While there is nothing inherent in pound cake that makes it appealing, the smooth textures that result from a well-made pound cake have an easygoing feel to them. It's a dessert with the aroma of home baking, where basic ingredients work together to create something bigger than their parts. Cream cheese pound cake is one of the best inventions of the traditional pound cake because of the particular rich, tangy cream cheese that elevates the pound cake to new heights.
In this article, we will guide you on how to prepare a tasty cream cheese pound cake to give you the feel of cooking your own baked from scratch. The recipe is easy to prepare yet very fulfilling to make, which makes the cake perfect for any occasion, be it a celebratory one or just a domestic baking one.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Now that we have a general idea of the method, let’s get the ingredients we will need for the process. A pound cake is as simple and basic as its name suggests, and this recipe more or less is a perfect example. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened: Any good pound cake requires butter as an ingredient add flavor and helps in the production of moist cakes.
8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened: Probably the most significant feature of the show is the use of cream cheese, which gives the cake both a slightly sour taste and a silkiness that is unique.
3 cups (600g) granulated sugar: Sugar is used not only for making the cake sweet but also plays a role for making it soft in texture.
6 large eggs: Eggs provide the cakes with form and assist in blending the components so that the completed product will not crumble.
1 tablespoon vanilla extract: Vanilla give the dish comfort and a second dimension of taste.
3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour: To form the base, flour is used and this makes the cake to be very dense but at the same time soft.
1 teaspoon baking powder: A little help to avoid the cake from being too heavy on the stomach.
½ teaspoon salt: Amplifies the sweetness, and assists in providing the perfect flavor balance.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s move on to the method. The key to a perfect pound cake is in the mixing, so take your time and enjoy the process.
Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients
Begin with preparing your choice of food for cooking by preheating the oven to 325°F (165°C). This lower temperature is felt important when baking pound cakes to ensure they are well baked till the center without the sides blackening.
Next, grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan or a tube pan to be used in the preparation of the cake. This step is very important to avoid the cake to stick to the pan, so please, do not omit this step.
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Step 2: Creaming the Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar
You should then beat the butter, cream cheese and sugar together for about 5 minutes until the mixture will be smooth and bright.
In bowl, use a fork or a whisk to mix the butter and cream cheese that has been softened prior to baking. In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and creamy. This should take around a couple of minutes up to 3 minutes.
Slowly start pouring the sugar, starting with around half a cup, and ensure that you are beating the mixture after every addition. Mix it until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take close to 5 minutes to 7 minutes. This step is very important as it introduces air into the batter and this makes the texture to be light.
Step 3: Incorporating Eggs And Flavouring
Finally stir in the eggs, one at a time on low speed so that mixture is only combined. At this stage one should be very careful, not to overmix as this would compact the batter and loss the fluffiness that is required. After all the eggs are in finally mix the vanilla extract into the batter.
Check out this sweetish recipe too : How to make chocolate roll cake ( Swiss Roll ).
Step 4: To the dry ingredients it is then time to add the wet mixture
In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; sift well with a wire sieve. Slowly incorporate this dry mix into the wet one, adopted on low speed until they are just mixed. When sifting and folding be cautious not to over-mix as this can result in a dense cake.
Step 5: Baking the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Give the pan a gentle tap on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles.
Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. You’ll know the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
Step 6: Cooling and Serving
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then, carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. This step is important to ensure the cake retains its shape and doesn’t stick to the pan.
Once cooled, your cream cheese pound cake is ready to serve. You can enjoy it as is, or with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of glaze. The cake pairs beautifully with fresh berries, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Tips for Success
Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, cream cheese, and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them blend more smoothly, resulting in a better-textured cake.
Proper Mixing: Avoid overmixing once the flour is added to the batter. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake.
Even Baking: If you notice the cake browning too quickly on top, you can cover it loosely with aluminum foil during the last 20-30 minutes of baking.
Finally…
There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of baking a cream cheese pound cake from scratch. The process is as rewarding as the final product, offering a slice of comfort that’s perfect for any time of the year. Whether you’re enjoying it with family over coffee or bringing it to a gathering, this cake is sure to impress with its rich flavour and tender crumb. So, take your time, savor the process, and most importantly, enjoy every bite of your homemade cream cheese pound cake. In case you want to order scrumptious cream cheese pound cake, head over to Frosting By Feroze.
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