I’ve been itching to make these little cakes ever since Quinn gave me this year’s Christmas with Southern Living for my birthday in August. Small desserts like these are always great for holiday baking. Plus, they were a great justification for buying a new fluted mini Bundt pan.
Now, if you will scoff at large amounts of butter and sugar, please just stop reading now. Or, read on and just don’t look at the recipe. Of course, the recipe does make a lot of cakes. So, if you think about it that way, there’s really not that much in each cake. That sounds good. We’ll go with that.
Besides being wonderfully delicious, these little cakes were my first use of vanilla bean paste. I wasn’t sure I wanted to buy any or just use vanilla extract. I decided to go ahead and get it, and I am so glad I did. The paste is made from vanilla beans, so you can see little specks of them in these cakes. As an added bonus, the paste will keep much longer than vanilla beans, which can dry out. For conversion, a tablespoon of paste equals one vanilla bean. I’m sure using vanilla extract would not have that much effect on the overall taste, but seeing those little vanilla specks just made me giddy.
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December 21st, 2007 at 12:14 am
Oh yummo those look awesome! All I need is a good cup of coffee and a big mouthful of that cake!
December 21st, 2007 at 2:41 am
I really like the vanilla bean paste too. Your mini Bundt is so adorable.
December 21st, 2007 at 7:44 am
I love them! Makes me want to make a mini bundt for Christmas.
December 21st, 2007 at 8:29 am
pound cake looks delecioussss
December 21st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Very very cute! I love mini bundt cakes
December 21st, 2007 at 2:48 pm
What a coincidence — I just had a mini Bunt inspiration as well. I bought Wilton individual ones. Well, I baked a favorite coffee cake in them, having no idea of how much to fill them. Well, they were too full and not nearly as cute as yours. I’m trying to decide if I’ll really hand them out as gifts. What a bummer.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:49 pm
With all the butter & cream cheese this must taste absolutely wonderful. I’ve seen vanilla bean paste at my local Fresh Market & now I’m convinced to try it!
December 21st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Janelle, I’m with you except for the coffee. Not my thing. But, I imagine for a coffee-lover, these would be a great pairing.
Thanks, Peabody! Vanilla bean paste may be my new favorite thing.
Thanks, Rachel! They do seem rather festive, don’t they?
mycooking, thanks! I thought they were very good.
Thanks, Hillary! I have a bit of a weakness for tiny little cakes, too.
Tracy, as long as they taste good, people will love them. You can always cut off the bottoms if it makes you feel better.
JEP, they are very good indeed. Actually, two different people remarked that they taste like ice cream! I think you’ll be pleased with the vanilla bean paste. I certainly am.
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
I love those little cake pans. My mom gave me her Nordicware ones years ago, I got another pan too. And this year, my mom got another pan, we’re making mini angel food cakes tomorrow!
I make the mini bundts and drizzle chocolate ganache on them. Somehow, I always thought a mini bundt was a two person cake. My coworkers seem to think otherwise and think one per person is the right serving 80 !