Pound cakes have a special place in my baking repertoire. I don’t know there is something about a pound cake that is just so perfect. I am amazed by the versatility of Pound cakes. You can make them in all different sizes, shapes, flavors; they are the chameleon of the cake world. Pound cake originated in the 1700s was made with a pound of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour; hence the name pound cake.

And who doesn’t love a delicious chocolate pound cake? I love this recipe because it produces a moist, flavorful cake. Pound cakes can be dense, and sour cream adds a creamy lightness to the batter.

This cake is delicious, making the basic recipe, but plain is not my style. I add a chocolate ganache and chocolate-dipped strawberries to make it extra memorable.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels   

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 (16 ounce) packages light brown sugar   

3 large eggs  

 2 cups all-purpose flour  

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream  

1 cup hot water                 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract                 

Chocolate Ganache                

Vanilla ice cream                

9 strawberries, washed with stems 

Directions

1. Melt semisweet chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 30-second intervals until melted (about 1 1/2 minutes total time). Stir until smooth.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer, beating about 5 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla. Use immediately, following directions for desired cake.
4. Spoon batter evenly into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 350° for 55 to 65 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack.
5. Sift powdered sugar over the top of the cake.
6. Dip small spoonfuls of warm ganache over the cake.
7. Decorate with chocolate-dipped strawberries 

Ganache
      1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
      1/2 cup whipping cream
      3 tablespoons butter

      1. Microwave chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a 2-quart glass bowl at medium 2 1/2 to 
          3 minutes or until melted. Whisk until smooth then whisk in butter. Let stand 30 minutes. Beat
          at medium speed with electric mixture for 3 to 4 minutes. Dip strawberries in chocolate 
         Ganache. Place on wax paper and chill.

Enjoy!