Thursday, September 17, 2009

Vanilla Pound Cake

I was approached by representative at Singing Dog Vanilla and asked if I would like to test out one of their products. Since I am always interested in trying new products I took them up on their offer and asked for a sample of their vanilla extract. After receiving a bottle of organic vanilla extract in the mail I set out on a search to find the perfect recipe to use it in. I knew that in order to really taste the product I would have to make something that showcased vanilla as a flavoring. I found this pound cake recipe, which happened to call for 2 whole tablespoons of extract, and I knew I had found the perfect recipe.


Any recipe that starts out with half a pound of butter has got to be good, right? That was my thought going into this recipe and also my afterthought once I tasted it. This cake was easy and quick to mix up, and it tasted divine. The glaze provided the cake with a nice sugary crunch on the outside and the inside was moist and delicious just like a pound cake should be.


The vanilla flavor was just amazing, strong and distinct with the perfect vanilla flavor! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a good vanilla extract. *hint, hint* check below the recipe for a bonus giveaway from the fine folks at Singing Dog Vanilla.


Vanilla Pound Cake
Adapted from The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion, The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook

Ingredients
CAKE
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
3 tablespoons ( 1 1/2 ounces) light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cups (7 1/9 ounces) unbleached all-purpose or cake flour
4 large eggs

GLAZE
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (2 ounces) water
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350.

For the cake - In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugars, salt, vanilla, and baking powder until smooth and fluffy. Add the flour and mix well the batter will be almost like paste. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl after each addition the batter will be quite fluffy.
Spoon the batter into a lightly greased 9 to 10 inch tube pan, 9 to 10 cup bundt-style pan, or 9 X5 inch loaf pan. Bake the cake for about 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, while you are making the glaze.

For the glaze - Bring the sugar, water, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan and boil for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla

Turn the warm cake out onto a rack. Poke the cake all over with something long and thin, like a cake tester or ice pick. Slowly drizzle or brush the glaze over the cake, continuing to brush until all the glaze is used. Let the cake cool fully before slicing. Serve with sliced fresh fruit, if desired.




*** BONUS GIVEAWAY ***
The generous folks at Singing Dog Vanilla are offering one my my lucky readers a chance to sample one of their products. If you would like to be entered into a giveaway to win one of Singing Dog Vanilla's products, simply go to their
website, search around a bit. After searching come back here and leave me a comment letting me know what product you would like to try and what you plan on making with that product.

The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Sunday September 27th. Only one entry per person please. Good luck!

67 comments:

Carrie said...

I would try the vanilla paste, I have always wanted to try it. I would make some kind of vanilla bean cookie.

Anonymous said...

I would love to get the vanilla beans so I can make vanilla creme brulee! Thanks for the giveaway!! ~ Yudith

Lindsey said...

I would get the vanilla paste and I would make vanilla ice cream!!

MrsSisler said...

I would also like to try the vanilla pasta. Their vanilla bean cheesecake sounds great, or I would like to make a classic vanilla ice cream!

Shawna said...

I would love the Vanilla Extract! I love the flavor that a good quality vanilla extract gives!

Mrs. G said...

I would like the organic vanilla beans and make
some ice cream.

Brandette said...

I am so all over the vanilla bean paste, I would make a pastry with vanilla bean custard filling. Divine!

Unknown said...

I would love to try vanilla beans! I have always wanted to cook with them and have never had the opportunity. The possibilities are endless - creme brulee, ice cream, cheesecake.... yum!

Intisar said...

I would try the vanilla bean paste. I've always been intrigued by this product, but have never had the opportunity to try it.

Jenae said...

I would love to try vanilla beans. I have been seeing a lot of recipes that use vanilla beans that I really would like to try, but haven't. I think the first recipe I would make is their creme brulee.

Jessica said...

This looks so good! I bought some vanilla extract when we were in the Virgin Islands on vacation and I swear, I never knew what really good vanilla tasted like :)

the vanilla paste sounds like it would be fun to try!

Kristen J said...

Oh My!!!!!!! I would absolutely love to make this lovely vanilla pound cake with the alcohol free, sugar free, AND gluten free vanilla extract!!! How wonderful to know such a thing exists!!!!! Great blog btw. :-)

Emily Rogers said...

I'd like to try the vanilla extract, there is a recipe for a double chocolate souffle with vanilla custard sauce that I'd like to make sometime soon.

