Sunshine Pound Cake. Like Sexual Napalm, But Lemony.

I just read that Jessica Simpson is going to appear on “Oprah” this Friday to complain about John Mayer calling her “sexual napalm.”

What’s wrong with being sexual napalm?

MUST I BEAR THIS BURDEN ALONE?

Of course not. I’m sure you’re all sexual napalm, and that’s why you deserve this bombshell of a cake.

I call it Sunshine Pound Cake, because it’s a sunny yellow and packed with citrus: lemon, lime and orange. The cake is sweet and buttery, pillowy soft with a tight crumb, but you can see the citrus zest confetti peeking out all over, ready to party.

You can gobble the cake up by itself, or add the Sunshine Glaze. It’s a thick glaze made with confectioners’ sugar, citrus zest and fresh orange juice. Spoon the glaze over the cake as soon as it reaches room temperature, and the glaze will sink into the top of the cake, giving you a few intensely sweet and citrusy bites with each slice.

It’s like snacking on sunshine.

Like sexual napalm, but lemony.

Such is the bombshell’s burden. God bless us, every one.

Sunshine Pound Cake

Rebecca Crump (EzraPoundCake.com)

  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • Zest of 1 orange (minus 1 teaspoon, to use in glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Sunshine Glaze (recipe follows)

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Set the rack in the middle of the oven. Generously grease a bundt pan with a nonstick spray, like Baker’s Joy®.

2. Prep the ingredients:

  • Crack the eggs into a medium bowl, and set aside.
  • Sift the flour and baking soda into a bowl. Add the zests, whisk to combine, and set aside.
  • Measure the sour cream, fruit juices, and vanilla into a separate bowl, whisk to combine, and set aside.

3. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on low speed for 3 minutes.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl before adding dry ingredients.

5. Add the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the dry mixture.

6. Scrape the sides of the bowl and the area under the paddle to break up any clumps. Turn up the mixer to medium speed for about 20 seconds.

7. Pour the batter into your prepared bundt pan. Level it with a rubber spatula or by moving the pan back and forth.

8. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

9. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert the pan, remove the cake, and let it cool on the wire rack.

10. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before glazing. (Tip: Place a piece of wax paper or parchment under the wire rack to catch dripping glaze.)

Sunshine Glaze

Makes about 1 cup

  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth.

2. Apply the glaze by spooning or pouring it on when the cake has reached room temperature.

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Comments

  • ErinsFoodFiles March 2nd, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    That sounds divine!

  • Ann March 2nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    Was I the only one that thought that being referred to as naplam, meant you were smelly, or stinky? Can't be the case, as this cake looks heaven-scent [sic].
    What a scrumptalicious cake.

  • Ann March 2nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    Was I the only one that thought that being referred to as naplam, meant you were smelly, or stinky? Can't be the case, as this cake looks heaven-scent [sic].
    What a scrumptalicious cake.

  • BethieofVA March 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    Oh my that looks delicious, right up alley. You can not go wrong with a pound cake and I am sure yours is fantastic.

    Man, I wished someone would refer to me as sexual napalm. Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning!

  • BethieofVA March 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    Oh my that looks delicious, right up alley. You can not go wrong with a pound cake and I am sure yours is fantastic.

    Man, I wished someone would refer to me as sexual napalm. Nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning!

  • spike March 2nd, 2010 at 8:02 pm

    I would never complain of such a thing (or a taste of this cake)!

  • Jen March 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Yes, Ann, you were the only one who thought that.

    Hilarious post title.

  • Elizabeth March 2nd, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    Seriously. He shouldn't have kissed and told, but it's a pretty darn nice compliment.

  • Joanne March 3rd, 2010 at 12:10 am

    Personally, I would take sexual napalm as a compliment. I don't know what's up Jessica's a**. And if anything is sexual napalm? I'm pretty sure it's this cake. Looks great.

  • Julie @ Willow Bird March 3rd, 2010 at 12:24 am

    Mmmm this is calling my name! I've been a citrus ADDICT lately!

  • Marla March 3rd, 2010 at 1:03 am

    Coffee just shot out my nose. Holy Hannah!!

  • TaraTakesTheCake March 3rd, 2010 at 1:41 am

    this looks delicious and i love your posts! i couldnt help but laugh when i saw your title!

  • carolyn March 3rd, 2010 at 2:04 am

    such a fun post! i laughed out loud. i love that you've included all citrus varieties in this cake. looks fantastic!

