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Help your pound cake rise to the occasion.

With pound cake, though, you gotta press pause before preheating the oven.

Southern Living Two Step Pound Cake sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Butpound cakedoesn’t always require an initial burst of heat.

These are the cases in which starting with a cold oven might be to your benefit.

In fact, the directions specifically statenotto preheat your oven.

Cold-oven pound cake is an age-old concept that has recently gained traction.

Where did this idea come from, and does it have any merit?

We’re breaking it down for you with equal parts history and science.

The logic behind this technique starts with a little bit of history.

Home bakers were likely the first to discover the marvels of this technique.

What Are The Benefits Of Baking Pound Cake In A Cold Oven?

It turns out that starting yourpound cakein a cold oven can have substantial benefits.

Starting your pound cake in a cold oven also impacts the texture of the cake.

Just be sure to adjustall the necessary factorsto get the perfect bake.

The slow start keeps cookies from spreading too thin and helps muffins to rise.

With quick breads, the crust cooks more slowly and gives the center time to cook through.

Don’t let the dough fully rise, or it may fall in the oven.

Another option is to bake your bread inside a coldDutch oven, which produces an excellent rise and crust.

Hamel PJ.Believe it or not, you don’t always have to preheat your oven.

King Arthur Baking Company.