Updated - The great pound cake in the bread machine experiment

My bread machine has a cake function. In the many years that I have had this machine, I have never tried out the cake function.

I really love pound cake, but it is a real pain to make by hand without a mix.

Today, I figured i would try to use my pound cake recipe in my bread machine.

I never bake bread in the bread machine as I like to get do medium loaves out of one batch of dough, but if this cake thing works out, I will be more than happy to let the machine do ALL the work.

Will check back in 2 hours when it should be done.

Cheryl

The pound cake turned out great! I am so NEVER making a pound cake by hand again!

Score one for the bread machine.

Well, how did it work out? That might be enough to make me get a bread machine again.

What kind do you have, that has a cake cycle?

And the recipe please!!!

Ahem- recipe is absolutely necessary at this point, lest you intend for us all to use abundant drooling smilies....

...and those little guys gross me out, so I'll give you a little time before I load them up! Just one so you know I mean business!!

My bread machine is a horizontal 2 paddle zojirushi

The pound cake recipe is here

The changes I made:

For making by hand and in bread machine:

margarine instead of butter
plain sugar (didn't worry about it being extra fine)
didn't sift the flour
no salt (there is salt in the marge)
didn't do orange or lemon zest

In bread machine only -

put margarine, eggs, sugar, vanilla in first
mix flour & baking powder together and add last

turn on cake feature
use medium crust - I used light and it wasn't quite cooked enough in the middle of the very top of the loaf
press start and forget until it beeps that it is done. I would leave it in the machine until cool next time just to ensure that it is completely cooked in the top middle.


Pound Cake Recipe

Recipe:

1 3/4 cups (230 grams) cake flour, sifted

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup (226 grams) (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup (200 grams) superfine or castor sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Zest of a lemon or orange (optional)

Note: To make your own superfine sugar - place 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar in the bowl of your food processor. Process until very fine, about 30 seconds.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter or spray with a pan spray, a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter or spray the paper.

In a large bowl, sift together twice, the flour, baking powder, and salt.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the sugar, beating continuously on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (this will take about 5 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. After about five minutes the batter should be light in color and fluffy in texture. Then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. You will notice that the batter will look curdled. Don't worry as the batter will come together again after you add the flour mixture. Add the vanilla and lemon zest, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Add the flour mixture and mix just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature

Will keep several days well wrapped or it can be frozen for a month.

Makes one 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf.

I'm definitely going to try this. I never knew what to do with the cake function on my bread machine. Thanks for sharing!

There's another pound cake in the bread machine...

This time I have set the crust setting for medium and I will leave it in the machine until it has pretty much cooled to ensure that it is completely cooked this time.

Tune in tomorrow when I might try making banana bread in it.

Cheryl

Wow!
sounds yummy & E-Z

You can bet I'm gonna dig out my bread machine, blow off the dust and see if it has a Cake setting.....

Here is my favorite pound cake, it is fabulous and easy to make-no bread machine needed.......

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/GA-Peach-Pound-Cake/Detail.aspx