Eggnog Coffee Cake Simple and Festive Delight

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 0.5 cup eggnog
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 0.5 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 2 tablespoons milk (for glaze)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
4. Pour in the eggnog and mix until well combined. Add in the vanilla extract and mix again.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
6. If you're using pecans, fold them into the batter gently.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle it over the cooled cake before slicing and serving.