Vanilla Pound Cake - A guest post by Sharmilee

I've been getting a good amount of e-mails from all of you asking about my absence here.Well,as I kept replying to all,everything's just fine and I'll be back with a bang soon,hopefully.Till then,I am inviting a few popular food bloggers(and friends)to do guest posts here so that I can feed the blog as well as keep you updated.


Here's the first one from Sharmilee,who blogs at Sharmi's Passions.As you all know,her posts are gorgeous,filled with step by step pics and pics of dishes which leave you drooling.She has aptly chosen a Pound cake for Easycooking readers,so go on drooool:))).Over to Sharmi-
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I was really happy and excited when Divya approached me for a guest post. Whenever I see her blog, the first thing that strikes me is her awesome baked goodies and cake decorating skills. Thank you so much Divya for giving me an opportunity to do a guest post. This is my first guest post too :)

I had few drafts and the first recipe that came to my mind seeing her mail was the pound cake.This is one of the nofail baking recipes so thought to share with you all. I got the recipe of basic vanilla sponge cake from my cousin long back and tried it here. I modified the same recipe a bit to get this pound cake. The cake has a slight crusty top and the very soft inside, sure one of the best cakes I've baked so far.

Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• Maida - 100 gms
• Butter - 100 gms (at room temperature)
• Granulated Sugar - 100 gms
• Eggs - 2
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Milk - 2 tbsp (optional)
• Salt - 1/8 tsp (optional)

Method:

1. Sieve maida and baking powder twice for even distribution. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat the eggs until fluffy. 2. Then add the eggs, milk to the butter sugar mixture and mix well. Add vanilla essence, salt and give a quick stir. Then add maida baking powder mixture in batches. 3.The batter should resemble like the one shown below(very creamy batter). Preheat the oven at 176 deg C for 10mins. Meanwhile grease the pan with butter and sprinkle little maida over it. Then tap to remove the extras. Now pour the batter into the pan and bake the cake at 176 deg C for 35-40mins or until the top turns golden brown.
You can insert a tooth pick and check, if it comes out clean then your cake is ready. Keep aside for 10mins then invert. Cool down completely then cut into slices and enjoy.

This is the first time I used my bundt pan though I got it 2months back. I was thrilled to see the cake beautifully unmould from the cake pan. This time I just greased with butter and maida, didnt use butter paper.

My Notes :

• I read in an article that for easy unmoulding : Once the cake pan is taken from the oven, keep a wet cloth under the pan for 10mins then invert , the cake comes out clean.
• You can even lay butter paper or grease the pan with butter / oil.