Luscious Cream Cheese Pound Cake: A Family Favorite
45
min
738
Calories
39g
Fats
77g
Carbs
10g
Protein
This cream cheese pound cake recipe combines smooth cream cheese with rich butter, blending into a moist, dense cake that's perfect for any occasion. A delight for taste buds, it's both simple and elegant.
Ingredients:
Step 1: Preparation
Begin your baking adventure by preheating the oven to 325F. If using a 10-inch tube pan, lovingly butter it before lining the bottom with parchment paper, ensuring it's snugly fitted. For those opting for loaf pans, a quick spray with cooking spray followed by parchment paper does the trick. It's these small steps that make all the difference in crafting a cake that's both gorgeous to look at and delightful to eat.
Pro Tip: Measure your flour correctly using the spoon-and-level method to avoid a dense cake.
Step 2: Creaming the Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar
In the welcoming embrace of your kitchen, whip together butter, cream cheese, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for a mesmerizing 5 minutes. It's this step that invites the perfect texture and sweetness into our cake, setting the stage for a dessert that whispers of home and comfort with every bite.
Pro Tip: Ensure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for the smoothest batter.
Step 3: Adding Eggs
One by one, introduce eggs to your mixture, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. With each egg, our cake's structure becomes more defined, promising slices that are both tender and rich. As you do, scrape down the sides of the bowl, ensuring every ingredient is fully invited to the party. It’s these personal touches that transform baking into an act of love.
Pro Tip: Adding eggs one at a time ensures they integrate fully, contributing to a smoother batter.
Step 4: Incorporating Dry Ingredients
Whisk together flour and salt, then grace your batter with half of this dry mixture, blending at a low speed. As you increase the mixer's speed to medium, watch as the batter embraces the flour, hinting at the future texture and crumb of your cake. It's almost as if you can see the shared smiles and satisfied nods of your loved ones with each addition.
Pro Tip: Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the cake's crumb tender and light.
Step 5: Final Steps Before Baking
With anticipation building, add the remaining flour to your batter, mixing diligently for that crucial 30 seconds more. A final, loving scrape of the bowl ensures every bit of flour is beautifully incorporated. Then, with a gentle hand, pour the batter into your prepared pans, smoothing the top with a spatula. It's in this moment, as we prepare to send our creation into the warmth of the oven, that we're reminded of the joy baking brings to our hearts and homes.
Pro Tip: Tapping the pan on the counter before baking removes air bubbles for an even rise.
Step 6: Baking
Gently close the oven door on your pan(s), entrusting the next 75 minutes to the heat. As your cake bakes, it transforms into a golden-brown beacon of comfort and celebration. It's during this time you might find peace in the rhythm of your breath or joy in the anticipation of the smiles this cake will soon create.
Pro Tip: Oven temperatures may vary, so start checking your cake a few minutes before it's supposed to be done.
Step 7: Cooling the Cake
Upon retrieving your cake from the oven, place it on a wire rack, where it begins its journey to perfection through cooling. After a brief rest in the pan to gather itself, release it to cool completely, an ode to patience and the promise of future delights. It is here, in this cooling process, that the flavors deepen, melding together into the slice of heaven that awaits.
Pro Tip: Cooling in the pan helps the cake set and makes it easier to remove without breaking.
Step 8: Serving
With the cake cooled and the moment right, it's time to serve this masterpiece. Whether it stands alone in its simple elegance or is dressed up with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and fresh berries, each slice is a testament to the love and care baked into it. As you share this cake, it becomes more than a dessert; it becomes a memory, a moment of connection shared with those you hold dear.
Pro Tip: A dollop of whipped cream or fresh fruit can add a lovely contrast to the dense richness of the cake.
