This recipe produces a perfect cream cheese pound cake. After persistent recipe testing with many failures, I found the best ratio of ingredients to produce a moist, dense, and flavorful pound cake. Using 9 simple ingredients, this cream cheese pound cake recipe will be your new favorite. To prevent a ruined cake, follow the baking time and temperature closely.
Until recently, I had never made really good plain pound cake. I have delicious lemon pound cake, raspberry swirl pound cake, brown butter pound cake, and Nutella swirl pound cake in my back pocket, but regular pound cake has always been a disappointment. It was so hard for me to tackle this recipe because pound cake can easily turn out dry, rock solid, and/or lacking flavor.
But then I began adding cream cheese and sour cream to the cake batter. And my long history of pound cake disappointments began fading away.
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Pound Cake Recipe
Today I’m teaching you how to make my favorite cream cheese pound cake in a Bundt pan. I’m confident this is the best pound cake and I’m showing you exactly why:
- Very buttery & very moist
- Not dry
- 1 bowl recipe
- Only 9 basic ingredients
- Dense, but not heavy as a brick
- Soft & smooth crumb
- A little tang from cream cheese
- Sweet & vanilla flavored
You can easily halve this recipe for a loaf pan or try my mini pound cakes recipe.
Ingredients You Need & Why
Here are the ingredients for cream cheese pound cake and why each is used.
- Butter: Butter is the base of pound cake. You need 3 sticks of room temperature butter.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is the difference between dry pound cake and moist pound cake. End of story. If you’ve experienced dry pound cake before, cream cheese will solve all those problems. I swear by it and you will too! Full-fat brick-style cream cheese (not the spreadable kind in a tub) is imperative here, just like for classic cheesecake and cream cheese frosting.
- Sugar: This is a very large cake, so a lot of sugar is required to sweeten the cake and properly cream all the butter and cream cheese. 2 and 1/2 cups seems like a lot, but remember this cake is heavy and yields many servings.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream is an unconventional ingredient in pound cake, but it adds so much moisture. We are avoiding dry pound cake as much as we can!
- Vanilla Extract & Salt: Both are used for flavor. See recipe notes for more flavors.
- Eggs: Eggs are the workhorse of pound cake—the main ingredient carrying all the weight. You can’t make pound cake without eggs.
- Cake Flour: Cake flour is lighter than all-purpose flour and produces the best pound cake in my opinion. Since it’s so light, the attention remains on the butter. All-purpose flour is simply too heavy for this pound cake recipe; the cake will be heavy as a brick. If needed, use this homemade cake flour substitute.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder is another unconventional ingredient in pound cake. I don’t use much for this amount of batter, but the small amount lightly lifts the crumb so the cake isn’t overly heavy and squat.
Each ingredient is important and has a very specific job!
Pound Cake Disasters: Don’t Do This
And now it’s time to discuss what can go very wrong with pound cake. I’m sharing my mistakes so you don’t waste time or ingredients. The picture below shows 2 pound cake disasters I experienced before landing on the perfect pound cake recipe and method.
- Mistake #1 – Left Picture: This is seriously under-cooked pound cake baked at 350°F (177°C). This temperature is TOO HOT for pound cake, which is mostly butter and eggs, to cook evenly. As you can see below, the exterior will brown before the center is cooked. I was so upset cutting into this cake. It looked perfect on the outside.
- Mistake #2 – Right Picture: This is seriously over-cooked pound cake. Learning from mistake #1, I cooked the pound cake at 325°F (163°C). I was so nervous to under-bake the pound cake, so I over-baked it. The cake wouldn’t release from the pan, even though it had been generously greased.
These cakes were just awful!
Here’s How You Make The Most PERFECT Pound Cake
Now that you know what can go wrong, let’s talk about how to make the most perfect cream cheese pound cake. The *TRICK* is a lot of mixing before you add the eggs.
- Mix, mix, mix: Beat the butter until creamy. Add the cream cheese, then beat the two until smooth. Get all the cream cheese lumps out. Beat in the sugar, then add the sour cream and vanilla. So far there’s been a lot of mixing and that’s ok!
