What do you do when you’re snowed in with only 1 stick of butter? Why, make half a pound cake, of course! You can bet that this cake is pretty special to me, seeing as I had one opportunity to bake (while snowed in), with ONE stick of butter to my name. I could have chosen anything. Any recipe. But I chose this one. THIS pound cake. Brings a tear to the eye, doesn’t it? No? ……..ok.
A long time ago, Joel’s mother bought me a Williams-Sonoma cake mix for peach pound cake. It was magical. Moist and buttery and brushed with peach schnapps while still warm. I’ve never forgotten that cake. And recently, while snowed in with one stick of butter (stop me if you’ve heard this story before…) I decided to recreate it. I chose Paula Deen’s recipe for pound cake, as it is my favorite. I baked in some peach schnapps with the batter as well as brushed the whole outside of the cake while still warm. It was close; perhaps not quite as good as I remember the Williams-Sonoma mix being, but DARN good, just the same. And even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! A snow day baking success! That last stick of butter really did itself proud….
(And yes, I took lots of pictures. That’s what you do when you’re snowed in….apparently.)
Peachy Pound Cake
1 stick butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon peach schnapps
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
With a mixer, cream butter and shortening together. Add sugar, a little at a time. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl and add to mixer alternately with milk, starting with the flour and ending with the flour. Mix in vanilla and the 1 tablespoon peach schnapps. Pour into a greased and floured 9×5 loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
While the cake is still warm, remove from pan and brush the top and sides with the remaining peach schnapps. Let cool completely before serving.
Serves 6-8
Recipe source: adapted from Paula Deen
**If you’d rather not use alcohol, this quick and easy peach simple syrup would be a great alternative!
wow… It looks like a heaven..
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Comment by Paula — February 9, 2011 @ 4:07 AM
This looks really really good! Pound cakes aren’t very common on this side of the pond but I’ve loved the very few I have tried so this is winging it’s way into my recipe list! With a note by it saying how very special it is considering you only had ONE stick of butter… ;p
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Comment by Vickii — February 9, 2011 @ 5:58 AM
Hoooooollllyy..
This looks amazing. I’m having a terrible day thus far, but if this were on my plate I can guarantee that I’d crack a smile!
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Comment by Rebel mel — February 9, 2011 @ 7:56 AM
Yum, definitely a perfect use for your last stick of butter!
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Comment by Tracey — February 9, 2011 @ 8:03 AM
Looks soo yummy!
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Comment by Marjorie — February 9, 2011 @ 10:48 AM
Rebel mel- I’m so sorry to hear you’re having a bad day! I wish I could send you a slice of this…unfortunately, we ate it all… 😉 However, it’s very easy to make- you should make yourself a “get happy” pound cake! 🙂
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Comment by amy — February 9, 2011 @ 10:49 AM
Gorgeous looking and delicious, I’m sure!
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Comment by melissa — February 9, 2011 @ 12:15 PM
Sounds sooooooooooo good! And I have no problem using peach schnapps. Besides all the alcohol evaporates while baking… right? ;-D Thanks for sharing, I’m definitely making this the next time I’m snowed in with just 1 stick of butter.
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Comment by Jennifer — February 9, 2011 @ 12:17 PM
Two of my favorite things together cake and peaches 🙂 I have saved this recipe to try when I am in need of cake. I am going to have a magic milk straws when I’m done exercising this afternoon has a reward for my hard work. hey its better to have milk than Gatorade after working out.
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Comment by Karen — February 9, 2011 @ 3:26 PM
I can’t think of anything better to do on a snow day. This looks amazing Amy.
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Comment by Eliana — February 9, 2011 @ 8:15 PM
I am sorry you were snowed in, but I am NOT sorry it resulted in this delicious pound cake! This sounds ridiculously delicious!
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Comment by Dana — February 9, 2011 @ 9:04 PM
i have been craving pound cake soooo bad. please send me a few slices! 🙂 i’ve been trying not to bake one cause i know hubby will eat too much and he’s trying to be good and watch his weight… i may just have to cave though!
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Comment by ashley — February 11, 2011 @ 8:40 PM
That looks like a mighty delicious way to use up that stick of butter…especially if that’s Blue Bell ice cream on top!
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amy Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Well….I don’t want to brag, but yes, it definitely is Blue Bell. 😉 Nothing but the best for my pound cake! 😉
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Comment by Kelsey — February 11, 2011 @ 10:00 PM
I made this earlier today and it is easy and yummy. My first attempt @ pound cake and I am proud of the result.I now have a whole bottle (well. minus the amount the recipe called for)of Peach Schnapps so I can make more pound cakes in the near future as well as a few bellinis. “champagne, peach juice and a splash of peach schnapps” try it…you’ll like it. and thanks for the recipe.
kisses to Izzy.
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amy Reply:
February 12th, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Thunja- I’m so happy your first attempt at pound cake was a success!! They’re pretty easy to make and wonderful to customize- you can add in fruit or chocolate or just leave it plain! The possibilities are endless! 🙂 I’ve passed your affections on to Izzy and she was very grateful! She loves having fans! 😉
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Comment by thunja — February 12, 2011 @ 10:50 PM
What a great way to use some of the peach schnapps sitting in the back of my pantry from when I made your Peach Bellini cupcakes! This pound cake looks fantastic! I pinned it to make later, and gave you a shout out on Pinterest and Facebook. 🙂
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Comment by kierstyn'scupcakes&more — June 24, 2012 @ 7:20 PM