Vanilla Pound Cake with Cinnamon-Vanilla Cream Glaze

I know it’s taboo to post sugar the first week of the new year, with everyone on the diet train and all, but since it’s the SECOND week in January…I think we all deserve a treat for making it this far. Am I right, or am I right?! First, I have to admit that I’m am so not a vanilla person. I will choose chocolate every time. Or maybe lemon. But never vanilla. However, my daughter had a friend over recently and it was the little girl’s birthday. Me, being the awesome mom that I am (so says I), offered to bake a cake. The girl requested vanilla. I was like “huh?” She said she didn’t like chocolate. So I made her leave. Just kidding…but seriously?

Vanilla Cake with Glaze

Well, I may just be a vanilla convert. I never knew the quality of the vanilla would make such a difference. I mean, you usually only add a teaspoon or so to baked goods, so what’s the big deal right?

Nielsen Massey Mexican Vanilla

It makes a difference. Trust me! I was sent some Mexican Vanilla to sample and used it in this cake…it was so good! Granted, the predominant flavor of this cake, is in fact, vanilla. So it would make sense that a good quality extract would up the yumminess factor.

vanilla pound cake without glaze

The cake itself is lighter than a traditional pound cake, but still nicely dense. It has a good flavor and would be excellent with a chocolate ganache, lemon glaze, or pretty much anything you want to top it with. It’s even good plain!

Vanilla Pound Cake Pin

I decided I would go all-out vanilla, and added vanilla cream glaze, with a little cinnamon.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:11]

Recipe Source:

So what are you…a chocolate or vanilla person? Or lemon, or strawberry….we can still be friends.

I was provided a sample of the Nielsen Massey vanilla mentioned in the post but was not compensated nor obligated to right about them. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

This Vanilla Pound Cake was featured at the Party, , and chosen as a host favorite at !

  

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday) , , ,  (Tuesday) , ,, ,  (Wednesday) , , ,  (Thursday) , ,  (Friday) , , , ,, , , ,  (Sunday)

Chocolate Kahlua Coffee Pound Cake

When I see a title that includes chocolate, Kahlua, coffee AND pound cake…it gets my attention. And it goes in the “must make” category. My mom also loves chocolate and coffee, so I made this on an occasion I was visiting so we could share in the rum/chocolate/coffee fabulousness together.

I’m considerate like that. And it might have been Mother’s Day. I’m pretty sure I was the favorite child until my sister went and had the most adorable baby you have ever seen…but this cake definitely puts me ahead of my brother. haha

Chocolate Kahlua Coffee Pound Cake

1 box Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
4 eggs, room temp
3/4 cup brewed coffee, room temp (leftover coffee is fine. I usually re-use my morning’s K-cup)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup Kahlua coffee liqueur
chocolate covered coffee beans, chopped (optional)

Glaze:
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup Kahlua*  – add in small increments until glaze reaches desired consistency. Mine ended up being a little too thin.

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a bundt pan or spray well with baking spray.
  • Whisk together the dry cake mix with the dry instant pudding mix.
  • Add the eggs, coffee, oil and Kahlua to the dry mix. Stir until combined, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
  • Pour mix into prepared bundt pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until done. Cake should spring back when lightly pressed and toothpick should come out clean when inserted into middle of cake.
  • Let cake cool for 15 minutes in pan, then invert onto cooling rack to finish cooling.
  • Pour glaze over cooled cake, top with chocolate covered coffee beans if desired.
Recipe Source:  (the name alone can tell you why it’s one of my favorite blogs!)

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday) ,  (Tuesday) , , (Wednesday)  (Thursday)  (Friday) ,, ,

Lemon Supreme Pound Cake {starts with a mix}

This recipe is kickin’ it old school. It came out on the package of Duncan Hines cake mix back in the 70’s (according to it was 1978.) I was a mere babe back then and not yet baking, but I have been using a variation of it for years. I usually make a chocolate version (because I am a chocolate freak), but lemon/citrus cakes just scream SPRING and are quickly becoming a favorite as well. But if I’m being honest, have I met a cake I didn’t like? Probably not.

This was perfect for Easter, and forgot to include it in my last post. We have had an abundance of cakes going on around here! I do love a bundt cake. I’m not sure why!
And, just 4 ingredients + water…how convenient is that?
The version I usually makes also has a cup of sour cream (or yogurt). I didn’t think to add it to this one, but I think it would have made it even more moist and dense, like a traditional pound cake. Even so, it was delicious as is, and was really tasty with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!

Lemon Supreme Pound Cake

1 box Lemon cake mix
1 package instant lemon pudding mix (4-serving size)
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs

Glaze (optional)
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (can also use milk, cream, half-and-half)
zest of lemon (optional)

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a bundt pan (I used the Baker’s Cooking Spray), set aside.
  • Add cake mix and pudding mix to a large mixing bowl. Add water, oil and eggs. Stir until combined.
  • Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
  • Pour cake mix into prepared pan. Tap pan on counter a couple of times to remove any air bubbles.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes; cake is done when lightly browned and center springs back when gently pressed. Cool in pan for 20 minutes.
  • While cake is cooling, make glaze (if desired) by combing confectioners sugar with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Slowly add in additional juice/liquid until desired consistency is reached. Mine ended up a little thinner than I would have liked, and could have been thickened up with more sugar, but I just left it as is. I also added the zest of a lemon to my glaze for extra lemon flavor.
  • Invert cake onto plate and drizzle with glaze.
Recipe Sources: and
Another great recipe that begins with lemon cake mix –

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday)  (Tuesday) , ,,  (Wednesday)  (Thursday)  (Friday) ,, ,