 large eggs, at room temperature (see Tip)
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dry cherries or dry cranberries

 Glaze
1/2 cup packed confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice

      Preheat oven to 350 °F. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and beat in ricotta, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and vanilla until just combined. Sprinkle flour on top, then evenly sprinkle baking powder and salt over the flour. With the mixer on low speed, beat until almost combined. Add blueberries and gently fold into the batter. 

        Transfer to the prepared pan. Bake the cake until starting to brown around the edges and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. 

        Run a knife around the edge to loosen the cake, then invert it onto the rack. Carefully turn it right-side up. Let cool completely. Clean the bowl, add confectioners' sugar and whisk in lemon juice until smooth. Brush the glaze on the cake.

 Make Ahead Tip: Wrap cooled cake airtight and store at room temperature for up to 1 day; glaze shortly before serving.

    

     Room-temperature eggs make cakes fluffier. Here's a quick trick—place them (in the shell) in a bowl of lukewarm water for about 5 minutes. 

Idea comes from Eating Well