Baby Pound Cakes
These single-serve desserts make for great party favors or simple holiday gifts. Package in a bakery box lined with parchment or wax paper and tie with ribbon.
Vanilla bean paste, which can be found at specialty food stores, gives these cakes a sublime goodness. And just as with classic pound cake, we loved the crusty top edges on these, too.
Vanilla bean paste, which can be found at specialty food stores, gives these cakes a sublime goodness. And just as with classic pound cake, we loved the crusty top edges on these, too.
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1.
Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well, 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.2.
Combine flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended; stir in vanilla and almond flavorings. Spoon batter into paper-lined standard-size muffin pans, filling three-fourths full.3.
Bake at 350° for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.4.
Pound Cake Minis: Spoon batter into paper-lined (13/4") miniature muffin cups, filling three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 16 to 18 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks. Yield: about 9 dozen.5.
Fluted Baby Pound Cakes: Spoon batter into a greased 1/4-cup capacity mini fluted tube pan, filling three-fourths full. (We tested with a 12-cavity mini fluted tube pan.) Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.6.
Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.Copyright 2008 Oxmoor House
