Several years ago, Brian Kane suggested I make a dreamsicle pound cake. And thus I did. Several different versions. This one is my favorite.
You absolutely do not need to use the food coloring in this. I did to get a color. You have to have that orange and vanilla swirl effect to have a dreamsicle, right?
Preheat oven to 325*F. Grease a tube or bundt pan.
Vanilla Pound Cake:
1 stick butter
1/4 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
Cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Add vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating thoroughly after each one (you can add all 3 together, but the texture just isn’t the same.) In a separate small bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in the milk divided in half alternating with flour so that you end with milk.
Orange Pound Cake:
1/2 cup butter (one stick)
1/4 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange peel
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup orange juice
3 Tablespoons Grand Marnier
yellow and red food coloring
Cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Add vanilla extract and orange peel. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating thoroughly after each one. In a separate small bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in the orange juice, flour and Grand Marnier. Add just enough food coloring to achieve the shade of orange you want.
In the prepared pan, spoon in half the vanilla batter, top with half the orange batter. Repeat. With a knife or narrow spatula, swirl the layers together slightly to marbleize.
Bake for 70 to 80 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then invert onto cake plate.