Brandy and Rum Glazed Pound Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 10 oz. (1-1/4 cups) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature; more for the pan
• 10-1/4 oz. (2-1/2 cups) cake flour or 11 oz. (2-1/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 1-3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup whole milk, at room temperature
• 1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

For the Glaze:

• 1-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 3 Tbs. brandy
• 3 Tbs. rum

Preparation

Bake the Cake:

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 12-cup Bundt pan, dust the pan with flour, and tap out the excess. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and the sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. On low speed, beat in the yolks until smooth. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl and the paddle. With the mixer running on medium-low speed, add the whole eggs, one at a time, mixing for at least 20 seconds after each addition. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl and paddle again.
4. With the mixer running on the lowest speed, add half of the flour mixture and mix just to combine, add the milk and mix until combined, and then add the remaining flour mixture and mix just until combined.
5. Scrape the bowl one last time, add the vanilla extract and nutmeg, and mix at medium speed until the batter is smooth and fluffy, 20 to 30 seconds.
6. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Run a knife through the batter and tap the pan against the counter to dislodge trapped air. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only moist crumbs clinging to it, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

Glaze the Cake:

1. While the cake bakes, stir together the confectioner’s sugar, brandy, and rum until smooth. After the baked cake has cooled for 15 minutes, turn the warm cake onto a serving plate. Using a skewer, poke holes all over the cake. Brush the cake—every visible inch of it—with the glaze, until the glaze is gone. When the cake is completely cool, the glaze will form a protective crust over the cake

By: Nicole Rees