Thanks for hosting such a nice giveaway!

Amy said...

I would love to try vanilla bean paste. I've been very curious about it!

Becky said...

I would love to try some vanilla beans! I have never used real vanilla beans and I would love to make a vanilla bean ice cream!

Jess said...

best, easiest ingredient in anything is good vanilla extract!

Jennifer said...

Hi Amber! I'm making your Bourbon Chicken tomorrow night for dinner. yum yum!

Oh, anyways, the product that I am DYING to try is Vanilla Bean Paste.

Maree Jeanne said...

Vanilla extract or vanilla paste...can't decide. I would make vanilla ice cream or cookies depending on which I get. Yummm!

Linnee said...

Your cake looks delicious! I LOVE the taste of vanilla... and would love to try the vanilla paste!

Nina said...

I would get vanilla beans. I really want to make a vanilla bundt cake.

wwgirl said...

I would like to try the vanilla paste--I've never even heard of it--I'd like to try the cinnamon rolls or the sugar cookies. I love your website!

Cassi said...

... save Luke and I a piece of this. He LOVES pound cake. His grandma makes it every once in a while....

Cassi said...

I think I would like to try the Vanilla Extract... and a Double-Streusel Coffee Cake recipe that I found on Betty Crocker's web page looks delicious! MMMMMMMMMMM!

Anonymous said...

Looks delicious! I have my eye on the panna cotta!

Melissa said...

I have never seen vanilla bean paste before...hope neat. I would love to add some in some ice cream.

Ange said...

I woud love the vanilla beans so I can make my own vanilla extract.

Rachel said...

Oh goodness I've been DYING to try vanilla bean paste, I can't find it anywhere near my house. I would make my grandma's recipe for no-bake cheese cake and use it in place of the regular vanilla.

Larry + Brenda said...

I would try the pure vanilla extract and make no-bake cookies with it!! No-bake cookies are the best with really good vanilla!!

White Toast with Butter said...

Vanilla extract please!

Suzy Q said...

I'd love to win anything vanilla! (I can't get enough of it...love the original scent from L'Occitane for the days I am not baking with vanilla.) I made a wonderful pastry cream this summer, but bet this vanilla would make it even more exquisite.

Sarah said...

I would try either the vanilla paste (because I've always been intrigued by it) or the vanilla beans. I'd make a cheesecake or something with the paste and vanilla bean ice cream with the beans. MMmmmmmm.

Vanessa said...

The vanilla pasta sounds very interesting!! I'd love to make up some things using that.

A Cooking Bookworm said...

I'd like to try the sugar-gluten-alcohol-free vanilla flavoring and I'm thinking your pound cake sounds like a good recipe to test it out with! :-)

michelle said...

I hate to go with the majority here, but I have always wanted to try vanilla beans. I would use this to make vanilla bean ice cream with my new ice cream maker!

That Girl said...

Vanilla is such a pantry staple - what a good product to sample and feature!

Melody said...

I need a good quality extract for my cookie obsession!

Jen | Our Life Accounts said...

I have always wanted to try vanilla paste! Vanilla is my favorite flavor and I've heard vanilla paste is amazing but I've yet to cook with it! Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity!

What's Cookin Chicago said...

I love your vanilla pound cake - looks delicious! Im a fan of vanilla paste since I use it in place of extract in cookies, cakes, muffins, etc. It's such a versatile ingredient and I especially love how it has flecks of vanilla too!

Natalie said...

Yummy-looking pound cake, thanks for the giveaway!

I'd want either the vanilla or the vanilla paste...I think I'd use them in some sort of a cheesecake!

Dianna said...

I just love trying different varieties of vanilla extract. That would be my choice!

Stephany said...

I would love to try the Red Ape Cinnamon - I make a really good cinnamon apple pork roast in the fall, but I ADORE cinnamon and like a strong cinnamon flavor with the pork and I've yet to find the perfect cinnamon for this recipe.
Your pound cake looks killer!

Julie said...

I've never used an actual vanilla bean so I would try those. Not sure what type of recipe I would select but I'm sure it would be scrumptious.

Melly said...

Mmmmmm! Vanilla Bean Paste.
mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

Coffee!! Vanilla Beans!! I would use the coffee for my morning cup and tiramisu. I would use the vanilla beans for some creme brulee. Mmmm...

