This post is brought to you by McCormick. All opinions are my own.
My mother is a wonderful cook. She plays it down, but I have fond memories of the meals and side dishes that she made for our family growing up ... I could go on and on about her breaded pork chops, potato salad and deviled eggs. When it comes to desserts, however, I really can't think of anything my mom used to bake, other than the occasional boxed cupcake or cake mix. Clearly, sweets weren't her forte ... love ya mom!
My husband, Rick, on the other hand, RAVES about the goodies his mother made for him as a child. One baked item that comes up again is his mother's Sour Cream Pound Cake. To this day, Rick requests that his mom bake him this vanilla bundt cake for Christmas. No joke, the cake weighs a ton, and lasts for days and days as both breakfast and dessert. I knew the recipe had been passed down from his great grandmother (also known as Aunt MayMay), but I didn't have a clue how to make it myself. So I asked my mother-in-law.
Aunt MayMay's Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe
- 2 sticks butter
- 3 cups sugar
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
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Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter until smooth.
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Beat in one egg at a time.
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Mix flour and baking soda. Add a small amount at a time to mixing bowl — continue to beat.
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Gently stir in sour cream, just enough to mix.
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Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.
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Bake for one hour. Do not open the oven door to check until the last few minutes of baking.
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Test with a knife in the middle. If it comes out clean it is done, if not bake for another ten to fifteen minutes.
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Serve plain, with strawberries or fruit ambrosia.
This Mother's Day I surprised my husband with Aunt MayMay's Sour Cream Pound Cake. He didn't have the chance to see his mom on this holiday, but this bundt cake was the next best thing. Apparently I got the recipe down on the first try because he went on about how it tasted just like the one she makes. I had a little nibble of my own, and agree that Aunt MayMay knew a thing or two about baking ... seriously, this recipe is a keeper, and will continue to be passed on!
I think what makes this pound cake so memorable is its tried and true ingredients — butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, sour cream and McCormick's Pure Vanilla Extract (and a whole lot of love!). McCormick’s Pure Vanilla Extract has been one of America’s essential baking ingredients for more than a century, and for generations, vanilla extract has been a key ingredient in recipes passed down from moms, aunts, grandmas and more.
Here are some shopping links to help you make your own Sour Cream Pound Cake:
Margot C says
My Mom was from Texas, but I don't think this is a Texas thing. She used to make a classic white coconut cake that was out-of-this-world! #flavorstory I know that she used the sweetened coconut (the fluffy stuff from the store), definitely vanilla flavoring and she whipped the egg whites. I wish that she was here to ask her how she did it.
Kelly D says
My mom enjoys to make a banana bread using ripened bananas, vanilla, butter and sugar and a few other ingredients. #flavorstory It is a simple recipe, but it is always delicious. It makes a great dessert or quick snack.
Kelly D says
I pinned the recipe
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/170925748332328794/
Rebecca Parsons says
My #flavorstory is having a peanut butter & jelly milk shake with chopped peanuts in it.
lori clark says
my mom said never use vanilla extract that was fake...use the'good" stuff..give it a better flavor!
Darlene Ysaguirre says
My #flavorstory about my mother would be cilantro and cumin being hispanic we grew up always cooking with fresh herbs and great tasting spices. I love cooking and i give that thanks to my mom having spent many hours in the kitchen watching her cook.
Annmarie W. says
My mom is the 1st person to say that she's not a good cook. But my aunt (her sister) is a great cook! And she makes the most amazing homemade mac n cheese that tastes different than any other I've ever had! This year she finally shared the recipe with me…and her secret of using various cheeses to give it its unique flavor!
Denise L says
My mom wasn't the biggest cook. One of my favorite things that she made was called dump cake. It's super simple to make, but tastes great.....would be even better with a little pure vanilla extract added.
Brittney House says
My #flavorstory is when I was younger, my mother wouldn't cook a meal without me and my sister watching a learning so that we can always know how to cook for ourselves.