  • Rebecca March 2nd, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    Mmmm…Hmmm… Yup! That looks delish (as always)!

  • Karen K March 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    Oh thank you! I have been craving lemon poundcake for over 6 months and just could not find the right recipe. Your little slice o' sunshine is just the ticket! I am hunting down the ingredients and making me some this week. Oh yes I am!

  • Lee March 3rd, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Sexual napalm? You would not believe how high you have set my expectations for this cake…

  • shelly~cookies&cups March 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    haha! I I am just really surprised why anyone expects john mayer to be a gentleman…I mean, really, he's John Mayer. So if that's the worst he could say, if I were Jessica Simps. I would say "thank you very much!"
    btw, cake looks awesome!

  • tina March 3rd, 2010 at 7:15 am

    Sooooo soft and delicious pound cake…

  • Katie March 3rd, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    Lol, looks so moreish

  • Nicki March 3rd, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Both of your recipes this week bring to mind thoughts of summer. I imagine eating this cake with a tall glass of lemonade, sitting out on my patio adjacent to my bountiful herb garden. Right now, all that is covered with snow. But hey, one has to dream, right?

  • Pots and Pins March 3rd, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    Sexual napalm cake? Sounds orgasmic. I'll make it Friday, then I'll eat it while I watch Oprah, and with any luck at all our standing date night will end with fireworks and a smoke – and I'm not talking Marlboro's either!

  • Heather Trabucco March 3rd, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    john mayer could either be complimenting Jessica or smack talking her…you never can tell with him. but then again, she's not that bright so really can't tell a whole lot so…..
    plus, it's John freakin Mayer. he's not known for his being a gentleman! he's a cad! and we love it!
    And I am going to love love LOVE eating this cake. i'm having visions of sitting outside under the umbrella shade with a big glass of iced tea and a whack of this cake. mmm….divine.

  • Chef Aimee March 4th, 2010 at 1:55 am

    I love the analogy here! :) I am a chocoholic but would give up chocolate dessert any day for a lemon one! This is mouth-watering!

  • jenna March 4th, 2010 at 3:01 am

    Just made the cake and ate a slice. I'm going to try not to eat the whole thing. So yummy! Exactly what I needed in this cold dreary weather. I swear I felt sunshine as I savored each bite. Thanks for the recipe!

  • DebinHawaii March 4th, 2010 at 5:48 am

    I love anything lemon–this looks wonderful! Totally like sexual napalm. ;-)

  • Christina March 4th, 2010 at 8:21 am

    Oh, I so want some right this instant! I love citrus things in warm weather. The weather I’ve got, now all I need is this cake!

  • RAchel March 4th, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    I am laughing so hard right now! And I'll definitely be making this for my hubby this weekend…to remind him that I'm…you know… LOL thanks for starting my day off on the right foot!

  • Cherine March 4th, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Beautiful!! Love this cake

  • eva March 4th, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    personally if John called me a sexual napalm…I'd be pretty stoked for a number of reasons but we won't go there…really looks delish can't wait to make it this weekend!

  • Patricia March 5th, 2010 at 4:40 am

    Yum. I've been baking a lot with citrus lately (lemons, blood oranges… the grapefruit is asking for it next). This cake sounds delicious. Thanks for the recipe!

  • Angie March 5th, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Looks very good, and I think its a compliment too.

  • Melanie March 5th, 2010 at 9:12 pm

    I have to say, I love John Mayer's music BUT he needs to keep his mouth shut. I think the cake looks delish!

  • Megan March 8th, 2010 at 5:48 am

    It's a heavy burden we bear, Rebecca!

    This cake came just in time, rain is starting to fall again and I need something spring-y STAT.

  • ingrid March 8th, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    LOL, nice! Guess I need to grab some limes!
    ~ingrid

  • Tay March 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    I'll have to try this one myself.

  • Tay March 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    I'll have to try this one myself.

  • Michael Procopio March 16th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Oh, if only I could suffer your burden with you. This spring fever of mine has convinced me that I need to add this pretty pan of napalm to my personal arsenal.

    Now, of course, the question is: On whom do I release such power?

    Thanks, as usual, for your recipe and your mojo,

    Michael

  • Elise April 29th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    I made this for Easter and my family loved it. Great recipe, thanks!

  • sab May 23rd, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    So good my family loved it , very moist !

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