Pound Cake

Pound Cake or Sponge cake is a basic sponge with a wonderfully rich & buttery cake with the golden brown crust. Pound cake is called so because each of the main ingredients like sugar, flour, butter & eggs are used in a proportion of 1 pound. Though this recipe is different from the original one, it will have the same taste & texture that of a pound cake. Pound cake goes well with tea or coffee.

Pound Cake

 
Ingredients

1. 1¾ cups wheat flour i.e atta
2. 2 teaspoon baking powder
3. ½ teaspoon salt
4. 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
5. 1 cup powdered sugar (use more if the sugar is less sweet)
6. 4 large eggs, room temperature
7. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla essence
8. milk as required
9. 1 tbsp butter for greasing the tray

Method

1. Butter baking tray or line the bottom of the pan with wax paper
2. In a large bowl add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition, add the vanilla extract & beat the eggs well. Keep aside.
3. In another large bowl, add the unsalted butter & sugar- cream the butter & sugar until the mixture turns white & turns fluffy, Use a hand mixer to mix the butter & sugar, if you don't have a hand mixer you can use the wire whisk. 
4. Sift the dry ingredients & add them to the sugar & butter mixture, Add half of the egg mixture and incorporate the mixture until the batter turns moist.
   
5. With the help of a spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
6. Gradually add the remaining egg mixture, to make a smooth batter, see to it there are no lumps remaining in the batter.
7. If the batter becomes too thick add 1 tbsp milk or more as required.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. 
9. Preheat oven to 180°C and place a pan in centre of oven.
10. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
11. Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Baking Tips-

1. Cover the baking tray with a kitchen cloth until the cake cools down to retain moisture
2. All the ingredients used must be at room temperature.
3. If the cake turns brown on the top, while baking you may cover the pan with an aluminium foil and continue baking until the cake is completely baked.