Denise S says
My mom let us pick a new dessert recipe from a dessert book every week and we made it together.
Erica C. says
I don't have a great story expect for that we use Old Bay in almost all of our recipes.
XmasDolly says
I use to make very blah ordinary pancakes until one Sunday when I was at my mother's she was making us pancakes and she put some vanilla in the batter, and I said what are you putting in there, and then I saw it and said that's why yours are tastier than mine. You never told me I said. A mother's secret ingredient I now pass down to you. Sure took your sweet time I said, and we both laughed so hard, but we really enjoyed breakfast that day all the more! I miss my mama!
XmasDolly says
#flavorstory This goes with the above story! 🙂
XmasDolly says
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/12666442676978289/ I pinned this recipe.
Sue14625 says
we were farm kids MOM baked from scratch the smell wafting from the house always smelled so good bread-cakes-pies -cookies-thank you MOM for making all the foods we loved and McCormick was there to help
Sue14625 says
we were farm kids MOM baked from scratch the smell wafting from the house always smelled so good bread-cakes-pies -cookies-thank you MOM for making all the foods we loved and McCormick was there to help #flavorstory
Karen Drake says
Growing up my Mother would always bake for us, banana bread, cookies, cakes etc, I remember the smell of vanilla drifting through the house.
Cori Westphal says
My story is actually about my grandma. I used to visit her a lot, and she'd let me drink coffee. Only she'd give me Hershey's Kisses to dip in it. 🙂 She would also add a bit of sugar and a drop or two of vanilla. It was amazing to my little kid mind! And sometimes I still make a cup like that for myself today!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Karrie Millheim says
McCormick Vanilla makes me think of the times i bake with my daughter. We have such special memories of baking together and chatting. Just such fun
Jennifer Reed says
My mom makes a great beef brisket with McCormick Mushroom Gravy mix and red wine vinegar. We have it for the holidays and it is delicious. #flavorstory
Laurie Emerson says
When I was younger my grandmother had a wood stove in her kitchen. I loved watching her bake biscuits and delicious strawberry pies using the stove. She never used a recipe but they always came out perfect. The house smelled so good and full of love.#flavorstory
Laurie Emerson says
I pinned the recipe.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/81909286947084824/
Rebecca Lock says
My mom taught me to make many different flavors of fudge. #flavorstory
Angela Ash says
My mom always made good pasta salads. I make her cucumber salad quite often. It's refreshing in the summer. #flavorstory
Peggy Rydzewski says
I learn to cook from my grandmother and she use almond flavoring more than vanilla.
Samantha says
My mom was never a unique flavor baker. She used vanilla extract a lot though! Especially in cookies!
tina reynolds says
My mom and great grandma shares so many great baking and general recipies with me growing up that I still use everyday #flavorstory
Hesper Fry says
I remember being in the kitchen and my mom teaching me how to bake and cook. Such great memories! I hope to pass this along to my children as well. #flavorstory
susan smoaks says
my mom has always helped me to bake and i love her chocolate chip cookie recipe #flavorstory
Donna Pyszk says
#flavorstory My mom lives in Orlando Florida. She makes a wonderful pineapple upside down cake and Vanilla bunt cake.
Tina says
We love cakes, this one looks really yummy.. Can't wait to try this one, I'm sure my kids will definitely love it. Thanks a lot...
Shannon L. from NE Florida says
Have this cake in the oven baking NOW! Fingers crossed it comes out AMAZING and that everyone will LOVE it. After reading the recipe along with all of the comments not one mentioned anything about when do you add the Vanilla Extract - the STAR of this recipe! 🙂 So, for this time I added it after the dry ingredients; however IF I make this cake again I will add the Vanilla Extract after the eggs.
Stefanie Fauquet says
OMG I can't believe I missed the vanilla in the recipe. I want to say I added it when I creamed the sugar and butter. I will have to look at my MIL's recipe card for the official placement. I hope you enjoy!