- 1 egg at a time: Add the eggs 1 at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next. When the eggs are room temperature, the mixer only needs a few turns and won’t over-mix them. Over-mixed batter = heavy-as-a-brick cake.
- Add dry ingredients: Add the dry ingredients right into the same mixing bowl.
- Pour into pan: Pour the batter into a generously greased 10-12 cup Bundt pan. This is totally not sponsored, but I absolutely adore Nordic Ware Bundt pans. Make sure you use one that holds 10-12 cups of batter. This one is also gorgeous! 🙂
- Bake: Bake the cream cheese pound cake at 325°F (163°C). Halfway through baking, loosely tent the cake with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Cool, then invert: Let the pound cool for about 2 hours in the pan, then invert onto a serving plate and cool completely before serving.
Serve with whipped cream, fresh berries, raspberry sauce, strawberry sauce, blueberry sauce, and/or homemade lemon curd. The topping from my pecan pie cheesecake would also be fantastic spooned over each slice. There’s a simplistic beauty about pound cake—it doesn’t need glaze, frosting, bells, or whistles.
4 Final Success Tips
Enough from me! Let me leave you with 4 tips before you get started.
- Follow the recipe. Use the ingredients and measurements listed.
- Bake low and slow. Pound cake is a large heavy cake and requires a cooler oven. Don’t be alarmed if your cake takes longer than 90 minutes.
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature before beginning. Room temperature ingredients promise a uniformly textured cake. Cold ingredients do not emulsify together and the pound cake won’t bake properly.
- Make sure each egg is mixed in before adding the next.
Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: serves 12-14
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This recipe produces a perfect cream cheese pound cake. After persistent recipe testing with many failures, I found the best ratio of ingredients to produce a moist, dense, and flavorful pound cake. Using 9 simple ingredients, this cream cheese pound cake recipe will be your new favorite. To prevent a ruined cake, follow the baking time and temperature closely. Learn from my mistake!
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 8 ounce (226g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 and 1/2 cups (500g) granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup (80g) sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 6 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 cups (354g) cake flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- optional for serving: homemade whipped cream & fresh berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Not 350°F. Generously grease a 10-12 cup Bundt pan with butter or nonstick spray.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the cream cheese and beat on high speed until completely smooth and combined, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute, then add the sour cream and vanilla and beat on high speed until combined and creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula.
- On low speed, beat the eggs in 1 at a time allowing each to fully mix in before adding the next. Careful not to overmix after the eggs have been added. Once the 6th egg is combined, stop the mixer and add the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat on medium speed *just* until combined. Do not overmix. Using a silicone spatula or sturdy whisk, give the batter a final turn to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be a little thick and very creamy.
- Pour/spoon batter evenly into prepared pan. Bang the pan on the counter once or twice to bring up any air bubbles. Bake for 75-95 minutes. Loosely tent the baking cake with aluminum foil halfway through bake time to ensure the surface does not over-brown. The key to pound cake is a slow and low bake time. Use a toothpick to test for doneness. Once it comes out completely clean, the pound cake is done. This is a large heavy cake so don’t be alarmed if it takes longer in your oven. If it needs longer, bake longer.
- Remove cake from the oven and allow to cool for 2 hours inside the pan. Then invert the slightly cooled pound cake onto a wire rack or serving dish. Allow to cool completely.
- Slice and serve with optional toppings like homemade whipped cream & fresh berries.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Wrap baked and cooled pound cake in 1-2 layers of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the plastic wrap & foil overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before slicing and serving.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 10-12 Cup Bundt Pan | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Silicone Spatula | Whisk | Cooling Rack
- Loaf Pan: Pour the batter into two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Bake each at 325°F (163°C) for about 60 minutes. Or halve all of the ingredients to make one loaf.
- Cake Flour: For the best results, I strongly recommend cake flour. You can find it in the baking aisle and I have many more recipes using it. If you cannot get your hands on cake flour, you can make a DIY cake flour substitute.
- Almond Extract or Other Flavors: Along with the vanilla extract, mix in a little almond extract. This is optional, but it adds the most exceptional flavor! I usually use around 1 teaspoon of almond extract. Alternatively, use 1 teaspoon of lemon extract, orange extract, coconut extract, or any of your favorite flavors.
