Preheat your oven to 300ºF (150ºC). Make sure your oven is fully preheated before you start baking. This ensures even cooking for your cake.
Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. This step is essential to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan. You want a perfectly shaped cake that comes out easily.
In the bowl of your electric stand mixer, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process helps to incorporate air into your batter, giving your cake a lovely texture.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. This ensures that each egg is fully incorporated and contributes to the moistness of your cake.
Add the baking soda to the buttermilk and stir it gently. This mixture will create bubbles, which add volume to your cake.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients, including the flour and salt. Gradually add this to the butter and sugar mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. This method helps to keep your batter smooth and prevents lumps.
Stir in the dried cranberries, orange zest, pecans, and vanilla. Gently fold these ingredients in to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Pour the batter into your prepared tube pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. This helps the cake to rise evenly as it bakes.
Bake for 1½ hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This allows it to set before transferring to a wire rack.
In a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup of sugar, the orange juice, and the remaining orange zest. Cook on medium heat just until the sugar dissolves completely, stirring occasionally.
While the cake is still warm, pour the glaze over the cake while it's in the pan. This allows the glaze to seep into the cake, adding extra moisture and flavor.
Let the cake sit overnight before carefully removing it from the pan. This resting period enhances the flavors and helps the cake maintain its moisture.
