Classic Pound Cake in a Tube Pan

By norsegal8

As directed in the recipe, the butter and eggs should be the first ingredients prepared so they have a chance to stand at room temperature and lose their chill while the oven heats, the tube pan is greased and floured, and the other ingredients are measured. Leftover cake will keep reasonably well for up to 3 days if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature.

Ingredients

• 32 tablespoons unsalted butter (4 sticks), cold, plus extra for greasing pan
• 6 large eggs
• 6 large egg yolks
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups cake flour (14 ounces), plus extra for dusting pan
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 2 1/2 cups sugar (17 1/2 ounces)

Details

Servings 16

Preparation

Step 1

1. Cut butter into 1-tablespoon pieces and place in bowl of standing mixer; let stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes to soften slightly (butter should reach no more than 60 degrees). Using dinner fork, beat eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla in liquid measuring cup until combined. Let egg mixture stand at room temperature until ready to use.

2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter 10-inch tube pan; dust pan liberally with flour and knock out excess.

3. In standing mixer fitted with flat beater, beat butter and salt at medium-high speed until shiny, smooth, and creamy, about 3 minutes, scraping bottom and sides of bowl once with rubber spatula. Reduce mixer speed to medium; with mixer running, gradually pour in sugar (this should take about 60 seconds). Once all sugar is added, increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat until mixture is fluffy and almost white in color, 6 to 8 minutes, scraping bottom and sides of bowl twice. With mixer running at medium speed, gradually add egg mixture in slow, steady stream; this should take 60 to 90 seconds. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl; beat mixture at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes (mixture may look slightly broken). Remove bowl from mixer and gently transfer butter-egg mixture to large bowl.

4. In 3 additions, sift flour over butter-egg mixture; after each addition, fold gently with rubber spatula until combined. Scrape along bottom of bowl to ensure that batter is homogenous.

5. Transfer batter to prepared tube pan and smooth surface with rubber spatula. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees; continue baking until golden brown and wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes; invert cake onto wire rack, then turn cake right-side up. Cool cake on rack to room temperature, about 3 hours. Slice and serve.