Friday, November 9, 2012

Brown Sugar~Nutella Ribbon Pound Cake & November's Give-Away

I love Thanksgiving--it's not only a day to remember those valiant women and men who came ahead of us and forged a nation, but a day of celebrating with our families and friends around a table laden with food.  I looked forward to rising early with my mother and beginning the preparation; stuffing was made, the turkey was cleaned, seasoned, and stuffed, the good china was taken out of corner cupboard and wiped off, then the table was set, and lots of desserts.  All good memories.

I miss those days of the big family gatherings, but I still make the big meal (sans the turkey) and enjoy taking favorites from my childhood and giving them a "new look."  Mom made a black walnut pound cake and I remember peeling the thick green skins and trying to crack the hard shells to get enough nuts for this dessert.  Here, in the Pacific Northwest, hazelnuts are my choice for a unique taste, along with Nutella, which is a hazelnut spread with cocoa added, but hey, feel free to make this Brown Sugar Pound Cake yours with the choice of nuts you love.

Brown Sugar~Nutella Ribbon Pound Cake
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 T molasses
5 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1 cup chopped hazelnuts (or your favorite)

2/3 to 3/4 cup Nutella to make the ribbon center

Do not preheat oven! Spray a 12-cup Bundt cake pan with a non-stick baking spray.
In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter thoroughly.  Add the sugars, molasses and vanilla extract and beat to combine.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.  Beat on medium for 5 minutes until the batter is light and fluffy.

Add the dry ingredients and the milk and mix on low until combined.  Add the nuts and mix 1 minute more.

Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan.
Use a teaspoon to spoon the Nutella over the batter, keeping it in the center, clear of the sides and "tube".
Lastly, spoon the remaining batter over top and place in the oven.  Set the temperature to 325F-degrees and the timer for 70 to 75 minutes.
Use a skewer to test for doneness.
Allow to cool in the pan 5 to 7 minutes, then invert on your serving tray.  When the cake is cooled completely, I dusted it with some confectioners' sugar; keeping it simple.  Enjoy!
Now, this month's apron is finally here.  The colors I chose reminds me of the Bittersweet branches Kelly and I would go into the woods and cut when we lived in Massachusetts and Connecticut to decorate the house for Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, we don't have Bittersweet here in Washington, but these colors are still my favorite for the holiday.

By commenting on the posts this month, you will be eligible to win this apron...and I do mail anywhere--including international!  Thank you for stopping by--I'd love to hear about your memorable Thanksgivings. XOXO
 

40 comments:

  1. I love the pretty Fall colors for the apron this month! It's beautiful! And the cake looks good, too. I still cook a big traditional Thanksgiving dinner...even though it's just the two of us. I just try to make less of each dish...and leftovers are good, aren't they? Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. I still cook the big dinner too, just not a turkey. Leftovers are great and my hubby loves my stuffing:-D

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  2. The cake looks delicious. We have shared Thanksgiving with my in laws for as long as I've been married. That will all change this year because my mother in love passed away in April. It is going to be a difficult holiday season. Missing those that have gone on, and others who have chosen to separate from the family. Can't say that I am looking forward to the holidays this year :-(

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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    1. I can totally relate to that--holidays are the hardest, but I try to remember the good times and it helps. XOXO

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  3. Nice post, Susan. You said you still make a big meal but "sans" the turkey. You don't eat it anymore or someone else makes it? Just curious. Susan

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    1. I've been a vegetarian most of my life and my oldest daughter is a vegan. My hubby eats fish, but not meat or poultry. I discovered a product by Quorn that tastes just like white meat turkey, but it's a vegetable protein. Let's face it, it's the side dishes, the rolls, and the desserts really make it special!

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  4. This cake looks like another winner. When my grandson was here last week, he invented a new "sandwich." Nutella spread on wheat bread and wrapped around a whole banana. He ate two of them! (He's 6.)

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    1. Your grandson should be on Top Chef! I love hearing kids experimenting in the kitchen. One Thanksgiving I asked my mother if I could make the stuffing and she agreed. In addition to the usual bread and cornbread, I added crushed Fritoes. Everyone loved it and I've been making it every since (about 55 years!)

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  5. My Mom has a peanut allergy and I know she would love this nutella cake! I'm going to make it when I come back in January! I love the November apron. What pretty colors!

    big hugs, Linda

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    1. The brown sugar pound cake is one of my favorites my Mom made. It is great just plain or a with a scoop of your favorite ice cream, XOXO

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  6. Well, you KNOW I'm already a fan of Nutella in baking. teehee ;)
    This sounds perfect with a cup of coffee on a crisp day like today.
    I simply adore the pattern you've chosen for this apron, Susan, especially since autumn is my favorite season and Thanksgiving my favorite holiday.
    I'm getting ready to pass the magic to the next lucky sister but it sure has been fun.
    Thank you again for making these aprons, and for being a giver.
    XOXO's,
    Marcia

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  7. The poppies afer fitting for Remembrance Day tomorrow.Pleeeeease may I enter?
    Jane x

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  8. I do like pound cakes but unfortunately my husband does not so when I pick one up at bakery I get a small or half. This sounds like a good recipe but for me I would change Nutella for extra brown sugar in the middle. here's a little story about bittersweet branches....one day on the way home from friend's (petti)house we stopped to pick bittersweet branches. The fun thing was we (3 of us) filled the back of car which was a brand new car!!!! so all these branches filled the back of this beautiful new SUV. Leslie (owner of car) had to clean out her new car which was christened with all the branches and sticky sap. But she was overjoyed to have the bittersweet to decorate. done with my rambling.
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com

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    1. Kelly and I would walk into the woods to cut the branches because they can get pretty messy and we got our "exercise" in with the walking! I sure miss those times:-)

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  9. Just discovered your blog via Knatolee's world. Thanks for sharing some delicious looking recipes and also the gorgeous apron.

