Lemon Infused Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today I was honored to attend a private luncheon with The Gluten Free Girl and the Chef. I never thought that moving to Boulder would open up so many gluten-free doors. Colorado is the mecca for gluten-free living and start-up companies! The luncheon included about ten different gluten-free companies, ranging from New Planet Beer to The Last Crumb Bakery. Everyone pitched in and made delightful food and it was wonderful to meet other people so passionate about eating healthy and gluten-free. Shauna Ahern (the Gluten-Free Girl) was very gracious and seemed to enjoy all our contributions!  I was very nervous, as she was the first to have a slice of my lemon pound cake. I didn't even have time to taste it before serving! As Shauna took a bite, I went into panic mode... she is a great chef herself and is married to a professional chef, so naturally my confidence was withering away. Luckily for me, she said great things about the pound cake and could even identify the bourbon vanilla extract I put in the frosting. Phew! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and only was able to take pics with my phone which doesn't do justice to the beautiful foods.

Lemon Infused Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake
5 Tbs unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
3/4 cup sugar, plus more for dusting the pan
1 cup GF flour (Bistro Blend All Purpose GF Flour*)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice, plus finely grated zest of two lemons, plus more for garnish (optional)
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter a 9"x5" loaf pan. Dust with sugar, and tap out excess; set aside. Whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and xanthan gum. Stir together lemon juice and milk. Set aside.
Put butter and 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix until pale and fluffy, for about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs and lemon zest until combined. Working in two batches, alternate mixing in flour and milk. Mix until incorporated.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake cake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 55-60 minutes. Let cool slightly and remove from loaf pan to cool on wire rack completely.

*The Bistro Blend is a blend of whole grain flours [eco-farmed brown rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, buckwheat flour, organic coconut flour, xanthan gum] http://www.theglutenfreebistro.com/products.html

Frosting
Ingredients
2 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces organic cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 tsp bourbon vanilla extract

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth on med-high speed. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth. gradually beat in the sugar until smooth, then add the vanilla extract on high. Beat until frosting is light and fluffy.

Once cake is completely cool, slather on the frosting on top of cake. Garnish with lemon zest and slice to serve.