German Butter Pound Cake Recipes

AUTHENTIC GERMAN BUTTER CAKE (BUTTERKUCHEN)

Steps:

• Place 4 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer and make a hollow in it with the back of a spoon.
• Crumble fresh yeast or sprinkle dry yeast in the hollow and fill with the lukewarm milk. Add a pinch of sugar and mix a little to incorporate some of the flour.
• Let the sponge sit in a warm place for 15 minutes.
• After the yeast is activated and showing strong growth, add the salt, egg, 7 tablespoons of the softened butter and 3/4 cup of the sugar to the yeast mixture.
• Mix until the dough is smooth and forms a ball. Add up to 1/2 cup additional flour if necessary. Form dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, turning the dough once and cover. Let rise 15 to 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured board and transfer to a 15x10-inch jellyroll pan. Let it rest again for 15 minutes while heating oven to 375 F.
• Dimple the top of the dough all over, using your fingers or the back of a wooden spoon.
• Mix remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon together and sprinkle evenly over dough. Cut remaining 9 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and spread it evenly over the dough.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake is done and the sugar/cinnamon mixture has melted together and caramelized a little. If you feel the need, turn on the broiler for the last 3 minutes of baking, watching carefully so that the topping does not burn.
• Alternatively, mix 1/4 cup of sugar with enough water (1/4 to 1/2 cup) to dissolve the sugar and brush this sugar water on the hot cake right after you take it out of the oven.
• This cake freezes well. After defrosting, crisp it up a few minutes in a 350 F oven.

BUTTER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan., Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating after each addition., Transfer to prepared pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan; cool completely on a wire rack., If desired, for garnish, place corn syrup in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, 10 seconds or until warm. Brush corn syrup lightly over rosemary. Sprinkle sugar to coat; place on waxed paper to dry. Reheat remaining corn syrup until warm; gently toss cranberries and blueberries in syrup. Toss in remaining sugar to coat. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set, about 1 hour., Just before serving, top cake with sugared rosemary and berries. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar.

GERMAN BUTTER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Generously grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
• 2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel and extracts. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
• 3. With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold into batter. ( will be very thick).
• 4. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake at 350 degree F. for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. ( make sure you grease and flour pan well ). I used Crisco.

ULTIMATE BUTTER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang over 2 sides.
• Combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in flour. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition. Pour batter into a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Lift cake out of the loaf pan using the overhanging parchment paper. Place on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing, about 30 minutes.