Elvis & The Easter Bunny Pound Cake

I tell you this cake was long overdue.  Last year I snagged this awesome Nordic Ware pan in a Williams-Sonoma sale and couldn't wait to use it...now I FINALLY can!  Unfortunately it's no longer available but hopefully you can find something similar.

In trying to choose which cake recipe to use for the Easter Bunny I first searched my blog.  How surprised was I to discover that one of my favorites, Elvis Presley Pound Cake, was no where to be found.   I've made this Saveur recipe so often that I was guilty of taking it for granted.  Well, no more!   Apparently this cake was one of the King's favorites and I can easily see why - a moist and rich with a "love me" tender crumb.  

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!

Happy Pi Day

To all the math afficionados out there, Happy Pi Day! 

In celebration of 3.14, I baked a trifecta of yummy pies from America's Test Kitchen, clockwise from top: French Silk Chocolate Pie, Blueberry Pie and North Carolina Lemon Pie  These beauties will be coming with me to the office for my colleagues to enjoy.

Vanilla Cupcakes

After 9+ hours of binge watching House of Cards Season 4 this weekend I must say I was more than happy to get off my bum and do some baking.  If you haven't seen the show yet do yourself a favor and start.  It's seriously some of the best television ever and the latest series does not disappoint in the least.

While the show is dark, cunning and ruthless these Vanilla Cupcakes are anything but; you could even call them "anti-Underwood".  I was craving something happy and light and these beauties fit the bill perfectly.  Even better, sour cream was used in the recipe, an ingredient of which I had plenty in the fridge.   The cupcake recipe can be found here on the Cupcake Project and I frosted them with Cook's Illustrated Easy Vanilla Buttercream.

I'm definitely feeling House of Card withdrawals, already!, but hopefully these cupcakes will ease the pain until next year.   Please, please, please Netflix...there MUST be a Season 5!

Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake

You know those pound cake slices they sell at Starbucks?  You've seen them, right along side the croissants and scones?  Well, this is my attempt at replicating one of them.  Specifically the raspberry swirl pound cake with cream cheese icing.

I love any kind of marbled cake so when I initially saw a pound cake recipe posted on Gretchen's Bakery I knew I had to make it.  But in homage to Starbucks I swapped out the chocolate for raspberry.  To do this was super simple; just mix in raspberry jam to half of the cake batter.   To gild the lily even further I frosted the baked and cooled pound cake with cream cheese icing.  

While the cake is tender and moist, I found the raspberry flavor was a bit too subtle.  Next time I'm going to ribbon some raspberry jam in the cake batter so you get a burst of fruity flavor.  A slice (or two) of this cake with some coffee or tea and you're all set!

Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake (adapted from Gretchen's Bakery)

10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup (170 grams) cake flour

5 teaspoons (20 grams) cornstarch

1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder

1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) salt

1/4 cup raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a standard loaf pan.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy approximately 5 minutes. 

Combine the eggs and vanilla extract together and sift together the flour, salt, baking powder & cornstarch~ reserve.

Add ⅓ of the egg mixture to the creaming mixture and blend well.

Add ⅓ of the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and blend well.

Repeat this process with the remaining egg and flour in 3 total additions until all is blended in well.

Scoop about half of the cake batter in a separate bowl.  Add in raspberry jam and whisk to combine thoroughly.

Spoon the cake batter in to the pan, alternating the vanilla batter and raspberry batter.  Use a wooden skewer or butter knife to swirl the batter.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes.   Turn cake out of pan and let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Icing (from Giada de Laurentiis)

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3 tablespoons water, plus extra as needed 

In a food processor, combine the powdered sugar, heavy cream, cream cheese, 3 tablespoons water, and vanilla. Process until smooth, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the icing is pourable.

Spoon the icing over the cake and allow to set for 20 minutes before slicing.