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Saturday, April 16, 2011

Grapefruit Vanilla Bean Mini-Bundt Cakes

What's a girl with a craving for citrus cake that extends deep down to her toes to do?  And in the midst of said craving, she's fortunate enough to receive a case big, fat, beautiful Texas Grapefruit from Bonnie at Sweet Life and find an adorable mini-bundt pan on clearance and have some plump, fragrant Vanilla Beans from Beanilla that she happened to win from Dessert Wars beckoning her from the cupboard?

She gets busy baking.

This are light and spongy and mini...which always reels people in.  Really.  Just ask the looky-loos who were lurking behind me while I was busy with this photo shoot.
Grapefruit Vanilla Bean Mini-Bundt Cakes
from the kitchen of girlichef
makes 12

½ c. unsalted butter, at room temp.
2 Tbs. finely grated grapefruit zest
1 vanilla bean
2 large eggs, at room temp.
½ c. sour cream, at room temp.
¼ c. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1½ c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. fine sea salt
½ tsp. baking soda (my favorite is Rumford by Clabber Girl...it's aluminum free)

icing:
~ ¼ c. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 c. confectioners' sugar
 seeds from ½ of a vanilla bean
Preheat oven to 325° F.  Set out a non-stick mini-bundt cake pan to use.  Or, if it's not nonstick, grease the pan.

In a large bowl, cream butter, vanilla sugar, grapefruit zest, and the seeds scraped from one vanilla bean until light and fluffy.  One at a time, beat in the eggs.  Add sour cream and grapefruit juice and beat until just combined.
Whisk flour, baking powder, sea salt, and baking soda together, then add to bowl and beat until just combined. 

Scoop batter into a pastry bag (or large zippered baggy w/ one corner snipped off) and pipe evenly into 12 mini-bundt forms (my pan makes 12 individuals).  They should be ~¾ of the way full. Alternately, you could use this batter to make cupcakes or even one small cake (~8"...and in this case, no pastry bag required, simply scoop/pour batter into prepared pan).  Slide into the preheated oven and bake for ~20 minutes, or until it passes the tooth pick test.  Cake will be golden and springy and pull away from edges.  Time may need to be adjusted if making one large cake...but it shouldn't take too much longer. 

Immediately (and carefully) turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
While the cakes are cooling, whisk together the ingredients for the icing.  If it seems stiffer than you like, add a bit more juice to adjust consistency.  Drizzle over slightly cooled cakes.

These are equally delicious without any icing, or try sifting some confectioners' sugar over the top or serving with some lightly sweetened whipped cream.
The grapefruit that I used to make these cakes was sweet.  Super sweet and juicy.  I do recommend tasting your grapefruit before using it to make these...if it's extremely sour, you may want to add more sugar.  As they are, the cakes are not overly sweet. 

Sharing this post with:
dessert wars Iron Chef Clabber Girl sweets for a saturday s@1 ybr long

Dessert Wars: Vanilla Dreams
Iron Chef challenge: Baking Powder sponsored by Clabber Girl

Would you like to comment?

  1. I love mini bundt cakes and these sound gorgeous. I would never have thought to use grapefruit but what a wonderful idea! They look so pretty too.

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  2. oooh my gooooodness! Those sound so good! Perfect for breakfast, no? I mean....they're grapefruit! And they're so cute! I need a mini bundt pan set. I almost bought one and changed my mind? (what was I thinking?!)

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  3. i truly feel like citrus glazes and bundts were meant for each other, don't you? And I love this UBER vanilla twist!

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  4. How lovely, a perfect brunch idea. I love grapefruit and sour cream together and the icing well that's enough to get you tons of looky-loos..great recipe, bookmarked !!

    sweetlife
    glad you won!!

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  5. Those mini bundt cakes look so lovely!

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  6. They look great and the pics are amazing, something I need to work on...
    In the famous words of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", It's a boont cake.

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  7. oh yum. these looks so fab. I might need to run out and buy individual bundt pans!

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  8. Soo cute and fabulous bundt cakes..

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  9. Looks like a tasty treat. I have a mini bundt cake pan but have never used it. Now I have something to try it in. Thanks for linking up to the Iron Chef Challenge.

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  10. Hh goodness....I actually have everything on hand to make these, (except the pan) oh heaven!! :o)
    ~Terry

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  11. Que pastelitos tan deliciosos.

    Saludos

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  12. I think the stars were aligned for you to develop this dish. I have never cooked or baked with grapefruit (and I love the big guys). These sweeties just draw me in.

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  13. Heather, those look amazing!! If Only I had a bunt pan I would make them! I may just have to make a cake insted!

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  14. Grapefruit vanilla bean mini bundt cake looks awesome. I love the tangy dessert.

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  15. Even your batter looks fluffy and spongey. I love citrus. These are beautiful and homey at the same time.

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  16. tangy and sweet... i love it already. and you know whenever i hear bundt it reminds me of the movie My Greek Fat Wedding haha.. sorry I digress... but i like how spongey you mini bundt look. YUM!

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  17. my husband and i are looking at this post and drooling! we will be making this soon, i love citrus baked goods, we don't make them near enough.

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  18. These are so cute! I imagine they are delish and I love the glaze pooling on the inside.

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  19. Hubby can't eat grapefruit, so I'd have these all to myself. :) These little beauties are perfectly delightful! Now I'm wanting a mini-bundt pan. :)

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  20. I loves me a beautiful bundt and these are just lovely! The flavors rock.

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  21. how absolutely beautiful. i love and crave all things citrus, so i will definitely bookmark this!

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  22. greyfurtlu kek bende yapmıştım tadının acı olacagını düşünerek biraz endıselı yaptım ama korktugum gıbı olmadı gayet guzeldı .sıznın kek de harıka gorunuyor.sizin kekınızın tarıfını de uygulamak ısterım not aldım ellernıze sağlık

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  23. I LOVE LOVE LOVE bundt cakes...especially little ones of delightful citrus!

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  24. Great flavours! I want one really bad. Can I come over? I'm starving. ☺

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  25. Oooh Texas Grapefuit! When I was a kid my grandparents gave a case of them to my parents EVERY YEAR! What a wonderful idea... I think things are just cuter when they are mini, and thusly more appealing ;)

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  26. Can you mail me one of these?! Pretty please! They look fabulous--cute and a good way to control portions too.
    ;-)

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  27. That is brillant. Combining grapefruit with vanilla...I would never have put those together (mentally) and you made a fantatsic looking dessert. VERY cool!

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  28. I don't think I'm giving grapefruit the credit they deserve. I've been seeing them in recipes occasionally in my blog hopping, and I'm so intrigued. Need to try something soon!

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  29. Grapefruit! Oh I bet these are heavenly :)

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  30. I am lovin' on the citrus lately - these are lovely! Thanks for entering!

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  31. Very pretty.

    http://agirlinherkitchen.blogspot.com

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  32. Thanks for participating in April's YBR :) I love your mini-bundt cakes. Now I just need to buy some moulds.

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