Name: Easy pound cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 200g unsalted butter softened; 200g caster sugar; 3 eggs beaten; 200g self-raising flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 3 tbsp whole milk; 1 tbsp vanilla paste / ½ vanilla pod seeds; 125g icing sugar; 1 tbsp vanilla paste / ½ vanilla pod seeds

200g unsalted butter
softened
200g caster sugar
3 eggs
beaten
200g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp whole milk
1 tbsp vanilla paste
/ ½ vanilla pod seeds

For the icing

125g icing sugar
1 tbsp vanilla paste
/ ½ vanilla pod seeds

Method

step 1
Pre-heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 900g loaf tin with parchment paper (mine was 19cm x 9cm x 6cm). Put all of the ingredients except those for the icing into a large bowl and beat together, either using an electric hand whisk or a wooden spoon until smooth and combined. Pour the mix into the loaf tin and spread evenly with the back of spoon. Bake for 40 – 45 mins.
step 2
Once out of the oven, leave to cool and make the icing. Combine the icing sugar and vanilla paste with three tbsp of water – you may need more but add it gradually to get a thick icing. Spread it over the top of the cake; it’s fine if it drips down the edges. Allow to set and then slice.