Food Holidays: March 4th, 2022 is National Pound Cake Day. I remember as a child my parents would purchase Pound Cake as a dessert for us. But even though I like Pound Cake and I found out David also likes Pound Cake this isn’t a dessert we ever purchase and before you ask me why we don’t. I don’t know but I would like to change that and purchase a Pound Cake for Charlie to try. Would you like to join us for dessert?
March 4th is National Pound Cake Day! / #NationalPoundCakeDay
HISTORY OF NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY
Every year, Americans and cake lovers around the world observe Pound Cake Day, one of the world’s most versatile cakes. The day is celebrated by bakers and cake lovers alike in a tradition that has lasted over a decade.
In the U.S., pound cake is enjoyed by millions of people who add slight variations of ingredients to the traditional recipe, including vanilla or almond flavoring. Pound cakes are sometimes served with fresh fruit juice or flavored ice cream. For the most part, its sweet, moist, and dense but light taste is eaten plain. The pound cake appears to have originated first in Europe in the 18th century where it is believed that the first recipe to ever call for a pound’s weight of each of the ingredients for making a cake was first seen.
Although the traditional ingredients of the pound cake are well known, there are several variations available that are more often made in today’s America. Each has its distinctive style and recipe and includes the addition of several flavoring agents like vanilla, almond, orange, or lemon extract. Baking soda or baking powder is incorporated to induce leavening during baking to make a less dense pound cake. The cooking oil can also be substituted for butter to produce moisture, but some bakers believe it won’t add any difference to the taste than margarine, which is usually at least 50% cheaper.
Here are five facts about Poundcake:
- The Pound Cake is a British creation that dates back to the early 1700s.
- Pound Cakes is generally baked in either loaf pans or a Bundt Mold, and either dusted with Powdered Sugar, lightly Glazed, or with a coat of Icing.
- In Britain Pound Cake is more commonly known as ‘Sponge cake’ or ‘Madeira cake’.
- The German “Eischwerkuchen” Cake is a recipe very similar to the pound cake.
- In France Pound Cake is of the French region of Brittany and uses the same quantity of the four ingredients but with no added Fruit of any kind.
NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY ACTIVITIES
- What better way to celebrate National Pound Cake Holiday than by baking a Pound Cake? Which only takes one pound each of Butter, Sugar, and Flour, topped off by half a dozen Eggs. To begin, cream the Butter, Sugar, and Eggs, one at a time, mixing well with each addition. Add the Flour, Baking Soda, and flavoring, and continue to mix for 10 minutes before pouring the batter in a prepared pan and heating at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Another way to celebrate National Pound Cake Day is to host a Pound Cake bake-off with friends. You can set the rules as strict or as loose as everyone likes. Then select a judge to vote for the winner. To see how creative your group is, have everyone use the same recipe and see who in your group adds that extra touch of creativity to their Pound Cake.
- Help others get involved! Share recipes and pictures of your Pound Cake to inspire them to bake a Pound Cake as a way to celebrate National Pound Cake Day. Use hashtags #NationalPoundCakeDay #PoundCake or #PoundCakeDay on your posts.
5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT POUND CAKES
- The British variant of Pound Cakes are also called ‘Sponge Cakes’ or ‘Madeira Cakes’ in the U.K.
- The French do Pound Cakes differently which is called ‘quatre-quarts,’ and uses four quarters of the same four ingredients without any Fruit.
- Germans have their own way too which is the ‘Eischwerkuchen’ a German recipe that is very similar to the Pound Cake.
- According to Beth Tartan, a culinary researcher at the University of North Carolina, Pound Cake was one of the most common desserts among the American Pioneers who settled in the State.
- Not until the 20th Century when baking equipment and directions became simplified, was baking a Cake considered easy.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY
- We get to eat Pound Cakes which are sweet, moist, and dense but rather light. Pund Cakes can be served with fresh Fruit. However, Pound Cakes can be just as tasty eaten plain and Pound Cakes don’t need any Frosting or Glaze, not even Powdered Sugar dusting.
- With Pund Cakes we can get creative and add Fruits or Candy. A fun would Orange or Lemon Extract. People add Fresh Orange Juice or Orange Zest to their Flour mix.
- Nothing beats the taste of a Pound Cake! If you’re new to Pound Cakes, imagine what a mix of Butter, Sugar, and Flour, topped off with Eggs and baked at 350°F taste like.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
