Description
Indulgent Vanilla Pound Cake delights with its rich, golden crumb and delicate vanilla essence. Crumbly yet tender slices promise pure comfort, beckoning you to savor each heavenly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Cake Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Liquid and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by setting the temperature to 325°F and meticulously coating a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter and flour to prevent sticking.
- Using an electric mixer, whip the butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes ethereally light and cloud-like, creating a smooth foundation for the cake.
- Introduce eggs individually into the creamed mixture, thoroughly incorporating each one to ensure a uniform texture, then infuse the batter with rich vanilla and delicate almond extracts.
- In a separate vessel, gently combine flour, salt, and baking powder, creating a uniform dry ingredient blend that will provide structure to the cake.
- Carefully integrate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, strategically alternating with milk to maintain a silky consistency. Fold gently to avoid overmixing, which can create a dense texture.
- Transfer the luxurious batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to distribute evenly and create a pristine, smooth surface.
- Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 60-70 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted into the cake’s center.
- Allow the cake to rest within the pan for 10 minutes, enabling it to settle and stabilize before gently releasing onto a wire rack for complete cooling and optimal texture development.
Notes
- Choose room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even mixing and prevent curdling during the creaming process.
- Avoid overmixing the batter after adding flour to keep the pound cake tender and prevent a tough, dense texture.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.
- Enhance flavor by adding citrus zest or experimenting with different extract combinations like lemon or orange to create unique variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg