Tables were covered in crisp, white linen. Exquisite china was placed ever so carefully in front of each chair. Silver flatware lined up perfectly straight next to the china. Flowers adorned the center of the table and was surrounded by tea candles. Fine crystal glasses glistened in the glow. One look and you knew it was a fancy event. Anticipation of the food to be served on such a beautiful setting sets in and excitement builds. Each course brings delight and the last course is the star of the show. Little bundt pound cakes are simple and yet can be quite fancy too.
What defines a fancy cake? This was something I had to ponder recently. We were challenged to bake a fancy bundt in celebration of the one year anniversary of Bundt-A-Month. Fancy could mean a lot of things. It could be with perfect decorations. I knew that choice was out since I'm piping challenged and wouldn't go near fondant (yuck). It could be the ingredients. I though of rare fruits or specialty liqueurs but availability would be difficult. It could be the shape. That was it! And so my cake pan collection grew with the addition two little bundt pans.
Simple can be fancy too. It's all in how you present it. Serve a little cake on good china and it magically becomes elegant. Being baked in a pretty shape helps too. The pans I used are made by Kaiser and can be found on Amazon → KaiserCast Star Bundform Pan
and KaiserCast Flora Bundtform Pan
. Or you can bake it in fancy paper loaf pans
and give them as gifts. The holidays will be here before you know it. (Note those are affiliate links to Amazon)
The recipe is for three small cake loaves. If you use the small 7-inch bundt pans like I did the batter will enough for two cakes and a few cupcakes. I topped the cakes with a dusting of confectioners sugar to enhance the pattern and design. You could also use a glaze and perhaps a sprinkling of toasted nuts. Serve it with fresh berries and whipped cream or homemade vanilla bean ice cream.
How do you define a fancy cake? It is with the decorations, ingredients, or the shape? Be sure to scroll down and see what the talented Bundt-A-Month bakers made for the challenge. I can't wait to visit each one and check out their amazing cakes.
Little Bundt Pound Cakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- ⅓ cup half-and-half or whole milk at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon brandy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour three 7- X 3- X 2-inch loaf pans. If using paper loaf pans you do not need to grease and flour.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer on high speed until mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternatively with half-and-half in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Stir in brandy and vanilla.
- Divide batter evenly in the loaf pans.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes.
- Remove cakes from pans* and cool completely on wire racks.
- *If using paper loaf pans do not remove the cakes from the pans.
- Dust cakes with confectioners sugar.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Southern Living 1986 Annual Recipes Cookbook.
Ready for more bundts? These fancy cakes will be inspiration enough for you to bake with us this month:
- Banana-Caramel Bundt Cake by Felice at All That's Left Are The Crumbs
- Caramel Latte Bundt Cake by Heather at Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Chocolate and Wine Bundt from Holly at A Baker's House
- Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt Cake by Alice at Hip Foodie Mom
- Devil's Food Bundt Cake with Caramel Glaze by Lora at Cake Duchess
- Funfetti Pudding Cake by Kate at Food Babbles
- Hong Kong Chiffon Mini Cakes by Kim at Ninja Baking
- Lemon Frangipane Bundt Cake by Paula at Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Little Bundt Pound Cakes by Renee at Magnolia Days
- Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Bundt Cake by Anuradha at Baker Street
- Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Bundt by Anita at Hungry Couple
- Rose Mini Bundt Cakes by Veronica at My Catholic Kitchen
- Simple Orange Bundt Cake by Kathya at Basic N Delicious
- Streusel Apple Bundt Cake by Laura at The Spiced Life
- Triple Chocolate Mini Bundts by Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- White Chocolate Bundt with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting by Sandra at Sweet Sensations
Here's how you can be a part of Bundt-a-Month:
- Simple rule: Bake us a fancy bundt
- Post it before September 30, 2013
- Use the #BundtaMonth hashtag in your title. (For ex: title could read - #BundtaMonth: Fancy Bundt)
- Add your entry to the Linky tool below
- Link back to our announcement posts
Even more bundt fun! Follow Bundt-a-Month on Facebook where we feature all our gorgeous bundt cakes. Or head over to our Pinterest board for inspiration and choose from hundreds of Bundt cake recipes.
Happy Baking!
Oh my! These look perfect, Renee! Can't believe its been a year! You and Kate hopped on the first month and it has been lovely to have you bake along month on month! Thank you for everything! And happy anniversary!
Cheers!
Anuradha
Thanks Anuradha!
