“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes Happiness.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeo
Here’s a cake that makes me H A P P Y! Every baker worth his salt has a bunch of tried and tested favourite pound cake recipes in their collection. Hopefully I’m worth some salt, and I too hold a few favourites amidst a bunch of well thumbed pages in my oldest hand written book. The one that holds top place is this adaptable one from BHG, but it’s one I bake when I feel b-utterly inclined and especially indulgent … because it uses a cup of good sweet butter. It is rare that I exceed that quantity, but have to say that butter makes the world go round. As Mr PAB would announce, ‘There is but one life, live it up!‘
The other fave that I hold close to my heart is this Lime Buttermilk Pound Cake that I have baked for years. I have baked this for friends and family, and it’s one of the first recipes I offer when anyone asks me for a simple, yet delicious change from chocolate. I baked one yesterday, and while I drizzled it with glaze, I saw this itsy bitsy spider busy weaving its magical web! Intriguing creatures these!
Back to the cake … The crumb is light like air, the taste refreshing and citrusy. The secret lies in the buttermilk that goes into the batter and makes for a really delicious pound cake. The cake itself isn’t very sweet, but the glaze lends to the final taste. The lemony sugar glaze, lovingly poured over while the cake is still hot asures you of instant love at first bite! It’s a good choice for a picnic basket, for a bake sale, for high tea, for the odd hungry nibble … whichevah!
Yep, this cake is good; one that is great for beginner bakers as it offers a wonderful boost of confidence. It’s also a good choice for veterans because you can put it together in next to no time {and bonus, you can also tweet as it bakes!}. The slices also offer an apt choice for dessert if you top them with mascarpone or whipped cream, and fresh fruit. Bliss!
I blogged about the cake almost 2 and a half years ago, one of my initial blog posts; it was a hot fave then too. Making it yesterday, I tweeted about it, and knew I had to post it again especially for Ahn, who impatiently waited for a slice. This one’s for you Ahn. Sorry I didn’t send you a slice yesterday. Each crumb screamed your name!! Sorry it has to be virtual! Sigh …
Lime Buttermilk Pound Cake Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup vanilla or plain sugar
2 eggs
100ml buttermilk {or substitute recipe below}
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Juice of 2 limes {or 1 lemon}
Zest of 2 limes {or 1 lemon} To make buttermilk substitute at home:
Take 100ml milk at room temp; add 1 tsp white vinegar. Let it stand 5-10 minutes. When it curdles, it’s ready.
Method:
Grease and flour the sides of a 8″ ring tin, or a 6″ round tin. Line the bottom. { I play safe line the sides too}.
Preheat the oven to 170C.
Sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Reserve.
Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, lime juice and zest.
With beater on low add the flour and buttermilk alternately in three lots.
Bake for 50-60 minutes till golden brown on top, and the tester comes out clean.
Meanwhile, make the glaze… Glaze
Juice of 2-3 limes {as required}
1/2 cup powdered sugar Method:
Stir in the juice of 2 limes into 1/2 a cup of powdered sugar, and stir till all lumps have dissolved. Add some more powdered sugar if it isn’t as thick as you like it. The glaze should be nice and thick, yet of flowing consistency. Add a little zest if you like.
Finishing off…
Overturn the cake out gently on rack, and remove the lining. Turn it back on another rack, and poke holes with a skewer through it. Pour the glaze evenly over the hot cake, coaxing it all around, letting some drip over the sides. Decorate with sprinkles immediately if you like. {I had some left over royal icing which I drizzled over}.
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Don’t miss a post Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
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