The Best Pound Cake Food

THE BEST POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Don't preheat oven. Grease and flour a 10 inch tube or Bundt pan. Sift together the all purpose flour and self-rising flour; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Alternately beat in the flour mixture and the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Finally, stir in the lemon extract and vanilla.
• Pour batter into a 10 inch tube or Bundt pan. Place cake in cool oven and set oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

THE VERY BEST POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cream flour and butter together until smooth. I do this part in my stand mixer.
• Beat eggs and sugar together until lemon colored and frothy, I do this part with my hand held mixer.
• Add egg and sugar mixture to flour and butter mixture and mix until smooth and creamy.
• Place batter into a greased and floured 10" tube cake pan. Tap the bottom of the pan on a counter top a couple of times to get rid of any air bubbles.
• Bake @ 300° for 1 ½ hours or until tests done with toothpick.

CLASSIC POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the pan of your choice.
• Sift the flour and salt into a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk the whole eggs, yolks, milk, and the vanilla together in a 4-cup measuring cup or bowl, and set aside. In a heavy duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at a medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually pour in the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, to cream and lighten the butter. (This should take about 3 minutes.) Once all the sugar is added, turn the machine off and scrape down the sides of the bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula. Continue to beat the butter mixture until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the lemon zest and beat for 30 seconds more.
• Turn the machine off and scrape the sides of the bowl again to assure even incorporation of the ingredients. Turn the mixer to its lowest setting. Gradually pour in the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, and beat the batter for 30 seconds. Gradually add the egg mixture. (It should take about a minute to pour all of it into the batter.) Remove the bowl from the mixer, scrape any batter off the paddle, and finish stirring the egg mixture into the batter with a rubber spatula. Take care not to over mix the batter, but make sure that you scrape the bottom of the bowl to evenly incorporate all of the ingredients.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth over the top with a spatula. Put the cake in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, and the top springs back when lightly pressed, about 1 hour and 30 minutes, for the tube or Bundt pans; and 50 minutes to 1 hour for loaf pans.
• Cool the cake, in the pan, on a rack, for 10 to 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a flat plate or cardboard. Re-invert the cake and set it right side up on the rack to cool completely. If not serving the same day, wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature, for 4 to 5 days or freeze for 1 month.

THE BEST POUND CAKE (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-by-3 1/2-inch loaf pan (7 1/2-inch capacity) with vegetable shortening or spray. Line the bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper.
• Beat butter in bowl of electric mixer set at medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, about 15 seconds. With machine still on, take about 30 seconds to sprinkle in sugar. Beat mixture until light, fluffy and almost white, 4 to 5 minutes, stopping mixer once or twice to scrape down sides of bowl.
• Mix eggs, yolks, vanilla and water in a 2 cup glass measure with a pour spout, set in a pan of tepid water until mixture is about 70 degrees. With mixer set at medium-high speed, take 3 to 5 minutes to add egg mixture to butter/sugar mixture in a very slow, thin stream. Finally, beat in salt.
• Remove bowl from mixer stand. Turn 1/2 cup flour into sieve or shaker; sprinkle it over batter. Fold gently with rubber spatula, scraping up from bottom of the bowl, until flour is incorporated. Repeat twice more, adding flour in 1/2-cup increments.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with a spatula or wooden spoon. Bake until cake needle or tester inserted into crack running along top comes out clean, 70 to 80 minutes. Let cake rest in pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto wire rack. Place second wire rack on cake bottom, then turn cake top side up. Cool to room temperature, remove and discard parchment, wrap cake in plastic, then in foil. Store cake at room temperature.

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.

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.

ORANGE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Cream the butter and 2 cups of the 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, one at a time, and the orange zest.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the orange juice, 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.
• While the cakes bake, cook the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with the remaining 1/2 cup orange juice in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, let them cool for 10 minutes. Take them out of the pans and place them on a baking rack set over a tray. Spoon the orange syrup over the cakes and allow the cakes to cool completely.
• To glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and orange juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Add a few more drops of juice, if necessary, to make it pour easily. Pour over the top of one cake and allow the glaze to dry. Wrap well, and store in the refrigerator.

THE BEST PEACHY POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one a a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
• In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture.
• Fold in sour cream and peaches.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake 75-85 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

BEST POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans; dust with flour, tapping out excess. In a bowl, whisk together flour and salt. (If making the lighter version, add baking powder at same time as salt.)
• With an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to medium; beat in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each and scraping down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture in 2 batches (alternating with sour cream if making the lighter version), beating until just incorporated.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Tap pans on counter; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center of each cake comes out clean, about 70-75 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 30 minutes. Turn out cakes onto rack to cool completely.

WONDERFUL BUTTERY MOIST POUND CAKE!

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a large springform pan (do not use a Bundt or tube pan!).
• In a bowl cream the butter with 2 cups of sugar for about 6 minutes (until no sugar granules remain in the creamed mixture).
• Add in the flour and beat until combined (mixture will be thick and coarse).
• Add in eggs (one at a time) mixing well after each addition.
• In a small bowl, whisk the warmed milk with the baking powder, then add into the creamed mixture; mix until combine.
• In another small bowl, dissolve/whisk the lemon juice with the baking soda: mix well until combined.
• Add the lemon juice/baking soda mix to the batter; mix until combined.
• Pour the batter into prepare greased springform pan.
• Combine the 1/3 cup sugar with the chopped nuts.
• Sprinkle on top of cake.
• Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until golden brown, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (I found that 45 minutes in a 325 degree air-convection oven exactly was the perfect baking time for the cake ).
• Cool the cake completely in the pan before removing.
• Delicious!

ELVIS PRESLEY'S FAVORITE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position, but do not preheat oven.
• Generously butter pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess flour.
• Sift together sifted flour (3 cups) and salt into a bowl. Repeat sifting into another bowl (flour will have been sifted 3 times total).
• Beat together butter (2 sticks) and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes in a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment or 6 to 8 minutes with a handheld mixer. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add half of flour, then all of cream, then remaining flour, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down side of bowl, then beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes. Batter will become creamier and satiny.
• Spoon batter into pan and rap pan against work surface once or twice to eliminate air bubbles. Place pan in (cold) oven and turn oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in middle of cake comes out with a few crumbs adhering, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Cool cake in pan on a rack 30 minutes. Run a thin knife around inner and outer edges of cake, then invert rack over pan and invert cake onto rack to cool completely.

THE BEST CARAMEL POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For cake, beat sugars and butter or margarine at medium speed until well blended.
• Add oil, beating until blended.
• Add eggs one at a time beating just until yellow disappears.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to egg mixture alternately with milk.
• Beat at low speed until well blended, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.
• Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely.
• Drizzle with Caramel frosting.
• Caramel Frosting:.
• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in medium saucepan, stirring often.
• Boil, stirring constantly for 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add baking powder and vanilla.
• Beat at medium speed for 5-7 minutes.
• Drizzle quickly over cake.

HOMEMADE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12-cup fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Place sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, on medium speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 45 seconds after each addition. Add vanilla extract and beat for 30 seconds.
• Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture, mixing on low speed, until just blended. Add 1/2 cup milk and beat on low speed until just blended. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula between each addition. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk.
• Pour batter into the prepared baking pan, filling no more than 2/3 full. Smooth the top with a spoon or a spatula.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes before inverting onto a plate. Allow to cool completely before serving.