I have two bonafide comfort foods: roast chicken and vanilla (not together, though I recently spied a recipe with both). Either are liable to stop my tears when I’m crying, or calm me out of a panic. Comforting in a different kind of way than chocolate or soup is—not sick day comforting, or got the blues comforting—but a in-serious-need-of-a-life-change-and-a-hug comforting.
As some of you know, I’ve been needing just that lately. A big life change has hit me unannounced and I’m still settling into it. It’s nothing serious, or life-threatening; it may actually be positive in the end. But for now, I need comfort. Comfort in the form of double-vanilla pound cake.
This pound cake, from my new favorite baking book, is intensely vanilla. Not too sweet, the vanilla doesn’t become cloying—like so many packaged sweets and soft-drinks; no, it’s the flavor, the beany, earthy, fragrant sweetness of vanilla that defines this cake. It’s scattered with black specks of the real thing and vanilla extract sits sweetly in the background.
I’m sad to say that I overcooked the cake by a few minutes (stressful days can do that to you) and it was a touch too tough. The flavor was all there though, so I couldn’t keep my mouth shut about it here. I’ll surely make it again. Everytime I need a hug.
Double-Vanilla Pound Cake
makes one loaf
from Cindy Mushet’s The Art & Soul of Baking
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1 ½ sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (7 ounces) sifted cake flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¹/3 (3 ounces) sour cream, at room temperature
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and position an oven rack in the center. Lightly coat a loaf pan with butter, oil, or high-heat canola oil spray and fit it with parchment paper to extend up both long sides to the top of the pan.
Place the sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use a paring knife to split the vanilla bean lengthwise, then turn the knife over and use the dull edge to scrape the seeds into the sugar. (Save the pod for another use.) Blend on loew speed until the seeds are evenly disersed. Add the butter and beat n medium-high until the mixture is very light—almost white000in color, 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl with the spatula.
Beat the eggs with the vanilla in a small bowl. With the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs to the butter mixture aout 1 tablespoon at a time, allowing each addition to completely blend in before adding the next. About halfway though turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl, then continure adding the eggs. Scrape down the bowl again.
With a fine-mesh strainer, sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and whisk together. With the mixer on the lowest speed, add the flour mixture and sour cream alternatively, beginning with one-third of the flour mixture and hald the sour creaml repeat, then finish with the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl and finish blending the batter by hand.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Baked for 45 to 55 minutes, until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. When cool, remove from the pan, peel off the parchment paper, and serve.
Tags: cakes, pound cake
January 16, 2009 at 9:06 pm
There is just something about vanilla, isn’t there. This is a recipe I’ll have to try soon, it’s going to be a long weekend…
January 16, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I am wishing you the best of luck as you try to plan out your next steps. I know its hard and scary but you will figure it all out. And in the mean time, when in doubt, turn to vanilla
January 17, 2009 at 8:23 am
This looks awesome!!! Double vanilla.. outstanding. I just discovered your site. I Love it. Photos are fantastic. This looks to die for!!
January 17, 2009 at 9:37 am
Hugs to you, Robin. The cake (and the photos of it) are beautiful.
January 17, 2009 at 10:40 am
this looks amazing … love the way u took the photos … Laila .. http://limeandlemon.wordpress.com/
January 17, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Cake looks beautiful! You’re going to be just fine in your knew clothes! That’s how I always look at changes in my life. A new set of clothes to wear! How exciting!
January 17, 2009 at 9:32 pm
This looks really great – your pictures look especially fantastic!
January 17, 2009 at 9:38 pm
This looks delicious. Life change or not…I would make this and eat it, likely the whole thing. I sort of have a weakness for pound cake.
I don’t know what your circumstances are but I’m sending good vibes and thoughts and hugs your way.
January 17, 2009 at 11:17 pm
This sounds so incredible! I too would much rather some tasty vanilla than chocolate anything. I’ll have to make this very soon. Thanks!
January 17, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Mmmm, this looks so tasty!
January 18, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I love pound cakes. I like all of your pictures. This would be excellent with my coffee this morning.
January 18, 2009 at 9:29 pm
*Big hug* You’re going to be fine, Robin, and life is going to be wonderful. I have no doubt.
You’re a far better baker than I. I still think of you every time I see that bread at Whole Foods. Good job on your vanilla comfort.
January 19, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Well well, that photo of the whisk is maybe one of the best photos I have seen in a while-
its so BIG and Lovely.
This is my kind of cake.
Big life changes eh, well thay are big too, just like that whisk. Whatever they are I wish you
all the best.
January 19, 2009 at 7:44 pm
January 19, 2009 at 11:48 pm
it looks like a good excuse for a hug! sweet sweet delicious comfort.
January 20, 2009 at 3:36 am
This looks like a wonderful vanilla-scented hug! Good luck on what you are going through right now!
January 20, 2009 at 10:49 am
Don’t you guys have a recipe to heal a broken heart?
January 20, 2009 at 9:36 pm
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January 20, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Caetano: I really, really wish I did. *Hugs Everyone!*
January 21, 2009 at 2:27 am
So amazing what specks of black can do for baked or frozen stuff.
Nice knife, by the way
January 21, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Jude: Thanks–it was really cheap, but bought from a great kitchen supply store. And, yes, black flecks–cooking glitter.
January 22, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I think i’m going to try this over the weekend- I have a vanilla bean begging to get used!
January 23, 2009 at 11:06 pm
i love simple baked goods like this with just the most basic of baking ingredients. i’m totally obsessed with the art and soul of baking right now. i just made the bananas foster bread pudding which was excellent.
January 25, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Double-vanilla sounds awesome! Something simple yet so satisfying.
February 2, 2009 at 7:50 am
[...] Chicken Enchiladas and vanilla pound cake for girl’s night, orzo for Parenting Study using a mixture of this recipe and this recipe. [...]
February 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I love anything with real vanilla. It is really so much better than the artificial, saccharine-sweet taste you get with anything vanilla-flavored in a plastic wrapper. Bravo!
February 10, 2009 at 9:56 am
I made this into pound cake cupcakes. They were yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
February 12, 2009 at 8:54 am
Wow! The more vanilla I can sneak into a recipe, the happier I am! I guess for even more vanilla “oomph” you could use vanilla sugar, too:)
March 3, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I baked this in muffin tins for about 20 min. It turned out wonderful.