Ginger Pound Cake
Happy New Year everyone!
I hope you all had a great holiday season that was filled with great food, relaxation and time spent with loved ones. It’s crazy that we’ve already left 2018 behind. I have a lot of optimism that 2019 will be a good year with lots of much needed change. After I finished the 12 Days of Christmas, I needed a wee break to recoup from all that baking. I’ve got my rest and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things. So, let’s start this year’s recipes off the right way, shall we?
I’ve spoken before on here about my love for ginger. You can search the Recipe Index for the various recipes I’ve used it in in; it’s a great ingredient. There are a lot of uses to be found for it and lately, I’ve always seemed to have a stalk or 2 of it in my fridge. Ground ginger often finds its way into desserts like gingerbread, but my favorite way to use and eat it is when it’s been candied/crystallized.
The only downside to candied and crystallized ginger is that most of the time, it doesn’t run cheap in the stores. In my opinion at least, it’s often overpriced. Not to worry though. There’s an easy way around that. You can always just make your own.
It’s easy. It’s MUCH more inexpensive. It’s worth it. (Check out my instagram now for the step by step instructions) And when you’ve finished looking that over (and after you’ve made some crystallized ginger for yourself), come back here and check out today’s recipe. Trust me, we’re going to put it to good use.
A pound cake is the perfect dessert/blank canvas to test out a wide variety of flavors. It’s already plenty delicious on its own–any added flavor you give to the batter will serve to just amplify the finished cake. I’ve done quite a bit of it here on the blog already, and now I’m pleased to share this new addition to the Pound Cake Pantheon of Awesomeness (I totally came up with that on the spot, can’t you tell?)
The recipe uses ginger in two ways: ground ginger that gets sifted in with the other dry ingredients, and crystallized ginger that gets steeped in milk for a few minutes. Both the ginger and the ginger flavored milk are then mixed into the batter.With six eggs in it, this is going to be one very tall cake. If you’re not sure if your bundt pan can fit up to 16 cups, then I’d recommend splitting it between two loaf pans, just to be on the safe side.
The texture of this cake is sublime. It’s rich, buttery and moist enough to where you could eat it plain and still be totally satisified–or go the extra mile and throw on the ginger flavored icing. Combined with the richness of the cake itself, the ginger here adds a spicy sweet flavor that’s got great bite, but still isn’t overpowering. I really enjoyed this cake and I think you will too.
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Ginger Pound Cake
Recipe Courtesy of The Southern Cake Book
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3 ounces of crystallized ginger, finely minced
- 2 cups butter, softened
- 3 cups sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- A few tablespoons of milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 16 cup (10 inch) Bundt or tube pan.
Simmer milk and ginger together in a small saucepan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until thoroughly heated. (Don’t let it boil.) Remove from the heat and let it stand for 10-15 minutes. Add the vanilla extract to the milk.
Stir together the flour with the ground ginger in a bowl with a fork, and set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer (or using a handheld one) beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the sugar, about 1 cup at a time, beating 5-7 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until the yellow disappears. (Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as you’re doing this to ensure even mixing.)
Add the flour to the butter mixer alternatively with the milk (begin and end with the flour). Beat at a low speed, just until combined after each addition.
Pour the batter into the cake pan. Lift and tap it down on the counter a few times (this will prevent air bubbles from forming). Place the cake pan on a sheet pan, then bake on the middle rack of the oven for 1 hour and 25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and cake reaches an inner temp of 205-210 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stir together the ingredients for the icing together in a bowl. It shouldn’t be too runny, just loose enough to drizzle. Use the tines of a fork to drizzle the icing over the cake in a decorative design. Allow to to sit for about 30 minutes, just until icing has set. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Sharing at Fiesta Friday #257, co-hosted this week by Suzanne @apuginthekitchen and Kat @ Kat’s 9 Lives.
I love ginger too! It goes great in both savory dishes and sweet desserts. Your cake looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
Thank you Kat!
ein frohes neues Jahr!ein frohes neues Jahr!ein frohes neues Jahr!
Thank you very much 🙂
Oha Thank you very much 🙂 Oha 13 day after, I’ve thought _:;: _:;: _: _: _: _:;:; But that it is not the case many love thanks very much to return!! I wish you and a nice weekend!!Thank you very much 🙂! se/nz
Adding this to the must make list! Thanks!
Awesome–let me know how it goes, I think you’ll really enjoy it. Thanks 😉
I love ginger! I bet this is delicious!
That it is Bernice. Thank you 🙂
This is such a boon for ginner and cake lovers. Nice recipe to have around. Thanks for posting on fiesta friday.
If you love ginger, you will adore this cake. Thanks!
Shared and plan on making this one
Great! I hope that you enjoy. Thank you 😀
Yes, please and thank you and now!
Haha, thank you Kara! I hope you get to try the cake out sometime 😉