Orange Pound Cake

I found this recipe over at Sweet Peas Kitchen  and I just couldn't resist making this orange pound cake.  I love pound cake and while I usually make lemon, or the madeira cake I grew up with I had a bag of oranges just sitting in the fruit bowl waiting to be used.

1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/3 cup orange zest
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Orange Syrup:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar

Orange Glaze:
2 cups icing sugar
6 tbsp orange juice

Preheat the oven to 350.  Grease 2 loaf pans.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt, set aside.  In another bowl, combine the orange juice, buttermilk and vanilla.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar, until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the orange zest.

Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.  Divide between the 2 pans and bake for 50 minutes.

While the cakes are cooling, make the orange syrup by combining the orange juice and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Poke holes in the cakes, and pour the syrup over.  Leave cakes to cool completely.

To make the glaze, stir together the orange juice and icing sugar, it should be thick but pourable.  Pour the glaze over the cakes.