Martha Bakes Season 1 Episode 4 Pound Cake

Martha Bakes is an American cooking television series featuring Martha Stewart as the host. Martha is known for her fabulous baking skills and in each episode, she shares some of her treasured recipes with viewers. In season 1, episode 4 named "Pound Cake," Martha shows us how to make a classic dessert that has been enjoyed for generations.

In this episode, Martha teaches us the techniques and tips for making the perfect pound cake. She starts with the traditional recipe which calls for just a few simple ingredients - flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Martha emphasizes the importance of using quality ingredients for the best results.

The first step in making a pound cake is creaming the butter and sugar together. Martha demonstrates how to cream the butter until it's light and fluffy and then slowly add in the sugar. She emphasizes the need to let the butter come to room temperature before making the cake so that it creams together seamlessly. After the butter and sugar mixture is light and fluffy, eggs are added one at a time and then the dry ingredients are folded in.

Martha also teaches us how to make variations of pound cake. In the episode, we see her make a lemon pound cake and a raspberry swirl pound cake. To make the lemon pound cake, Martha adds lemon zest and juice to the batter, resulting in a fragrant and flavorful cake. To make the raspberry swirl pound cake, she makes a raspberry puree and swirls it into the cake batter. Both variations add a lovely twist to the classic pound cake recipe.

Another essential aspect of making the perfect pound cake is choosing the right pan. Martha recommends using a standard loaf pan with straight sides and a non-stick surface for easy release. She also suggests lining the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper for effortless removal.

Martha also explains how to properly store pound cake. She recommends wrapping the cake tightly in plastic wrap and storing it at room temperature for up to three days. If you need to store it for longer, pound cake freezes well and can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

Throughout the episode, Martha shares expert baking tips, such as how to properly measure flour, how to soften butter quickly, and how to test if a cake is done baking. She also discusses the history of pound cake and how it got its name from the ingredients used to make it - one pound of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour.

In addition to the pound cake variations, Martha also shares two simple and delicious cake glazes - a vanilla glaze and a lemon glaze. The glazes add a perfect sweetness and complement the flavors of the pound cake.

Overall, this episode of Martha Bakes is a fantastic guide for any baker looking to master the classic pound cake recipe. Martha's clear and concise instructions make baking a pound cake seem easy and accessible, even for those who may be new to baking. Plus, her creative twists on the recipe inspire bakers to add their own personal touch to this classic dessert.