** Chef Larry Edwards is the author of the International bestselling cookbook "Edwardian Cooking: 80 Recipes Inspired by Downton Abbey's Elegant Meals" and the newly released "Style and Spice". In October, 2017, his tribute to American comfort foods will be released called "The American Table." You can follow the Chef on Twitter @ChefLarryEdward **
If you have ever spent any time here in the great American Southwest, you no doubt know we do have a love of tequila. Many of our signature dishes feature this liquid made from the blue agave and in the new cookbook Style and Spice, you will find some of the most famous. Tequila, however, is not just limited to drinks and savory dishes, we also make some wonderful desserts and sweet dishes, such as this Margarita Pound Cake!
What this is, is a buttery rich lime pound cake which is glazed with a sugar and tequila syrup. Due to the fact the tequila is being used in its "raw" state, you do not want to serve this cake to anyone which an alcohol-related illness. To make sure the tequila glaze adheres to the Margarita Pound Cake, you want to make sure to glaze the cake while it is still warm.
If you happen to be a fan of tequila, check out Style and Spice as there is a whole section in the book on the famed tequila cocktails and beverages the Southwest is famous for internationally!
Ingredients needed to make Margarita Pound Cake (makes 1 cake):
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. finely grated lime zest
Steps:
1) Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
2) In a mixer with the paddle atachment, beat the butter and sugar for 5 minutes. Remember to scrape down the bowl a few times.
3) Add the eggs and lime juice and beat for 5 minutes. Remember the scrape down the bowl a few times.
4) In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and lime zest.
5) Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth batter. Remember to scrape down the bowl a few times.
6) Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
7) Place into the oven and bake 65-70 minutes.
8) Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan 10 minutes.
Margarita Pound Cake Glaze:
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. tequila
2 tsp. lime juice
Steps:
1) In a small bowl, whisk the sugar, tequila, and sugar until the sugar has dissolved.
2) Brush the glaze over the top pf the cake. Since the cake is warm, some of it will seep into the top of the cake. Keep brushing until you have used all of the glaze.
3) Let the cake sit about an hour before slicing.
