recipe: granny's pound cake

in 2005 we started a new family tradition, it was a transition from an old one.

each year at christmas, my granny (my mother's mom)would make pound cake. she would start two weeks before christmas day, and she would bake everyday, making more than two dozen pound cakes. she made two for each one of her six children, & she gave them out to neighbors, friends & co-workers. it was the only time of year she made them, so it was always a special treat. when she passed in 2005, my mom & aunts decided to carry on the tradition in her memory. it's been eye-opening as far as how much work she did, and did alone, while there are 5 and 6 sometimes 8 of us doing the work in just a few hours. it's been a way to connect to her memory during the holidays...

today is pound cake baking day 2010.
and since i obviously can't give a pound cake to each of you, i decided i'd share the recipe. and because i KNOW i won't be able to photograph step by step instructions with 6 people going 3 different directions, i'll just leave you with pictures from last years pound cake baking day. enjoy!:)



(ya. we get a little messy!)

there are two recipes below. one is for chocolate pound cake. the other is for plain. granny always gave out one marble, one plain. we have streamlined, and made all marbled.... well because honestly the marbled is better. so you have three different options. plain. chocolate. or for marbled make both & swirl together! it's best cold out of the fridge christmas morning!

plain pound cake:

-1 cup crisco
-1 stick butter
-3 cups sugar
-5 eggs
-3 cups flour
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 cup milk
-3 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 300.

1. mix flour, baking powder & salt. set aside
2. in separate bowl cream crisco, butter & sugar. add eggs, one at a time.
3. combine dry mixture with wet mixture.
4. add milk & vanilla.
5. pour into greased loaf pan. bake 1 hour & 15 minutes.


chocolate pound cake

-1 cup crisco
-1 stick butter
-3 cups sugar
-5 eggs
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 1/2 cups milk
-3 cups flour
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1/2 tsp baking powder

preheat oven to 300.

1. mix flour, salt, cocoa powder & baking powder. set aside.
2. in separate bowl cream crisco, butter & sugar. add eggs.
3. combine wet mixture & dry mixture.
4. add milk & vanilla.
5. pour into greased loaf pan. bake 1 hour & 15 minutes.

marbled pound cake:

1. make one of each of the above recipes.
2. in greased loaf pan alternate dropping batter by spoonfuls in bottom of pan. (should look like a checkerboard)
3. for the next layer drop alternating colors on top of the first layer.
4. once pan is full, take butter knife & insert into pan swirling batters. DO NOT OVER MIX!
5. bake @ 300 for 1 hour & 15 minutes.

i hope you enjoy! we always do! :)

xo-k