Rae Simpsons World Famous Pound Cake Food

SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a coated 10- to 14-cup Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour, making sure to coat all the details of the pan. Invert the pan and shake out any excess.
• Add the butter to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium-high speed until very light and fluffy, about 4 minutes more. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix on medium speed until incorporated.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add to the butter mixture in 2 parts and mix on low speed until just incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, using a rubber spatula to smooth the top into an even layer.
• Bake until golden brown and crackly on the surface and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out almost clean with just a few crumbs, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely before removing the pan. The cake will contract while it cools, making it easier to remove.
• Sprinkle the cake with confectioners' sugar. Top each slice with fresh berries if using.

PLAIN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Cream the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs, 1 at a time.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• When the cakes are done, let them cool for 10 minutes. Take them out of the pans, place them on a baking rack and allow them to cool completely. Wrap well, and store in the refrigerator.

OTIS LEE'S DETROIT FAMOUS POUNDCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch/12-cup Bundt pan.
• Make the cake: In a large bowl, combine softened butter, cream cheese and granulated sugar. Using a hand mixer, beat on high speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse the beaters and in a separate large bowl, add eggs and beat until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (The fluffier the eggs, the fluffier the cake.) Add the beaten eggs, vanilla and lemon extracts to the butter and cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• In another large bowl, add cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt; whisk to combine. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean. (Do not open the oven door before 20 minutes have passed, as the temperature shift can flatten the cake.)
• While the cake bakes, make the glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, and add lemon juice to taste and to adjust consistency. (Icing should be thin enough to drizzle, but still retain some body.)
• When the cake is done, remove from the oven, and unmold immediately to a plate or serving platter. Pour the glaze over the top. (Doing this when the cake is warm helps the glaze soak in.) Serve warm or at room temperature. To store, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for several months.

NANA'S SOUTHERN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition.
• Add flour, salt and vanilla.
• Bake in tube pan at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

RAE SIMPSON'S WORLD FAMOUS POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle position and reposition the remaining rack below it.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Generously butter a 9-inch removable-bottom tube pan.
• Heat cream and salt on low heat only enough to dissolve salt. Flour needs to be sifted BEFORE measuring.
• Whip the butter on high speed until creamy; add the vanilla and whip until well-blended.
• Gradually add the sugar, then whip the butter and sugar on high speed for several minutes, or until the mixture is airy and turns whitish.
• Reduce the speed to slow and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly between additions.
• Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides after every other egg.
• Now stop mixing.
• Remove the mixing bowl from the stand (if you are using one) and sift about one-quarter of the flour into the mixture through a strainer or sifter.
• Replace the bowl and thoroughly mix the flour into the batter on low speed.
• Drizzle in about one third of cream, mixing until thoroughly incorporated.
• Continue to alternate, sifting in flour and drizzling in cream, ending with the flour.
• When the last of the flour has been added, scrape down the mixture and beat for a few more seconds just to make sure that everything is well-incorporated.
• Remove the bowl from the stand and scrape the batter into the prepared tube pan.
• Run a knife through the batter to break up any air pockets, and then smooth the top of the batter.
• Bake the cake on the middle rack for 1 1/2 hours, turning it from front to back after about one hour for even browning.
• The cake should be well-browned, with a golden, crackling top, when fully baked.
• Stick a toothpick in the cake, if desired, to test it; the toothpick should come out clean if the cake is fully baked.
• Let the cake cool on a rack for 20 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan, running a knife around the edges if it sticks, and let it cool upside down on a cooling rack.
• Refrigerate overnight before serving.