Scented Geranium Pound Cake

A traditional pound cake has a pound each of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. Weigh all ingredients, especially egg yolks and whites, to get an accurate amount, as eggs vary in size. Since pound cake always tastes best the next day, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature overnight before serving.

12-16 unsprayed scented geranium leaves, wiped clean
1 lb (4 sticks) butter, room temperature
1 lb sugar
1 lb all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 tsp. baking powder
1 lb large eggs, separated
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
½ cup heavy cream
vegetable-oil cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place oven rack in the center position. Spray two 9x4½x2¾” loaf pans with cooking spray; line with parchment.

Arrange geranium leaves, with tops facing down, along bottom and around sides of pan. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Sift together flour and baking powder. With the mixer set on low, add yolks one at a time to butter-and-sugar mixture, alternating with flour mixture.

With the mixer set on medium speed, beat in vanilla, then cream. Batter will be thick. Transfer batter to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Place egg whites in a medium nonreactive bowl and, with an electric hand mixer, whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a rubber spatula, stir about one-quarter of the egg whites into batter to lighten. Fold in remaining whites.

Carefully spoon batter into prepared pans. (Additional leaves may be arranged on top of batter if desired.) Run a knife blade through batter a few times to remove air bubbles.

Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 80-90 minutes. Let cool on wire rack, 1-1½ hours, then remove from pans.

Makes two 9x4½x2¾” cakes.