Friday, July 10, 2009

ELVIS PRESLEY'S FAVORITE POUNDCAKE, ADAPTED

Poundcakes are delicious, but they are oh, so fattening with all that butter, sugar and flour, and this poundcake has heavy cream to boot. But once you taste this light, airy, buttery cake you won't care. I found the recipe on epicurious.com, but it's originally from Gourmet Magazine, September 2005. I felt it needed more flavoring, though, so I added lemon and orange zests and lemon and orange extracts in addition to the vanilla the recipe called for. IMHO, the flavor is perfect with those additions.
Instead of making the full recipe, I made a half recipe and used a 4" x 8" loaf pan and 6 standard muffin cups. My hubby opted for thick slices of the loaf cake, and I chose the smaller cupcakes. Split in half, the cupcakes toasted beautifully and were the perfect vehicle for some seasonal macerated fruit and gently whipped honeyed cream. This was a dessert made in heaven.

There are several reasons why this poundcake is so special. First off, it uses cake flour that's been sifted 3 times. Secondly, the heavy cream. And thirdly, after everything is mixed, you beat the cake for an additional 5 minutes, which will visibly expand and lighten the batter as you watch. And you can taste it in the finished product which is smooth, creamy, light and delicious. The cake is started in a cold oven, which feels a little weird, but it works. This is a top-notch recipe, but one that demands your total attention and strict adherence to directions. Good luck if you try it, and do let me know how it turns out.

Elvis Presley's Favorite Pound Cake
Adapted Half Recipe from epicurious.com and Gourmet Magazine
Rating: 10 out of 10

INGREDIENTS:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cup cake flour, sifted before measuring (I used White Lily all-purpose which is a low-protein flour similar to cake flour)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 tsp. orange zest
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
1/4 tsp. orange extract
1/2 cup heavy cream

Put oven rack in middle position, but do not preheat oven. Grease and flour 4" x 8" loaf pan and 6 standard muffin wells. Sift together the already sifted flour and salt into a bowl. Repeat sifting into another bowl (flour will have been sifted 3 times total).

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes in a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, or 6-8 minutes with a handheld mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in flavorings. Reduce speed to low and add half flour, then all of cream, then remaining flour, mixing well after each additiion. Scrape down side of bowl, then beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes. Batter will become creamier and satiny.

Spoon batter into pans; rap against hard surface to remove air bubbles.

Place pans in cold oven; close door; heat to 350F. Bake till golden -- test with toothpick -- when it returns clean, remove from oven to cool in pan 15 minutes, then run a knife around edges and turn out onto wire rack to finish cooling. Cupcakes will take 20-25 minutes (mine took 22 minutes); loaf pan will take 30-35 minutes (mine took 32 minutes). These freeze well. Delicious toasted. Top with fresh macerated fruit and honey whipped cream or ice cream, chocolate syrup, toasted walnuts and whipped cream.



16 comments:

Barbara Bakes said...

I made a cold oven pound cake recently and it really does make a big difference. The addition of citrus sounds yummy!

Valerie Gamine said...

Lemon and orange together in a pound cake sounds like the perfect match! The technique sounds interesting but usually that means wonderful results. Thank you for the recipe, It's one I would love to try sometime.

teresa said...

Oh yummy! This looks as good as it sounds!

I have an award for you!

Kerstin said...

It looks perfect! And love all the extra zest you added - yum!

Claudia said...

I made a berry pound cake for the Fourth - so this is near to my heart! I love your addition of the zests - that really makes it stand out. Scrumptious.

Claudia said...

I made a berry pound cake for the Fourth - so this is near to my heart! I love your addition of the zests - that really makes it stand out. Scrumptious.

Donna-FFW said...

These look perfect. I have to try it one day with no kids around so I can be spot on with directions.

Katrina said...

It certainly looks good! And your dessert with fruit and whipped cream, sounds awesome.

Reeni said...

This sounds like a wonderful recipe, Judy. Well worth all the trouble, from the looks of it!

Mar Varela said...

The recipe are delicious, but I love the name of recipe... I will make soon...
A kiss from Spain

Unknown said...

I am certainly going to give this a try - and share with lots of neighbors:) You sound like a very interesting person. I think it must be fun to write for your local paper. I've always been addicted to food columns. Perhaps I will be able to read one of yours soon.
Beginning August 5, I will hosting Crock Pot Wednesdays at Diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. I hope you will join in the fun. Thanks again.

Unknown said...

I meant to tell you that I am adding a link to your blog on mine. I hope that meets with your approval.

Debbie said...

I love pound cake Judy. I've made some that start out also in a cold oven. There is just something about a good old pound cake.....yours looks great.

Sylwia said...

Judy, you are my inspiration! I just discovered your blog today and can't stop reading it! I'm a big fan of pound cake and will try this one in the near future!

Sara said...

Looks delicious, I love the little ones!

Unknown said...

I meant to tell you that I have a blog entry that I am preparing for August related to Elvis. I hope you will check back on diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com to see what I have to say.