#Secret Recipe Club: Easy pound cake, super-moist from sour cream, flavored with maple and tangerine.
It's Secret Recipe Club time again! We took a month off for the holidays – it's such a busy time for all of us – but now we're back in fine form. And I'm so excited to bring the blog I was assigned to your attention – Nicole at I Am A Honey Bee. What a great blog filled with amazing baked treats. I'm usually drawn to the photos as well as the recipes on a site, and this time I was captivated by photos of her brand new daughter too. She is absolutely adorable – and her middle name is a family name in my own family: Olivia. One of my all-time favorite names. If I'd had a daughter, that's what I wanted to name her.
After narrowing down the recipes to choose from, I settled on what might be the best pound cake I've ever made – Nicole's Sour Cream Pound Cake. It was so moist and soft, but with a nice crust. I added some orange and maple flavors, but it's really not necessary. Otherwise I didn't change a thing. This is definitely my new go-to cake for dessert, but I think it makes a great breakfast cake too, along with some fruit and a cup of coffee. In fact I made a bunch of small loaves and froze them just so I can have them on hand. You just never know when you might need a cake.
Maple-Tangerine Sour Cream Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups 13.5 ounces all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter 2 sticks
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons finely grated tangerine zest
- 1 cup organic cultured sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 6 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325˚F. Prepare a 10-inch bundt or tube pan by spraying very generously with non-stick cooking spray. Or use 4 paper mini-loaf bakeware measuring 2.5” wide X 7” long X 1.8” high like I did which don't need any prepping at all.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and flour and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together. I ran my mixer on the second speed for 5 minutes to set up the butter and sugar since my butter was a little cold, and then ran it on high for 7 minutes. It should turn lighter in color when ready. Add the orange zest and mix for another 2 minutes.
- Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and maple extract, and mix until completely incorporated.
- Alternate the dry ingredients with one egg at a time, and mix into the batter.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan(s), place on a baking sheet (just in case any runs over), and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes for the larger pans, or 1 hour 10 minutes for the smaller paper bakeware. When done, the top of the cake should feel springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake should come out clean.
April @ Angels Homestead says
I love the texture of pound cake, especially when it’s moist. Nothing worse then a dry pound cake. Yours looks like it turned out perfect. Happy reveal day! 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks so much April! the sour cream made it soooo moist. It was just delicious.
JJ - 84thand3rd says
A good pound cake recipe is always a good thing to have on hand – love your flavour additions too! Great SRC pick!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
There are so many ways to use pound cake – which I probably should have added to the post. Sometimes I toast it for breakfast with some fruit and yogurt. But it’s also great cut into pieces for a trifle. I’m getting hungry 🙂
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
There’s something about sour cream in a pound cake that makes it ridiculously melt-in-your-mouth good. Love, love, love this recipe with tangerine (favorite citrus) and maple Susan!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
You’re so right, Paula! I want to try sour cream biscuits with the rest of my sour cream… the diet may have to wait just a little longer.
apuginthekitchen says
I really like the flavors in your cake, it looks wonderfully moist and delicious. Pound cake is difficult for me to get right for some reason, it’s a texture thing. Adding the sour cream is a great idea, I have been thinking about pound cake lately and wondered about cream cheese also.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
It’s totally a texture thing – I agree. I have to say the sour cream addition really turned out a moist pound cake.
Traci says
Oh my goodness. This looks incredible. I am a sucker for anything citrusy and I’ve never tried this flavor combination. Going to have to! Your recipe look delicious, happy SRC day!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
This time of year, I add citrus to just about everything 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
This sounds so yummy! And I love the tangerine zest to give it that extra little something 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks Jess! You can substitute orange zest, but it’s not the same. Tangerine is more potent and sweeter I think.
lizthechef says
I love this “You never know when you might need a cake” – LOL.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I just like to be prepared for any cake thing that might come up LOL….
SallyBR says
Tangerine pound cake, with maple! What a great match for a cake…
I bet it turned out moist and flavorful…
Happy Reveal Day!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks Sally! The sour cream addition was fantastic for a moist cake. Loved!!
Lynn says
I would love to use this pound cake for strawberry shortcake:) Great SRC pick~ Happy Reveal Day~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Strawberry shortcake would be perfect!!! Great idea Lynn!
bakingaddict says
I love the flavour combination here, it sounds absolutely delicious! I had your lovely blog this month and really enjoyed making your no bake healthy fudge. Happy SRC reveal day.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I’m so so happy you liked it!! My step-daughter introduced us to it and it was instant love.
Amanda E says
This looks fantastic – think my husband would destroy in one sitting 🙂 Perfect SRC pick!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks Amanda! I hid two of the loaf-etts. Otherwise we’d have to hide the scales 🙂
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
great pick!
very inventive to add the maple and tangerine. sounds great! I’ll have to try that one day!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I loved going through your blog over the last couple of months. Many congratulations to you and your husband on the birth of Autumn Olivia. I’m so happy for you. She’s just adorable. And she’s such a lucky little girl to have you (and your fabulous food) for a mom.
dena @ohyoucook says
A cake for breakfast. Well, it’s breakfast time somewhere LOL! Great SRC choice!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
My feelings exactly! Thanks Dena!
Norma Chang says
Glad you added tangerine zest, one finds lots of recipes calling for orange, lemon or lime zest but not tangerine, am going to keep this in mind for the future.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks so much Norma. The tangerines are so great right now I’m just adding them to everything 🙂
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says
Pound cake is one of my favourites and the addition of maple and tangerine sounds wonderful! Great SRC pick!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
It’s one of my favorites too. There were other recipes I want to cook on Nicole’s blog, but I have a hard time passing up pound cake 🙂
Melissa says
I have to say, I’ve never had anything with the maple-tangerine flavor combo, but this sounds delicious! Great pick this month 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I’m not sure I have either to be honest. But once the tangerine was in, it just hit me that maple would work nicely too. I had some extract, and popped a little in. So fun 🙂
Tara says
I was assigned I am a Honey Bee last time and loved looking through the posts anticipating the birth of her daughter. Can’t believe she is already 2 months old! Great pick! I love the addition of tangerine. I am always looking for new recipes to use them. Pinned!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks Tara! It was so fun reading through Nicole’s posts leading up the the birth and then to see the adorable pictures.
kirstin says
Yum! Sounds really good. I make a PB pound cake that my girls love. This one sounds like a good option.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
The sour cream was such a nice addition for a little tang and added moisture. It is such a soft cake. Just loved it.
laurasmess says
Pound cake is always a winner in my opinion, delicious and simple… I love warming it for breakfast or using thick slices as the base of a trifle. Yours looks perfectly delicious Susan. Great recipe for this week’s round up! x
Emily @ Life on Food says
What an interesting set of flavors. I love maple. This sounds pretty great to me and looks super moist. Great pick for SRC!
cheri says
What a great combination, love this!
mjskit says
I’ve always been a sucker for a good pound cake, especially the one’s with the soft and moist interior and the crusty exterior. Looks like I’ll be making this one soon. Looks delicious Susan! Good choice.
Karen says
Fabulous choice. Definitely going to try this! Sounds amazing.
Amy @ Fearless Homemaker says
I loooove pound cake and this one looks SO good. Excellent choice for the SRC!
Lindsay (life and kitchen) says
Yum! That looks delicious! I can’t wait to explore more recipes on your blog 🙂
Laura Dembowski says
This cake looks wonderful with that rich crumb! Tangerine and maple are a great combo too!
Danielle @ TheCharmItSpot says
I love baking with citrus zest! This sounds delicious and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!