How Jacques Pépin Turns Pound Cake Into A Gourmet Treat

The greatest desserts are the ones that are a blank canvas and allow you to showcase your creativity. Enter the humble pound cake. This dessert received its moniker because its first recipe used a pound each of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. More often than not, this cake is baked in a loaf pan. There is nothing overly sophisticated or elegant about it, well, that is, not until Jacques Pépin transforms it into a gourmet treat using nothing more than the pound cake and jam.

In a YouTube video, Pépin explains that using a favorite jam like you would your favorite buttercream frosting can give your pound cake a celebratory vibe. What you will love about this addition is it doesn't require a lot of mixing, whipping, or blending, meaning you won't have a lot of dishes to wash. He starts by shaving off all sides of the cake so that they are nice and even. The famed French chef then turns this loaf into a multi-layer treat.  

Jacques Pépin slices his poundcake up into three different layers, but you can create as many layers as you want depending on how thin or thick you want to make each cut. Frost each layer with your jam. To thin an overly thick jelly or preserves, Pépin suggests popping it in the microwave, but don't do so for too long or it will turn into a boiling and syrupy mess. Once your chosen jam (Pépin prefers raspberry) is the consistency you want it to be, spoon some on each layer, spread it with a spatula, and stack it up like Jenga. Then use the rest of the jam to frost your cake. The result is a fruity, sweet bite. 

When choosing your jam, think about the season and how traditional you want to be. Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, or a mixed berry jam are all predictable flavors to opt for in warm months. But when fall rolls around you want something a little different. Choose an orange marmalade and use slices of oranges to garnish. Or reach for a fig jam and adorn it with some fresh slices of fig.  Still, if you like a little heat with the sweet, pepper jam will add a little bit of sweet and spicy, playing perfectly with the vanilla flavor of your pound cake. Whichever jam you choose, know that it's the key to elevating an otherwise bland pound cake.