Vanilla Bean Loaf Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Seitzer

Ingredients

3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups vanilla sugar (1 split vanilla bean stirred into 1 pound

1 whole vanilla bean

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

8 large eggs, room temperature

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt shopping list

The Vanilla Syrup

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 cup water

2 wholes vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped

Preparation

Heavily butter or spray two similarly sized loaf pans, and preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Using a paddle attachment in your mixer, cream butter and vanilla sugar until mixture is pale and fluffy. Scrape the vanilla bean and flick its seeds into the mixer, along with the vanilla extract and eggs; beat to mix.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into another bowl. Add to the batter and mix just until smooth (a few turns of the paddle should do it.) Take the bowl off the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom and fold the mixture a few times, to make sure everything is blended.

Divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the pans around, and bake an additional 25 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester or skewer comes out almost clean.

While the loaves bake, prepare the syrup.

When loaves are done, cool for 10 minutes on baking racks, then turn them out of their pans and set back on the racks. Place the racks over parchment paper or a baking sheet and brush generously all over (bottoms, tops, and sides) with the Vanilla Syrup. Brush a couple of more times as they cool. Cakes may be wrapped and frozen.

For Syrup

In a small pan dissolve the sugar in water over medium heat. Add the vanilla beans and stir a little so the seeds and fragrance disperse. Take the pan off the heat.

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About

Aside from being the chocolate fanatic that I am, I am also in love with pure, unadulterated vanilla. The clean, simple yet so heavenly flavor of vanilla transforms my taste buds and my whole mood into pure Happy! This recipe is pricey, is not healthy in the least but if you are looking to make something purely fantastical at your next get together, then this is it! The recipe is from the cookbook Cooking for Mr Latte, A Food Lover's Courtship, with Recipes, by Amanda Hesser.