Maple Raisin Pound Cake

~Leslie~'s Note:

Pound cakes got their name because they originally were made with a pound of flour, a pound of eggs, a pound of sugar and a pound of butter. This cake, with its Canadian twist of raisins and maple syrup, is served with a maple sauce but it can be omitted, if you HAVE to :) This is another recipe by Lucy Waverman, who happens to be my favourite chef!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 10" cake

• 1 cup butter , at room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 teaspoons grated lime rind
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Sauce

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup maple syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF
2. Butter and flour a 10-inch bundt pan or tube pan, or a 10-inch springform pan.
3. Using an electric mixer or by hand, cream butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda.
5. Add flour alternately with yogurt, beating after each addition, ending with the flour. Add vanilla, raisins, lime rind and syrup. Beat a few seconds longer or until smooth. Do not overbeat.
6. Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth out the surface. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean and the cake is evenly brown.
7. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on wire rack.
8. Combine cream and syrup in a large pot over high heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool. Serve over slices of cake.

Reviews

[Elmotoo]

This was delicious! WHat a great combination of flavors! Hint: don't drown your cake in the sauce - it will 1. get soggy & 2. be to sweet. LOL. Many people completely enjoyed this. One hint I thought of too late was to coat the raisins in flour so they don't sink to the bottom of the pan. My raisins stuck to the pan. :( The lime zest was extra special as odd as it seemed at first. Thanks, Leslie! Made for the 1/08 Aussie Swap.