    Barbara

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    1. Welcome...and you're now entered. Natalie won last's months, so I do ship anywhere:-D

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  10. Susan your cake looks delicious! My mother also made black walnut cake every year--especially for Christmas. Oh how I wish she were here to make it with her! Our family always gets together at my sister's home for Thanksgiving. She passed away 3 years ago at Thanksgiving--her son now lives in her home and has kept that tradition going. I'm very proud of him. There are around 50 people with cousins, aunts, uncles etc. They all come to our home for Christmas. Family is everything!

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    1. Martha Ellen, I feel sometimes like we're sisters separated at birth:-D Our lives are so similar; wish I lived closer, XOXO

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  11. my kids would love this nutella cake susan! and i would make it if any were coming home for thanksgiving. this will be our first year alone, just my husband and i. now my mother gone and the kids staying where they are, my inlaws not well enough to be a part, i'm trying to prepare for the day (sometimes i cry thinking about it). i still can't decide if i will cook for just chuck and i. now reading your comments i think it would probably be a good idea, it will keep me busy and i do love thanksgiving meal!
    are those california poppies on the apron? pretty!

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    1. I'm so use to the big preparation that it would make me sad not to still do it--in spite of it's just my hubby(Chuck), me, and a good friend, who is also a transplant to the Pacific Northwest. The Thanksgiving, when I went to my sister's so our daughters could have some quality time together before Kelly passed away, was like good times in my mother's kitchen. We cooked and baked most of the day, telling old stories. Keeping memories dear is what holidays are for me...and yes, those are California Poppies! XOXO

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  12. Pound cake and Nutella sounds like a great combination! :)

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    1. Hazelnuts just remind me of Fall and I think a simple pound cake is always a good idea!

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  13. I have a secret passion for nutella...No joke. Few know just how much I put on my toast. Shhh, please don't tell! Right now, it's my go-to for waffles. I have your vanilla bundt cake in the BIWB queue and seeing this beautiful cake I'm inspired! Lv, me

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    1. I always have several jars too, but I also have a recipe now to make it homemade, which I'll share soon--then, you'll never be without:-D Can't wait to see the BIWB version, XOXO

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  14. This cake looks so good. I have never tasted Nutella, I have looked at it, had it in my hand and put it back on the shelf..trying to use my will power, I guess...silly, isn't it? But now I'm afraid I've lost it and will have to try this recipe...thanks for posting it. And P.S. I would love to have the chance to win the beautiful apron too!!!

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    1. You are entered! I highly recommend Nutella and it's pretty low in fat since it's just hazelnuts, cocoa, and non-fat milk:-D

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  15. I hope I'm not to late to get my name in the hat again! Each month, I say this is my favorite apron....but, this one truly is my favorite because of the colors. As far as the Nutella goes...I can eat it out of the jar. It is my "stand-up" lunch many times. When I don't have time for lunch...I just spread a little on bread, and keep on going.

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  16. Of course you're not too late--I'll draw the name from all the posts and announce the winner before Thanksgiving. I'm like you and love Nutella; so does my grandson!

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  17. Nutella - the secret sauce that makes everything go YUM! And when it comes to Thanksgiving Memories - the thanksgiving food fight when I was 10 was the best :)!

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  18. This cake looks amazing! I love brown sugar cakes. We are doing something different this year--a small plates autumn-inspired Thanksgiving. We'll see what friends and family come up with! Tobi

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  19. This one looks just as good as the shortbread / Halloween candy recipe. I think I'm going to try this one next, after I finish the shortbread covered in a full inch of chocolate "goo." (I may have used a wee bit more candy than your recipe called for, LOL!) You have a very dangerous blog, my friend!!!

    With Love and Ladybug Hugs,
    Kat

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    1. Is there really too much chocolate!! You're doing a lot of exercise, so I know you can handle the calories:-D XOXO

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  20. Love the colours of this month's apron. Just right for fall. Your pound cake looks absolutely delish. I've never tasted Nutella, but this recipe gives me the chance to try something new. I'm also trying the Halloween shortbread recipe. I think it will be an easy addition to my Christmas-cookie repertoire. Thanks for the giveaway and all the wonderful recipes.

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    1. It really was quick to make and I'll probably add it to my cookie boxes this year too. Welcome to the blog--I'm always happy to see new faces!

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  21. I was just introduced to your blog.... oh my gosh yum!!!!!

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  22. I loved Thanksgiving growing up (still do!). We would always go to my grandmas house where she made everything from scratch. Her stuffing was my favorite! She didn't use a recipe, just added a little of this and a little of that until it tasted just right. What great memories.

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