Classic Pound Cake

Name: Classic Pound Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 1 loaf cake, 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 2/3 cups cake flour, can use all purpose,but it's not as good; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to 65 degrees f,about 2 hours; 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, superfine preferred but not necessary; 5 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon grated lemon, zest of (OPTIONAL)

Submitted by Steve_G

"A very tender, simple version of this old classic. Serve it plain, with a dusting of powdered sugar, berries and icecream. Just about anything goes! Once you get the hang of it double this recipe and bake it in a bundt pan. (same cooking temp/time)"

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photo by Chef Denise 5

Ready In:: 1hr 40mins
Ingredients:: 7
Yields:: 1 loaf cake
Serves:: 8

ingredients

1 ²⁄₃ cups cake flour, can use all purpose,but it's not as good
¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to 65 degrees f,about 2 hours
1 ¹⁄₂ cups granulated sugar, superfine preferred but not necessary
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon, zest of (OPTIONAL)

directions

Set oven rack to center position and preheat to 325 degrees f.
Grease a standard 9x5x3 metal loaf pan with crisco or softened butter-- dust with flour.
Sift flour and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
Place butter in your mixing bowl and beat until smooth, creamy and light colored-- 30 seconds on a stand mixer, 60 seconds by hand.
Gradually add sugar and beat until butter is very white and fluffy.
About 3 minutes on your stand mixer, 5 mins by hand.
It's critical that everything is at room temperature at this point, feel the outside of the mixing bowl-- if it's too cool then allow it to sit until it reaches room temperature.
Add the whole eggs, one at a time and beat for 20 seconds after each addition.
The mixture should be dull and smooth at this point.
If it appears grainy and/or curdled then the temperature is probably too cold for the eggs to combine properly with the butter.
Allow it to warm then rebeat for a few seconds.
This is critical for this cake as there is no chemical levener and having the eggs and butter properly mixed is the only thing that will give this cake structure and allow it to rise.
DO NOT OVERBEAT, It will make the cake tough.
Add vanilla extract and beat for a few more seconds.
Sift the flour in three equal parts into the butter/sugar/egg mixture, folding gently into the after each addition until all the flour has been incorporated and the batter is well mixed.
Be sure to scrape up from the bottom of the bowl frequently.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 70 minutes, rotating 180 degrees halfway thru the baking process.
In 70 minutes test the cake with a wooden toothpick.
If it's not done continue to bake and check every 5 minutes.
Cool on rack for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

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Reviews

This is the best pound cake ever. By it only being the size of a loaf, it doesn't get a chance to go stale before it's gone. I passed this onto my mother-in-law, who had several pound cake recipes. We both only ever use this recipe now and are truly pleased.

Kelly P
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zaynab A.
It was late so I dumped it all in the bowl- but it still came out perfect. Time was perfect, flavor awesome (I addded a pinch of baking powder because of the changed method.) I will be using the recipe again.

Kaseysospacey
Steve, this is awesome! This is the best pound cake I have made due to your precise instructions. I used cake flour, super fine sugar and made sure the eggs and butter were at room temperature. I also added the zest which gave it a slight lemony flavor. Perfection!

Chef Denise 5
I loved this recipe. I made a strawberry glaze to pour over it and the whole family loved it. Thanks

cookin_again