We’ve listed our Vegan Lemon Pound Cake recipe over at Half Hour Meals. Registered users of the site can favorite, print, share, and review our recipe. You can also upload a photo of your version of the recipe. The community is very supportive and full of some great ideas. We look forward to adding some more recipes with everyone.

We wanted to let everyone know exactly what products we reference and use in the recipe.  If you aren’t familiar with the items, they can be difficult to locate in your local grocery store.

For the non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening, we use Spectrum Organic Naturals All Vegetable Shortening.

For the egg substitute, we use Ener-G Egg Replacer

We have yet to be let down by either of these products and have been really impressed by the results we obtain from them.

Did you know? Pound Cake originally got it’s name from it’s source of ingredients – a pound of flour, a pound of eggs, a pound of sugar, and a pound of butter.

Vegan Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

2 1/3 cups Sifted Flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/3 cups Non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
1 1/3 cups Sugar
4 1/2 tsp. Vegan Egg Replacer (we use Ener-G Egg Substitue)
4 Tbls water
3/4 Cup Soy Milk
2 Tbls Grated Lemon Rind
3 Tbls Lemon Juice

Preheat oven to 350F

1. Grease and flour a loaf pan (9 x 5 x 3 in).

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.

3. In a large bowl, combine the vegetable shortening, sugar, egg replacer, water, and 2 Tablespoons of the lemon juice. Beat at high speed with an electric mixer for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

4. Add flour mixture alternatively with soy milk on low speed.

5. Mix in lemon rind and remaining 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice.

6. Pour into prepared pan.

7. Bake in the 350F preheated oven for 65 minutes. The top should spring back when you lightly touch it with your fingertip. Remove from oven before the edges burn.

8. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.

9. Run a spatula alone the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan.

10. Turn out onto a wire rack. Cool completely.

Serve this cake in 1″ slices or cube it for a great finger food

Serve this cake with a cold glass of soy milk or a nice mug of hot tea.

Interested in starting a cookie exchange at work or hosting one at home, but don’t exactly know what to do? Cookie swaps and exchanges are a great way to have some friends over for the holiday and load up on sweets and catch up on all the dish. Let the following cookie exchange experts help you out:

• Bring the tradition of cookie exchanges into your life – Wilton provides a little summary to help you get into the right state of mind.
• Plan your exchange – Better Homes and Gardens takes you step-by-step through the process. Read the customer reviews for additional tips that will prevent you from wasting time and energy.
• Need some recipes? – This comprehensive list of cookie recipe links will keep you busy.
• Instructions, ideas, and templates galore! – Domino Sugar has done it all for you…check out the downloadable templates for invites, recipe labels and name tags.
• Finally, Partybluprints.com is offering a FREE 17-page E-guide on how to host a successful cookie exchange / swap.

It is never too late to share a cookie. Don’t fret if you can’t squeeze the cookie exchange in before the holiday season melts away… start planning now for your Valentine’s Day cookie swap and you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Not into baking but looking for a way to give back? Why not consider making a donation to the “Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale,” sponsored by Domino Sugar and C&H. This national campaign “mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales (and cookie swaps) in their communities.” Pretty cool what a cookie can do.

Photo credit: saflora

You know they make superior baking flour, but King Arthur Flour offers so much more to the baking enthusiast.                                            

Need some professional guidance when it comes to batch costing or the correct dough temperature? Maybe you just need a little help when it comes to selecting the proper flour for your baking needs.

If you are looking to improve your baking skills they offer free online classes! Learn how to make and decorate a family favorite, a gingerbread house.   

If your holiday baking repertoire needs a boost, check out the Christmas recipes and the Gift Giving recipes.  The Bakers’ Banter blog offers some great ideas, too.

Speaking of ideas…they have a great program that teaches children to bake and help feed those who are in need. The Life Skills Bread Baking Program is a wonderful mixture of education and philanthropy. The program is free to schools in the Midwest and Northeast regions (grades 4-7). The kids attend a 50 minute assembly program that teaches them the science of baking and the joy of sharing. They are given enough supplies to make two loaves of bread, one to make and share with their family, and one to make and donate to a local organization chosen by the school. The program has an application process. 

When you need some companionship from your fellow bakers, join the Baking Circle online community and share recipes, tips, and receive special offers from King Arthur. Don’t forget to sign up for their free eNewsletter and you’ll never miss out on new product announcements, recipes, and sales.

Finally, if you can’t coax the yeast to rise, conquer the flour confusion, or create a mirror image of the featured recipe, give the professionals a call. Ring the Bakers’ Hotline and you’ll receive free product support and advice. How awesome is that?

Another Awesome Fact: They don’t use GMO wheat.

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Photo credits: King Arthur Flour