How to Make an Excellent Pound Cake From Scratch

Pound cake made with any flavor extract can accommodate any taste.

The name for "pound cake" originated because the original recipe used 1 lb. each of butter, sugar, eggs and flour and contained no leavening agents. The recipe originated in the 1700s and many people, unable to read, found the 1 lb. of each ingredient potion easy to verbally pass on to others. Still a favorite, pound cake has since evolved to a much lighter version that easily converts into different flavors and accommodates different sweet glazes.

Things You'll Need

• Bundt pan
• Baker's Joy spray
• 1 cup butter
• 2 large mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Soft spatula
• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 large eggs, room temp
• 3 cups cake flour
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• Sifter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray inside the bundt pan with Baker's Joy spray to evenly coat the entire surface.

2. Add the butter to one of the mixing bowls and beat it with the mixer until it becomes creamy. Use the soft spatula to scrape the butter off the sides of the bowl.

3. Mix the sugar into the butter until creamy. Continue to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, while continuing to mix.

5. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract to the mixture; this will now form a smooth batter. Sift the flour and baking soda together in the second bowl.

6. Add the flour mixture into the creamy mixture 1/2 cup at a time and mix it into a smooth batter. Pour the finished batter into the bundt pan, and gently tap the bottom of the pan on the counter to let the air bubbles out.

7. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for one hour 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the pound cake to cool for 15 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.

Tips & Warnings

• Use shortening and flour to coat the pan instead of Baker's Joy spray if you prefer.

• All-purpose flour can be used in the place of cake flour, however, cake flour gives the cake a much better consistency.

• This pound cake can be made with 1 tsp. of vanilla extract and 1 tsp. of lemon extract (or any other extract) instead of 2 tsp. of vanilla if you prefer.

• Make sure the beaters are inserted completely into the mixer to avoid injuries.

• Be very careful when putting the cake into and taking it out of the hot oven to avoid getting burned.

References

• What's Cooking America; Pound Cake: The History of Pound Cake; 2004
• Recipes From Scratch: Melts In Your Mouth Pound Cake

Resources

• Mommy's Kitchen; Homemade Vanilla Pound Cake, Be Still My Heart!; January 26, 2010
• The Hungry Housewife: Pound Cake for National Pound Cake Day
• Recipes From Scratch; Pound Cake Recipes; March 4, 2009
• All Recipes: Pound Cake III
• Joy of Baking.com: Pound Cake Recipe and Video