You have the best molds Renee. That star is just incredibly pretty! I'm all for simple cakes, no matter the occasion, they are so wonderful with cream and berries, as you suggest!
Thank you Paula and I have a feeling my bundt pan collection will continue to grow. They make such pretty cakes.
Ooo! How pretty are these little cakes?? I love these perfect little cakes. Beautiful!
Thanks Kate!
I want that star shaped pan! Happy anniversary. 🙂
You should put that star shaped pan on your Christmas wish list (if you can wait that long).
Very fancy and good looking delicious. Love love the photos.
Thanks Kathia and I appreciate the compliment of my photos.
What a pretty shape for your little Bundt cakes. I think these would make wonderful gifts for the holidays and already have some paper bundt baking trays I found on sale after Christmas last year. Now I know how to use them, thanks!
I need to stock up on those paper baking pans too before the holidays. Homemade gifts are the best.
Your cake is the star of the month, Renee! What beautiful little cakes! Now I can see that my Bundt cake pan collection is seriously lacking. You will be hearing from my objecting husband shortly. He asked for your email address. (JK)
Thanks so much Stacy and laughing over your objecting husband. Mine gave up when it comes to kitchen gadgets, pans, etc.
Beautiful presentation and those pans are perfect! The last thing I need is another cake pan but these are irresistible. I've enjoyed baking with you guys over the months and look forward to many more!
Thanks Sandra and I'm glad you have joined in the fun each month. I love seeing all the beautiful bundts.
Renee, pound cake reminds me of my childhood in Mississippi. It's one of my favorites. I love the beautiful molds. Where did you get them? Great post!
Thanks Bill. I got the molds from Amazon and there are links to them above in my post.
Your photos are just so inviting. It also helps that your cakes are just perfect and I love that you interpreted fancy as a shape. Your cakes are the perfect size for sharing.
Thank you so much Felice.
Pound cake is my favorite. Yours looks fantastic.
Thanks Veronica
Uh-oh, my crystal balls sees another Bundt pan purchase in the near future for this Ninja Baker...Sorry you don't like fondant - there are so many pretty decorations one can create with the confection...As for simplicity and elegance going hand in hand, I wholeheartedly agree =) And your mini Bundts are the epitome of mini pound cake perfection!
Fondant can make for very pretty decorations, I just don't like to eat it. I always peel it off and would rather have frosting.
Renee,
Totally agree with you that simple can be fancy too. . and these mini bundts are so elegant and pretty, perfect for the anniversary!!! LOVE! I would also love to dive into your bundt pan collection!!! 🙂 hint hint, wink wink. 🙂
Thanks Alice! If you were closer I'd let you borrow any pan I have.
Super fun Bundt shapes this month! Since and elegant is all the rage and your Bundts fit the bill!
Thank you so much Heather and it's nice to see simple being all the rage. It goes back to people wanting good things that aren't so difficult to do.
It is true that simple can be fancy. I am a simple cake lover. That lovely dusting of powdered sugar and the pretty cake pans make these just gorgeous, Renee. Loved having you as a part of the group from the beginning.
Thanks Lora and I've had such a great time with the group. Bundts are just so much fun and pretty too.
Ooh very fancy indeed!Love the beautiful design of your bundt pan and your cakes look so pretty with all those lovely detailing :)That also reminds me that I have to buy a mini bundt pan!
Time for you to go shopping! My bundt collection just keeps growing and growing.
I need little bundt pans so I can make these adorable, beauty, fancy cakes! Absolutely gorgeous photos, Renee.
Thanks Nancy
YUM!
Thanks Julie!
Beautiful bundt cakes! I've never made a bundt, primarily as I don't own a bundt tin, but these 'Bundt a Month' posts always make me want to! Gorgeous. Love the clean, white setting and the dusting of powdered sugar. Can't get better than pound cake 🙂 x
Thanks Laura and you should try baking a bundt cake. I love the way the bundt pans make the cakes look. No need for much decorations.
Aren't you an evil enabler, including links for the pans! Ack! 😀 As you know, I have pan lust for those pans and the cakes look like my favorite kind of cake. Oh yeah and hooray for eschewing piping and fondant! 😉
Ah yes, ever the enabler. I get a lot of comments asking where I get the pans so this time I thought I would make it easy to folks to find them.
G'day What a beautiful Bundt cake, true!
Really enjoyed your photos ...inspires me to do!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of #bundtamonth
G'day to you too Joanne and thanks for visiting to check out my bundt for BundtAMonth. I appreciate the kind words on my photography too.