Recipe: Vanilla Sugar Loaf

VANILLA SUGAR LOAF
Source: Christmas with Southern Living 1997

VANILLA SUGAR:
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 whole vanilla bean
LOAF:
2 cups cake flour, sifted
2 tablespoons cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 large eggs
GLAZE:
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

TO MAKE VANILLA SUGAR:
Pour 1 1/4 cups sugar into a jar. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape tiny vanilla bean seeds into sugar; cut bean into 1 inch pieces, and add to vanilla sugar. Cover and shake vigorously to mix, or stir well. Let stand 24 hours.

TO PREPARE AND BAKE LOAF:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Combine flour, baking powder; and salt; stir well.

Beat butter at low speed of an electric mixer until creamy.

Remove and discard pieces of vanilla bean from sugar. Gradually add vanilla sugar to butter; beating at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes.

TO GLAZE BAKED LOAF:
Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract; stir well.

Prick tiny holes in top of loaf with a wooden pick. Spoon glaze mixture over warm loaf; let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 additional minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf