Today, I’m in the spotlight. Maureen of Orgasmic Chef grills me with questions and features me in her fabulous series on food writers, the theme of which is how food (cooking, baking or eating) sparks memories. And I have just the story to tell, a story that goes back several years, when I was 6.
Nobody in my family comes from a culinary background or has any interest in baking; so there aren’t any memories of having to wait in the kitchen, waiting for the oven to buzz or the smell of cinnamon being sprinkled or having chocolate covered hands while su-chefing my mother but the one unforgettable memory I have is of my grandmother baking a pound cake.
I lived with her for a couple of years when I was 6 and I believe she felt compelled to keep me happy and distracted with food. She took the effort to read recipe magazines to figure what she could bake for me in her ancient, makeshift oven. And after some failed experiments, the only item she found she could accomplish was a simple vanilla pound cake. Even this took a few tries. But once it was edible and she got the hang of baking it without the recipe at hand, she baked the same cake twice a week as a treat when I got back from school. The same cake. Twice a week. Week after week. And I loved it. Every time. She used to coordinate it in a manner that I had a slice in hand almost as soon as it was out of the oven.
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup half n’ half (light cream)
- 2 cups oreo cookies, roughly chopped
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, and add vanilla extract along with the last egg.
- With a mixer on low speed, mix in the flour and half and half alternating them starting and ending with flour.
- In the end ensure no streaks of flour remain.
- Gently fold in crushed Oreo cookies with a spatula.
- Spoon into prepared pan and level top with a spatula.
- Bake for about 60 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then loosen cake and turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Happy Baking!
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LOVE this idea!
Beautiful! And gorgeous!
And I loved the story that went along with this cake. Every birthday, my mother would make us an ice cream cake and top it with chocolate truffles. It’s my best food memory.
Wow what a combo cookies and cream in a cake this is brilliant fabulous!
A fun idea of adding cookies in the pound cake. It looks very pretty.
What a lovely story; thanks for sharing it! I agree that there’s nothing like a fresh slice of cake just out of the oven!
Aw what a sweet story. I, too, came from a family that didn’t really cook/bake. My grandma did, but I wasn’t at her house super often–and she mostly just made the same Italian favorites over and over again (not that I’m complaining :P). I love the idea of cookies and cream pound cake! I love the idea of cookies and cream anything :P
I understand that in Angel cakes bundt pan is a must for the heat to be conducted from center too…is it the case with this cake too?
It is the case with this cake too. I did try baking it in a regular pan once and it came out dry and slightly burnt from the bottom.
Oh my gosh, the pound cake looks amazing!! Your grandma would be pround of you!
One of my favorite pound cakes. Love this and now I want to make one. If only I could stop drooling long enough to see the recipe!
I’ve never been very fond of the idea of baking with store bought bars and cookies, but I really like the way this looks and I am thinking of giving this a try (and I bet whoever gets to eat it is really surprised at what’s inside, right?)
Love, love your story. Thank you for sharing it! And thank you for sharing this recipe. It looks fantastic!
Not only are you quickly becoming the Queen of Muffins but of Delicious and Fabulous Pound Cakes as well.
I saw your interview and left a comment – so fantastic to meet you :D
This cake is such a sweet tribute to your grandmother!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Nothing’s better than a slice of cake out of the oven, still warm and slightly crumbly… Yum!
oooh, that looks like pure heaven.
love the cookies and cream, just delicious.
This cake looks really delicious with it’s fine crumbs, I love it!
Never imagine to add cookies to a pound cake, but it’s a great idea, and the cake looks fantastic.
Cookies and Cream… heck yes!! This looks fantastic!! What a gorgeous and fun cake. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! ~ Ramona
Mmmm … hot pound cake straight out of the oven … fantastic!
Wow, what a poundcake! This looks so delicious! I bet it would make for amazing, bread pudding and French toast, too.
um, this looks so amazingly delicious, i am totally making this next time we oreos around!
What a sweet childhood memory. Twice per week? You lucky duck. I love that you added cookies to this lovely pound cake. It looks delicious.
Thanks so much for being a part of Food Writer Fridays — I just love this pound cake! Definitely going to try it.
this looks absolutely divine. i could go for a slice with my afternoon tea right now. yum!
i have a couple of memories with my grandma as well. My parents had to go to work and we were left with the grandparents. She made the beast bread ever and rice pudding!
Your cake looks great Anu!
Sometimes simple is the best.
Bet this would be just as yummy dunked in milk :)
But I’l definitely have at least half of it before trying that … yummers!
I was just looking at some kids playing today thinking how lovely the simpler times were! Not that I’d swap places but sometimes a bit of something good is enough :) Loved your profile on Maureen’s fab blog!
Thanks Lorraine!
Well your grandma did parted great skills with you. I can see from the outcome of this fabulous cake you did. For me, I learned all the way to make spicy and savoury food from my mum most of the time.
This looks so so good!I love the cookies and cream combo, so simple yet so delicious!I think that’s where you earliest inspiration to be a baker came from ;)My kids will love this and I cannot wait to try!Hope you’re having a fab weekend :)
I love your blog and your delicious looking food photos! I would have never thought of cookies and cream together with cake, but you have just opened my eyes. :)
Thanks Jenny! :)
I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! Stop by my blog for the details :) Have a good day!
Thanks CJ! I’ll hop over right away! :)
I love your pound cake memory :) And this cake! The cookies and cream flavor is incredible :)
In between you & Lora’s pound/coffeecakes I am gaining calories without even consuming the slices. Sweet memories of your grandmother An. very lovely!
Hi anuradha,
Hopping over to Maureen’s to know more about you. This cake looks delicious and i love the sweet story with it. A lovely post!
Thanks Asmita! :)
What a cute backstory – so sweet that your grandmother worked so hard to make you happy! This pound cake sounds absolutely delicious.
What a nice story and terrific idea. Who would have thought to add cookies and cream to a cake. Congratulations on your interview. :)
This really does tell me about how your journey of creating in the kitchen got started. I am sure you have some amazing food memories that stem from your grandma! This cake does look delicious-cookies and cake together-yum!
I love everything cookies and cream! This is a brilliant idea ;)
“Happy Cooking”
I love the story & I love the cake! :)
This sounds like such a simple and delicious taste. I need a cup of tea or big glass of cold milk!
A memory is an amazing thing. Some smells can bring you right back to the past And the best thing is…making new memories! Love the story (you’ve got a great grandma there) and the recipe!
I really think the first picture is so artistic and I love that picture so much! I enjoyed your interview at Maureen’s site, by the way! :-)
Thanks Nami! :)
Many of my fondest memories of cooking are with my paternal grandmother; with her it was fun; with my own mother it was work and helping to feed a family of 8. Thank goodness for Grandma or I might have never wanted to cook again!
Lovely cake; I can see why you liked it so much!
Thanks Barb! :)
That is a wonderful memory. And cake twice a week…what a special treat. Pound cake is my favorite when chocolate chips are added.
Thank you for sharing this sweet story with us. I love finding recipes with a special memory linked to them. I can;t wait to share these with my girls.
Thanks Vianney! Glad you like it. :)
I love pound cake and I’ve never seen one quite like this! This sounds like a wonderful idea =)
This looks so evenly baked and nicely textured… Nice job. Moo x
I am loving this pound cake! Everything is better with a few Oreos thrown in! :D
What a gorgeous story about your mum! And I can’t wait to read about you on Maureen’s site! :)
I made this last night and brought it to work this morning for everyone’s breakfast. It was a HUGE hit. There was a line of people waiting to cut themselves a slice and others going back for a 2nd or 3rd piece. Bonus is the cake makes your house smell wonderful. Thanks for posting the recipe! :o)