Citrus Cream Cheese Pound Cake (Gluten-Free)

I wish I could say that this cake came out of some need for a bright and cheery glimmer in the dull gray of a long winter, but I live in Salt Lake, and somehow we remained protected in a sunshiny little bubble while the rest of the country was beaten down with storm after winter storm. I'll try not to throw too much salt in the wounds of those trapped inside for the past few months, but it has been completely gorgeous here, with warm days and the occasional spring rain shower. 

But don't be too mad at us yet, Non-Utah-Dwellers, we are all in solidarity in one thing: Winter (however spring-like ours may have been), still lacks in the produce department (You can only use so much kale, ya know?). So, wanting to embrace what was in season, along came this pound cake, all gorgeous and topped with all the citrus that this season has to offer. Also, I had never made pound cake, and thought this glazed citrus topping would be a perfect excuse to make one to go underneath it.

Lemon-Almond Mini Bundt Cakes (Gluten-Free)

I have a small (ahem, moderate to great) obsession with collecting every size and shape pan that exists . . . even if I just need it for one specific project. I can't even remember why I decided to buy a mini bundt pan . . . except that I am quite fond of the simple and vintage style of them. One thing I do remember, however, is that I've never posted a recipe for mini bundt cakes.

So, in an attempt to use all of my baking pans enough to justify having them, I created this recipe with one of my favorite combinations--lemon and almond--that is especially good during this dark and cold time of year. 

Lemon-Almond Mini Bundt Cakes 
makes 6

1 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (containing xanthan gum)
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
zest from 1/2 medium lemon
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk or almond milk

juice from 1/2 medium lemon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sifted powder sugar
a pinch salt

1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and (GF) flour a 6-mold mini bundt pan.

In a small bowl, stir together flour, almond meal, salt, and baking soda.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, until fluffy. Add almond extract and zest. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing together on low speed until combined. Scrape down sides of bowl.

Add flour mixture and milk, alternately, in 3 batches, fully combining between each addition.

Divide batter between each of the prepared molds (about 1 cup batter in each). Bake about 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through, until cake springs back when poked. Remove the cakes from the oven and wait 10 minutes before removing them from the pans.

 While the cakes are cooling, whisk together lemon juice, melted butter, powdered sugar and salt. When cakes are cool, drizzle the glaze over the cakes. Sprinkle with toasted almonds.

Vanilla Almond Coconut Cake

I've had quite the hankering lately for coconut cake. As soon as I decided I was going to make one, they started popping up everywhere--on the covers of magazines, and on a few of my favorite food blogs (I particularly liked this one from Completely Delicious and this one from Willow Bird Baking). Feeling a bit discouraged, I decided to make one anyway. It was perfectly lovely, but nothing special and, therefore, not good enough. I waited.

I waited for inspiration for something that would stand out and, lucky for me, I woke up one morning with a fantastic idea: vanilla almond coconut cake (sometimes I dream in recipes). And let me tell you, it was well worth the wait.

With a nutty flavor and texture, flecks of real vanilla bean, a thick coconut pudding filling, and the best cream cheese frosting you will ever taste, this cake is a real winner. Maybe even better than the ones on the covers of those magazines ;)

Browned Butter Vanilla Bean Cake with Butterscotch Frosting

This cake is so good that I can't even talk about it.

OK, I'll talk about it so that you guys can feel the same way about it that I do.

You see that box of butterscotch chips in the picture below here? That box, full of 30 pounds of butterscotch chips, was given to me a few months back by my boss, who accidentally ordered much MUCH more than we needed at the bakery. In that time, I've been thinking of creative ways to use them. It takes a lot of brainstorming to use up 30 pounds of butterscotch chips. And, to be quite honest, nothing I've made has impressed me much . . . until now.