Reader Comments and Reviews
WOW YUM
I halved the recipe and used the 9 x 5 loaf pan and added 1 teaspoon of almond extract at your suggestion. Baked for 64 minutes covered at 30. This is the most beautiful moist and flavorful poundcake we’ve ever had! Thank you again for your wonderful recipes
Thank you, this is literally getting us through !!! Some other recipes asked for too many eggs and we need those right now
Hi! Attempting this cake in the AM. Would all purpose flour work???
If you don’t have cake flour, here is my cake flour substitute.
Baked this today while at home in isolation from …cake turned out fantastic!! Super moist, buttery and cream cheese gave it such a rich flavour. Such a hit with the family! Will definitely make again. Thanks so much Sally! Stay safe everyone!
I made two loafs with this recipe and ended up baking them for 95 minutes (I’m thinking it’s my oven? Lol) I didn’t have sour cream so I ended up substituting with my sanco buttermilk and extra butter. Turned out great and beautiful golden color. I loved the idea of adding almond extract and my husband loved that flavor and said it was a super moist pound cake.
Hi Sally, Doing some work from home/ baking these days. I have everything on-hand except the sour cream- any substitution suggestions?
Plain yogurt would be great! Or you can try mashed banana if you’re in a pinch.
Hi, Sally, Can I turn this into a lemon pound cake?
Hi Latasha! Here is my lemon version. You can leave out the poppy seeds if desired.
I have baked a cream cheese pound cake before but without the sour cream. I did it your way, took it to work and it was an instant hit! Baking another one tonight as I only got a very, very thin sliced. My New Go To Cake Recipe. Thanks
I took a chance trying this recipe for the 1st time to make a birthday cake today. I baked it 45 minutes at 325, put the foil on top and finished it another 45 minutes at 320. The crust is slightly browner that I would prefer but otherwise it baked up great and came out of the pan great in a typical Wilton no-stick bunt pan. Next time I bake this I believe I will do the whole thing at 320 degrees, maybe even a little less because at 45 minutes in the crust was already as dark as it should be while the top and middle were still rather raw. Every oven is different! I will frost this with a creme cheese/butter/powder sugar frosting and sprinkles. My son likes “plain” cake, he calls it “regular cake” – just plain old cake, no flavors, no chocolate, no fruits, lol – but I didn’t want to just do a typical yellow box cake. I’m pretty sure he is going to enjoy this, especially the *fun* shape instead of the regular rectangle or round cakes. And I like to cook with creme cheese, it’s a flavor we all like. Thank you!
This recipe deserves more than 5 stars! I have never made pound cake before because the few times I’ve had it I didn’t care for it. My husband likes it so I decided to make yours because your recipes are always far better than others! This pound cake was no exception. It was crisp on the outside, so creamy and smooth on the inside, and has the best taste I have EVER experienced in a pound cake! My husband was gobbling it down when it cooled! This recipe is so easy to make and came out perfect! Thank you so much for another stellar recipe! I never used to bake because I had no confidence in the kitchen. Now since I found your site I bake and cook all the time! I got a stand mixer last Christmas (it wasn’t a kitchenaide) and I have already burned it out because I make so many things. I bake at least six days a week now! From pizza, to cookies, to cakes and pies! Thank you Sally for being the best teacher and giving confidence when there was none before!
The pound cake looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing the mistakes. Its good to know what to avoid.
Hi Sally, I wanted to say that I’m really grateful for the weight measurements. I know it’s controversial for some, but I personally find I get more consistent results measuring by weight opposed to volume. I followed your recipe to a tee, including tenting with foil half way through baking and it is perfection. I made a lavender glaze to serve with it and it paired beautifully.
Can’t understand why you would let the cake sit in cake pan 2hour’s after baking.Why not turn it out onto a cooling rack?
Hi Eve! The cake could stick if you invert it any earlier than that. I prefer cakes that are baked in Bundt pans to cool in the pans because if inverted when too warm, they shrink down and could taste denser than intended.
Can self rising flour be used instead of cake flour ?
