🍰 Mini Vanilla Pound Cakes
This cake is dense but delicate, with a rich buttery taste, and is simple to bake.
🛒 Ingredients
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
| Fat/Sweetener | Unsalted butter | $\frac{1}{2}$ cup ($113\text{g}/4 \text{ oz}$) | Slightly cooler than room temperature. |
| Granulated sugar | 1 cup ($200\text{g}/7.1 \text{ oz}$) | ||
| Binders | Large eggs | 2 | Just at room temperature. |
| Sour cream (full-fat) | $\frac{2}{3}$ cup ($160\text{ml}$) | ||
| Vanilla extract | 2 tsp | ||
| Dry | All-purpose flour | $1 \frac{1}{2}$ cup ($180\text{g}/6.3 \text{ oz}$) | |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp | ||
| Salt | $\frac{1}{2}$ tsp |
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare and Preheat
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Preheat your oven to $350^\circ\text{F}$ ($175^\circ\text{C}$).
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Grease and flour four standard mini loaf pans, or line them with parchment paper slings (as shown in the image).
2. Cream Wet Ingredients
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In a large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes). This incorporates air, which is crucial for the cake’s texture.
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Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
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Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until just combined. Do not overmix this step.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Mix Batter
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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are just incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake.
5. Bake
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Divide the batter evenly among the prepared mini loaf pans.
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Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
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The tops should be golden brown and domed (as pictured).
6. Cool and Serve
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Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes.
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Use the parchment sling to lift the cakes out of the pans and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
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Serve plain or top with a simple glaze or ganache.