For the ladies brunch last week, I wanted to venture away from my typical cupcakes, and eggs and waffles... what to do what to do?! I am obsessed with Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter so I thought I would incorporate it.
I mean, what goes together than Valentine's Day and Chocolate... CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER! BUT what should be the tool to get that yummy combo in our bellies? POUND CAKE. YES AND YES. Company was coming in just a few hours, so I trusted the expert for a pound cake recipe, Bakerella. Her pound cake turned out to be just what I needed.
Pound Cake recipe Yields 2-3 Loafs (depending on loaf pan).
FOR THE POUND CAKE BATTER /
3 ½ cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
6 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk, room temperature
1 / Preheat oven to 325˚F.
2 / Sift flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
3 / Using a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar for about 6 minutes.
4 / Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5 / Add vanilla and milk until combined. (FYI- The batter at this point is super liquid-y.)
6 / Add flour mixture in 3 batches and mix until well combined.
7 / Pour into two greased and floured 9 X 5 loaf pans.
Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
FOR ASSEMBLY /
¼ cup brown sugar
2 bananas
1 / Slice the bananas into rounds. Heat a on pan on low and spray with baking spray or coat with butter.
2 / Lay the banana slices on the heated frying pan, and toss the brown sugar on top.
3 / After about 3-5 minutes when the bananas begin to soften, flip them over and cook the other side for another 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
(Get out your heart cutter, and make sure the loaf is COMPLETELY cooled.)
4 / Slice the cooled loaf into ¼ inch thick slices.
5 / Lay the slices flat. Using the heart cookie cutter cut out the shape and disregard (or snack on) the scraps.
6 / Spread the Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter a heart cut out and lay bananas on the peanut butter.
7 / Spread a small layer of peanut butter on another heart cut out and place it downward on the heart containing the bananas. Repeat until all your hearts are used up.
8 / Lightly butter the pan again, and place the heart sandwiches on the heated surface. Cook for about 5 minutes on low, until the are a golden brown, then flip and cook the other side.
Serve warm.
I used some lollypop sticks and heart stickers to make them extra cute! The crowd loved them! Pound cake sandwiches, how could that be bad?! My recipe made 3 loaves and I used 2 for the sammies, so I had a third to snack on later! Man, was this a good idea (patting myself on the back, yup). This was a wonderful alternative to chocolates or cupcakes, and would make a great treat to make your sweetie for breakfast, brunch or lunch in bed! Thanks Bakerella for the great recipe!
What do you have planned for your honey for the big day?