Cardamom Vanilla Pound Cake

Every once in a while we like to have a cake around the house. I like those that can double over as a breakfast cake. I never seem to have time to sit down in the morning and have a breakfast. I usually grab a banana, a carton of yogurt or something else that is quick. To me this cake is more of a breakfast cake. It is not too sweet. The flavor is subtle. It is perfect with coffee or tea.


Cardamom Vanilla Pound Cake
Gourmet, March 2009

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 vanilla beans, halved lengthwise
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Generously butter pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess.
Whisk together flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in mixer at medium speed, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape seeds from vanilla beans with tip of a paring knife into butter mixture, reserving pods for another use, and beat until combined well, about 1 minute. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in lemon juice until combined well. At low speed, add flour mixture and milk alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, mixing until just combined.
Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top. Gently rap pan on counter to eliminate air bubbles.
Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan 1 hour, then invert onto a rack and cool completely, about 1 hour more.

Beat cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla extract using whisk attachment of mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Serve cake with whipped vanilla cream.

Comments

  1. Oooooooooh, you made it! That photo kept calling me on my iGoogle home page. I really do love a good coffee cake. Would you believe I've never bought cardamon? At least, I can't remember the last time. So glad you made it and it looks so good-- definitely a cup of tea is perfect for this.

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  2. Hi Kate....Breakfast would be way more fun with a piece of this cake...

    I love Cardamom...reminds me of my Grandmother...Making her Christmas Bread.

    xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  3. It's just perfect.The dusting.. the color..

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  4. With cardamom! Drat, the spice I was supposed to use in my Rice Pilaf, but which I made with cumin instead. :( This is the 1st time I am seeing a butter cake using cardamom. Totally intriguing. I must try this. Thanks, Kate! It's a very pretty cake.

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  5. Love that cardamom and this looks perfect!

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  6. Oh it looks wonderful! A great breakfast with some fresh strawberries or blueberries..yum!

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  7. I love cakes and pastries that are made with cardamom. Your cake looks perfect for breakfast or tea. It is really delightful to look at and I'm sure it tastes every bit as good as it looks.

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  8. I'll bet this smells heavenly while it's baking, Kate. I don't have a big sweet tooth so this is my idea of the perfect treat any time of day.

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  9. What a beautiful cake! My husband would love this - vanilla pound cake is his favorite.

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  10. gorgeous n yummy pound cake it is!

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  11. This looks scrumptious!! I would like to invite you to come by and visit our new food blog-http://thepepperedpantry.blogspot.com/

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  12. Oh, Kate, this looks perfect. I love cardamom, and I don't like cakes that are too sweet. This is going in my 'do it soon' file. Thanks!

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  13. Cardamon is a great spice for a breakfast cake. This one looks terrific!

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