Dense Lemony Pound Cake

Today was an awesome day. Thursdays don't usually rank that high on the "days to look forward to" list, but this one makes it. Why? Because today the event I've been planning for the last 3 months or so wen't off without a hitch.

Even better, it was a huge success!

(Photo from media coverage of the event)

I love events. Hosting/being part of an event is probably my favorite part of my job. I am a huge organizational nerd so planning every nit-picky detail and crossing off my 5 page to-do list is exciting. And yes, events are a lot of pressure and can be a lot of stress, but I and love creating (with the help of a ton of people) an awesome final product and seeing people enjoying themselves. I also enjoy working with amazingly talented people who come up with awesome ideas and make my job easier.

So great. Please fate, let my next job be in events.

Speaking of jobs, Andrew and I are moving to San Francisco in August (yes, this is kind of old news, but I'm excited). He got a great job working for Deloitte. Now only 4, 4-hour CPA tests and finding an apartment (hello, $1,800 rent) stand in the way of us and California!

In other good news... cake. Dense, amazing pound cake to be precise.

I won't say much about this cake except that it must be a drug because it is just that good (and addicting). It cooks for a ridiculous amount of time which makes the piles of sugar in it caramelizes around the edges of the bundt pan. Think creme brulee caramelized sugar, but on a lemon-y, dense, delicious cake.

I ate it plain because I didn't think it needed anything extra. But you can add whipped cream and strawberries if you'd like.

Yum.

Dense Lemony Pound Cake

Source: Jamie Cooks It Up

Jamie's note: This cake can be made up to a day ahead. In fact it tastes even better the second day than it does the first. However, this is not the case for the strawberries and the whip cream. The strawberries should be sliced about 15 minutes before you are ready to serve. This will give them enough time to mix with the sugar and get nice and juicy for you. The cream is also best if whipped just before serving.

CAKE:

1 C butter, softened

3 C sugar

3 C flour

1/2 t salt

6 eggs

1 C heavy whipping cream

1 t vanilla (I used vanilla bean paste for extra flavor)

1 t lemon extract

STRAWBERRIES AND WHIP CREAM:

2-3 pounds strawberries + 3-4 T sugar

3 C whipping cream

4 T sugar

1 t vanilla (I used vanilla bean paste. I like to see the dark flecks or vanilla beans.)

dash salt

Make The Cake
1. Place 1 cup softened butter and 3 cups of sugar into your stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Cream the two together until light and fluffy with the paddle attachment. Should take about 3 minutes. 
2. While the butter and sugar are mixing sift 3 cups of flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt  into a medium sized bowl. Toss the ingredients together to be sure they are well combined. 
3. Add  6 eggs to the creamed mixture, TWO EGGS AT A TIME mixing between each egg addition. 
4. Add half of the flour/salt mixture to your mixing bowl, and mix it for about 30 seconds. 
5. Add 1/2 a cup of heavy whipping cream and mix. Add the remaining flour/salt mixture and then the final 1/2 a cup of whipping cream. Mix the batter well, until it's nice and glossy. Should take about 3 minutes. 
6. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon lemon extract. Mix just until combined. 
7. Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray, it's best to use a cooking spray that has flour in it. This Bakers Joy works well. Pam Cooking Spray also has a cooking spray with flour that I recommend. 
8. Pour the batter into the bundnt pan and spread it out smoothly. 
9. Bake the cake at 325 for 75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 
10. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then place a wire rack over the bundt pan, grab hold of both the rack and the pan and invert the cake onto the rack. Allow the cake to cool completely. 

Prepare the Strawberries and Whip Cream
1. To make the cream pour 3 cups whipping cream in to your stand mixer. Add 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and a dash of salt. Whip the mixture with the wire whisk attachment for about 3 minutes, or until the cream is nice and whipped. 
2. Wash your strawberries. Cut the green tops of with a sharp knife and then cut the berries into slices. 
3. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of sugar over the top of the berries. Give it all a nice stir and allow the two to hang out together and get nice and juicy. 
4. Cut the cake into thin slices and serve with the berries and cream.