Tiffany said...

I would try the cinnamon sticks and make hot mulled cider. It is perfect for the fall.

Emily said...

Yum! This looks delicious. I would love to try the vanilla paste and make vanilla bean ice cream--something that I could really taste the flavor of the product.
~Emily (www.joyofcooking.wordpress.com)

Audrey and Joan said...

The cinnamon, just in time to make apple pies!

Audrey and Joan said...

The cinnamon, just in time to make apple pies!

Anonymous said...

i'd like to try the cinnamon sticks!

Unknown said...

I would love to try the vanilla bean paste. I love the ease of it's use and the added extra of the little flecks of vanilla bean that come through.

Jessica said...

I would like to try the vanilla bean paste. I'd use it for a french vanilla ice cream.

Katy ~ said...

I buy the largest amount of vanilla that I can afford at the time I'm shopping or mail ordering, grins. I use it a ton of it as it's one of my favorite flavorings. Vanilla paste sounds sooo intriguing but I would still go with the liquid. Homemade vanilla coffee... how superb that would be with a top notch vanilla!

FrostingU said...

Without a doubt, it's the vanilla bean paste! My recipe of choice would be vanilla bean macarons with vanilla bean creme.
-Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Christy said...

I would love the opportunity to try the vanilla paste as well. The choices are limiless on what I would make with it; ice cream, cheesecake, cookies etc. Thanks for a chance to win something fun and fabulous!

Lynn said...

Your cake sounds divine. I've tried only a few King Arthur recipes, but they have been great :) The product I'd choose is probably the same one you did, the vanilla extract. And I'd probably use it in some old-fashioned cookie recipe; I have just started going through some of my great-great grandma's recipe cards and trying some of her cookie/cake recipes. I'm having fun, and I think this vanilla would be just the thing :) Thanks.

MrsAshleyEm said...

I would try the cinnamon and make cinnamon rolls!!

Jen said...

I would want to try the vanilla paste, I think it would be great in a cheesecake.

Melissa said...

I would get the vanilla beans or extract and make the vanilla bean cheesecake. The picture posted with the recipe with all the fresh berries looks so delicious & fresh.

Jenny McClamroch said...

YUM! Thanks for the giveaway! I would like the vanilla bean flavoring for all my yummy desserts!

Anonymous said...

Amber your floral touch is beautiful. I hope your neighbor doesnt read your blog and figure out you borrowed their overflow from the fence. Hmmmm,...I wonder where you got that idea from?
I would try the Red Ape cinnamon for my (home grown) apple pies. I would even make the dough from scratch to make you proud of me. Also snickerdoodles with cinnamon chips.

cessc said...

Vanilla bean paste sounds interesting...I would like to try that

maggie bam boo said...

ooo! the vanilla paste! it would be perfect in shortbread, vanilla sugar, or creme brulee! delicious!

Sharla said...

I would love to try the vanilla bean paste and make creamy vanilla ice cream!

Cassie said...

I would love to try the vanilla bean paste and the vanilla beans...their vanilla creme brule sounds delish!

Cassie
cassiewinters1@yahoo.com

Alyssa said...

I love that this is a simple recipe with classic flavors, and I can't wait to to try this out and taste the softness for myself! Thanks so much for posting. I actually work with Del Monte and if you visit our website, we have a lot of different yummy recipes you can try. They're made with our new Superfruit and citrus bowls, and the fruit add crisp, clean flavors. If you or anyone is interested, try the almond peach cake. Simple and tasty! I wanted to share something with you since you're sharing all these amazing recipes with us :)

http://bit.ly/qYT4q

Wood Eye said...

well I got my lessons for the day, learning about where not only about vanilla ( i grow orchids so I knew a bit about it ), but about quality of cinnamon and that pepper grows on vines, all interesting and the support of the organic gardeners. Thanks ! While I find all of them most interesting, I have always wanted to make something using vanilla beans, I have a wonderful cookie recipe that uses all three products vanilla, pepper and cinnamon in one cookie ! can you believe it.. however I would say that I would need to use the vanilla beans in a cake recipe that highlights the vanilla and maybe some vanilla sugar to use as a treat.

Anonymous said...

I just made your vanilla poundcake! Its scrumptious! Cant wait to get some french vanilla and some strawberries for this! Thanks!