Million Dollar Pound Cake

Well, 3 posts in a week and all three back to back, yes I know. We are going a little nuts making up for the things we have made and not posted.

Between holidays, which are thankfully over, and now with just being busy with work and more it's been a little challenging to get to posting. We will try to do better. I also can't say I have been baking much let alone has Mike or I been cooking a lot of anything that has been blog worthy. Mostly average food that isn't worth talking about (spaghetti, breakfast for dinner, etc). Just haven't had a lot of new recipes or recipes we have created.

So, now that we are back into the normal swing of things I have gotten my baking bug back. So, the other night I was bored....really bored. I am still on the quest for Mighty Melt bread but have yet to replicated it. So I've been making bread in my bread machine rather than buying a loaf since my local Wonder Bread outlet went out of business with Hostess.

But this is not about bread, not at all. This is about cake. Delicious, moist, and densely delicious cake. There is a reason this recipe is called "Million Dollar Pound Cake." One reason is probably because it require 6 eggs and a full pound of butter. If you notice a lot of pound cake recipes don't actually require a pound of butter anymore.

Much like the loaf pound cake I made after the million dollar pound cake. That one only requires 1 stick of butter (1/4 pound). So maybe it's just the size of the loaf or cake you are making, I suppose. I did make that too, that is what these delicious dense muffins are. That is the basic Pound Cake Loaf which I chose to turn into muffins for ease of eating. Most cakes make great muffins.

This particular recipe required unsweetened applesauce but I only had apple butter. So this cupcake had a stronger flavor of spices (cinnamon and cloves).

Pound Cake Loaf (cupcakes)

Pound Cake Loaf cut in half (cupcake)

In any event, this cake is by far the kind you want to bake when going to a nice dinner party or when the in-laws are coming over.

This is not created in a loaf style either. This is baked in a tube pan (or bundt if you feel like being fancy, like I did below). I have this awesome tube pan that is also spring form. It's a spring form but can be turned into a tube pan that looks like a bundt. It was amazing. I also have a standard angel food pan which I used last time I made this cake.

Million Dollar Pound Cake

I halved the recipe earlier this week because I didn't want to use a pound of butter (all the butter I had) nor did I feel like wiping out half of my eggs on hand. I also have neglected to replace my almond extract so I ended up using rum extract in it's place which has also now run out. I don't care for buying extracts due to the price, but that's what happens when you love baking.

So here you go.

Million-Dollar Pound Cake
Prep: 20 min      Bake: 1 hour 40 min

2 cups (4 sticks - 1 lb) butter, soft
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour, just until blended. Stir in extracts. Pour into a greased and floured 10-in tube pan.

Bake at 325 degrees (F) for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate syrup for an added touch.

Makes 16 servings.

I will warn you, this has 497 calories per slice ;) Just make sure you're ok with that.

Pound Cake Loaf (a lighter option)
Prep: 15 min     Bake: 45 min + cooling

1/2 cup butter, soft
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or apple butter if you want more of a spiced cake)
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel (or a squirt or two of lemon juice as I did)
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, cream butter, and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the applesauce, vanilla, and lemon peel. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture just until blended.

Transfer to an 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pan (or put into cupcake liners in cupcake tin) coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 12 servings

Now these only have around 185 calories.

Now go out and bake something extravagant.