Makes 2 loaves

Arcadia Orange Pound Cake

A favorite recipe from my Mom is her traditional pound cake. I remember it becoming the solid base for fresh strawberries or peaches during the summer and iced with a lemon glaze during the winter. The ingredients truly were a pound each! The idea for this recipe came from replicating my Mom’s recipe and a drive through the orange groves around Arcadia, Florida. Made in the traditional method of only using eggs to leaven and baked in loaf pans rather than a bundt pan, this recipe adds orange juice and orange zest to provide a light orange flavor adding a new twist under fresh fruit or as the “bread” for Arcadia Orange Pound Cake with Blackberry Merlot Sauce. Consisting of four Flavor Tiers, it is easily made but does take well over an hour from the time you place them in the oven to when you remove from the pans so plan accordingly. Making a day ahead of serving allows the cake to “age” and the flavors to meld.

1 pound quality butter, unsalted, room temperature (2 cups)
1 pound granulated sugar (2 cups)
1 pound eggs, room temperature (7 large)
1 pound all purpose flour (3 ¼ cups)
2 T fresh orange juice
3 T orange zest, divided
2 T powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease two 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pans. Line bottom with parchment paper and grease.

Flavor Tier 1

Place butter in mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed until light colored, about 2 minutes. Add sugar a ¼ cup at a time beating well between each addition. Beat on medium 6 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down sides occasionally.

Flavor Tier 2

Break eggs into small bowl and whisk. At low speed, alternately add the eggs and flower to the butter mixture 1/3 at a time. Beat well after each addition, scraping down sides after each addition.

Flavor Tier 3

Add orange juice and 2 tablespoons of the zest. Beat on low for 1 – 2 minutes until fully incorporated.

Divide batter between the loaf pans. Smooth the top. Place on middle rack of preheated oven. Bake 30 minutes. Turn pans, tent with foil and bake an additional 15 – 25 minutes until cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven.

Flavor Tier 4

Mix remaining tablespoon orange zest and the powdered sugar. Immediately sprinkle orange zest powdered sugar mix evenly on the loaves. Cool 15 minutes in pan. Slide knife around edges and carefully tilt cakes out of pans. Place on rack or towel to finish cooling.

When completely cool wrap in plastic wrap to retain freshness.