Monday, July 7, 2014

Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake & July's Give-Away Apron

While I was grocery shopping last week, I came across a curious looking product in the produce section...near the berries, Glaze for Strawberries.
I imagine it is meant for glazing fresh fruit pies, but as my mind goes, I thought it would be perfect swirled through my favorite cake--pound cake.

Dating back to the early 1700s in Northern England, a pound cake refers to any recipe that has a ratio of 1:1:1:1; butter, sugar, eggs and flour.  I know, all too well, it's a staple in the South and can be dressed up in a number of ways, grilled, or broken up as a base in Trifle.  My mother and I chose pound cakes for wedding and anniversary cakes for it's denseness and ability to freeze well when making up multiple layers prior to the big date; a big plus considering we didn't have a "walk-in" refrigerator like most bakeries:-D

Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
1-8oz pkg. cream cheese
6 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
3 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup (approx. 12 tsps.) Glaze for Strawberries

Preheat oven to 325F-degrees.  Grease and flour (or use a baking spray with both in it) a 12-cup Bundt pan.

In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter well.  Gradually add the sugar while the mixer is running.  Scrape down sides, as needed, with a rubber spatula.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, scraping down the sides once more.  Add the flavorings and mix again.

Add the flour and salt and beat until combine, then, on medium speed beat 1 minute more.  Measure the batter in thirds--I use a large scoop to do this.
 Smooth the batter with a small off-set spatula, then, add 6 tsp. Strawberry Glaze.
Use a long wooden skewer or kitchen knife to swirl the glaze through the batter.
Repeat with another layer of batter and 6 more tsp. of glaze.  Finally, add the last 1/3 of the batter to cover.
Bake in the preheated oven 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, checking by inserting a wooden skewer in the center and making sure it comes out cleanly.  Cool cake completely before slicing...something I didn't do and as you can see, compressed the bottom a bit:-(
I love the bright strawberry swirl and all this pound cake needed was a dusting of confectioners' sugar and some fresh strawberries (macerated with a little sugar) to top it off. Enjoy!

Summer is definitely upon us and getting use to humidity is something I'm trying to do!  I couldn't help remembering the wonderful times spent on the Chesapeake Bay to cool off on my dad's sailboat--Rhianna. My dad name her for the Irish green-eyed witch (nymph) and my girls loved to
 sit on the side and ask "Granddad" to tilt the boat so their feet would go into the water!

To be eligible for this beauty, simply comment on any of the posts this month.  Good luck!

14 comments:

  1. Delicious looking cake! You find the most interesting things...strawberry glaze. Now that's a summer apron!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love pound cake and strawberries so this one looks like the perfect cake to me! Cute apron this month!
    hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  3. The cake look wonderful and I copied the recipe. Will make it just as soon as our HOT spell cools off. They also sell a peach glaze too - that would make a wonderful cake also.
    Your apron for July is so pretty. I can hardly wait till I get mine. Thanks so much.
    Have a great week. Hope it's cooler where you live.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oooh, a boat apron..this ex sailor loves it!!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Susan! I just fell in love with both the apron and the pound cake! The apron reminds me so much of our Maine days! And I think I shall make this pound cake for the darling's birthday! Whoever wins this apron is indeed a lucky girl! Thank you so much for the inspiration! Hugs!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oooooo, Susan. That pound cake looks absolutely fabulous. Yum yum yum Susan

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mmmmmm strawberry pound cake I'm in! cut me a slice and a cup of tea. like the sailboat apron.
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. The cake looks divine, esp. that strawberry swirl! Beautiful summer apron, Susan.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, my doodnessakes alive, the cake looks so delish..the apron even cuter, I love aprons a lot, I am a full figured gal and find it hard to get any to fit me so I have a sewing friend and she makes me sweet aprons, I would love to win this apron, your blog is such a wonderful blog full of yummy treats and meals and to see your aprons I just get all excited, from mary Sampson at maryjanesampson@outlook.com..Happy Summer and keep on baking and blogging and sewing...ciao!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a cute apron! Sure would be fun to wear in my nautical blue kitchen! I hope you have a good day my friend and Sis! Another move? OH MY! sounds like a lot of work! Take care! Sweet hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  11. This pound cake sounds so yummy with the strawberry swirls!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I make a pound cake like this with the strawberry swirls. The recipe I use is from Southern Living.
    The apron is adorable!!
    Hugs,
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a great idea - swirling summer fruit into a pound cake. I have some leftover blueberry 'syrup' I made for the french toast casserole that would be great in a lemon pound cake.
    Cute apron!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Susan - boy, that does look amazing. I would love this cake. Thank you again for the beautiful apron you sent me. I hope you saw the post I did on it. I just love it. Deb

    ReplyDelete