I wish my dad was here today so I could let him know National Pound Cake Day is observed annually on March 4th to celebrate the long history of Pound Cakes and encourage everyone to put their baking hats on and make Pound Cake for their loved ones. Because I like to be different I would prefer a Chocolate Pound Cake. What about you? Plain or Chocolate or would you prefer Fruit and why?
Did you know Pound Cakes refer to the type of Cake traditionally made with one pound each of four ingredients: Butter, Eggs, Flour, and Sugar. Pound Cakes typically makes a much larger Cake than most families could consume. On National Pound Cake Day, Cake lovers around the world are encouraged to celebrate, bake and eat Pound Cakes with the people they care about.
Every year, Americans and Cake lovers around the world observe Pound Cake Day, one of the world’s most versatile Cakes. National Pound Cake Day is celebrated by bakers and Cake lovers alike in a tradition that has lasted over a decade.
In the U.S., Pound Cake is enjoyed by millions of people who add slight variations of ingredients to the traditional recipe, including Vanilla or Almond flavoring. Pound Cakes are sometimes served with fresh Fruit Juice or flavored Ice Cream.
For the most part, Pound Cakes are sweet, moist, and dense but the light taste is eaten plain. The Pound Cake appears to have originated first in Europe in the 18th Century where it is believed that the first recipe to ever call for a pound’s weight of each of the ingredients for making a Cake was first seen.
Although the traditional ingredients of the Pound Cake are well known, there are several variations available that are more often made in today’s America. Each has its distinctive style and recipe and includes the addition of several flavoring agents including Vanilla, Almond, Orange, or Lemon Extract.
Baking Soda or Baking Powder is incorporated to induce leavening during baking to make a less dense Pound Cake. The Cooking Oil can also be substituted for Butter to produce moisture, but some bakers believe it won’t add any difference to the taste than Margarine does, which is usually at least 50% cheaper.
National Pound Cake Day Activities
- There is no, better way to celebrate Pound Cake than by making a Pound Cake which is easy and comes with the benefit of a delicious dessert. With today being National Pound Cake Day there’s no reason not to bake a Pound Cake for yourself. It only takes one pound each of Butter, Sugar, and Flour, topped off by half a dozen Eggs. To begin, cream the Butter, Sugar, and Eggs, one at a time, mixing well with each addition. Add the Flour, Baking Soda, and flavoring, and continue to mix for 10 minutes before pouring the batter in a prepared pan and heating at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Another way to celebrate National Pound Cake Day is to host a Pound Cake bake-off with friends. You can set the rules as strict or as loose as everyone likes, and select a judge or two to vote for the winner. To see how creative your group is, have everyone use the same recipe and see who in your group adds that extra touch of creativity to their Cake.
- Share recipes and pictures of your own Pound Cake to inspire other to make a Pound Cake and to celebration National Pound Cake Day and share your creation online and use the following #hashtags #PoundCake or #PoundCakeDay on your posts.
Things People May Not Know About Pound Cakes
- The Mexican variation is called ‘Panqué in Mexico and the recipe is very similar to the U.S. version.
- The French do it differentlyI which is called ‘Quatre-Quarts,’ and uses four quarters of the same four ingredients without any kind of Fruit.
- Germans have their own way too called ‘Eischwerkuchen’ a German recipe that is very similar to the Pound Cake.
- According to Beth Tartan, a culinary researcher at the University of North Carolina, Pound Cake was one of the most common desserts among the American Pioneers who settled in the State.
- Did you know it wasn’t until the 20th Century when baking equipment and directions became simplified, was baking a Cake considered easy.
Why People Love National Pound Cake Day
People will tell you nothing beats the taste of a Pound Cake! and if you’re new to the goodness of Pound Cakes, imagine what a battered mix of Butter, Sugar, and Flour, topped off with Eggs and baked at 350°F can do to your taste buds.
Pound Cakes are yummy and Pound Cakes are sweet, moist, and dense but rather light, and Pound Cakes can be served with fresh Fruit. However, Pound Cakes are just as tasty eaten plain and don’t need any Frosting or Glaze, not even Powdered Sugar dusting. do they?
There is something about baking a Pound Cake that brings out the creativity in us with our choice of added ingredients. A fun option to consider is Orange or Lemon extract. We’ve seen people add fresh Orange Juice and Orange Zest to their Flour mix too. Doesn’t that sound delicious?
Recipe for Chocolate Pound Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8 oz.) salted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 3 cups (about 12 3/4 oz.) all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 2 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bars, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Vegetable shortening, for pan
- Powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325˚F. Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir together baking soda and buttermilk in small bowl until baking soda is dissolved. Stir together flour and salt in a large bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat well on medium speed after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating well. Beat in vanilla on low speed. Pour batter into a greased (with shortening) and floured 10-inch tube pan.
- Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes; remove cake from pan, and let cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