Hi Linda! No, I recommend sticking to the recipe and using cake flour.
Do you think I could substitute whole milk ricotta cheese for the cream cheese? I thought I had cream cheese in my fridge, but sadly I do not
Hi Abby! I fear the pound cake wouldn’t set up properly, but you can certainly try it if you’d like.
Hey Sally,
I will be using this recipe to make loaf tin cake with colored hearts inside. Do you think that it would work with this recipe? I was wondering if leaving the batter to sit for 1hr and 20 mins while I wait for the first cake to bake would effect the outcome? P.S I LOVE your recipes.
Thanks!
Hi Ava! I haven’t personally tried this batter than way but I don’t expect any issues. Let me know how it turns out!
Can I use an angel food pan for this cake?
Hi Bettye! You can, yes, but your tube pan may hold a different amount of batter, so the bake time could change.
Would this recipe work with mini loaf tins and/or cupcake tins?
Definitely. However, this is A LOT of batter and would yield a significant amount of cupcake pans, as well as mini loaves depending how much batter your mini loaf pan holds. The bake time for either would be shorter, though I can’t be positive of the exact time. Let me know what you try!
I made two cakes today and wow, they were perfect and delicious. I did not make any changes to the recipe. This is my new go-to recipe. Thank you very much!
This recipe was a total hit! I topped it with a bourbon caramel sauce! Do you have any recipes for something similar with fruits? I have bananas and blueberries to use up and trying to thing of how to incorporate them into this!
Hi Sarah! I don’t have this exact recipe with fruits included. I fear those additions would weigh down the batter and make it much too moist without making other changes to the ingredients. It would require some testing. You may enjoy my lemon berry yogurt cake though!
Hi Sally, I am sure this is delicious, although I have not tried it yet. I find your recipes very reliable. My question is, can I bake this in a sheet pan to make petit fours for Valentine’s Day? Please answer quickly! Thanks soooo much.
Sure can! See the instructions in my Petit Fours recipe.
I have loved all your recipes that I’ve tried! If I make this in mini bundt pans, would I increase the oven temp? Approx how long would I bake minis? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, You can make mini Bundts at the same oven temperature. Every pan is slightly different but you can see the exact mini pans I have and the baking instructions for those in my Mini Vanilla Pound Cakes recipe.
I have the 2nd cake in the oven now. It is absolutely the best cream cheese pound cake I’ve ever baked and ate. Bake the 1st one about a week ago and it was delicious so I’m baking another.
Wow! My first ever attempt to make a bundt cake. First ever attempt to make a pound cake. I followed the recipe exactly and the results blew me away! Beautiful and delicious! Moist and perfect! I didn’t have cake flour but swapped in 2 Tbs cornstarch per cup of all purpose flour and sifted it all twice. I used butter to grease the pan and was nervous about the cake sticking so I gave it a shot of cooking spray for good measure. After cooling for two hours I turned it and it plopped right onto the plate. Perfection! The only pound cake I will make–dont mess with success!
Hey Sally, can i use this recipe for a 3 layer 8 inch round cake?
Hi, Ebony! This recipe works best in a Bundt pan or in two 9×5 loaf pans. It’s a dense cake, so I fear it would be too heavy for a layered cake. I’d recommend something lighter, like my Vanilla Cake. Perhaps paired with Cream Cheese Frosting?
I made this cake for Christmas Eve with my family and it was AMAZING. It’s a perfect pound cake. I highly recommend this recipe for anyone looking for a moist and flavorful pound cake. Can’t wait to try more recipes!
Hi Sally,
I just made the cake following ur instructions to a T. But still the center of my cake came out raw, just like ur left failed picture. The thing is my cake tester came out clean (I made sure I poked in various places) after 80min. I would very much like to make this again. Do you happen to have any tips on how to make sure it’s done? Thanks!
Eileen
Hi Eileen, Make sure your oven is set to 325 (not 350) on conventional settings, and halfway through baking, loosely tent the cake with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. This should help the center to bake before the outside browns too much.
Hello Sally! I was wondering if I could make this recipe into cupcakes and what advice you would have?
Hi Kiara! A few readers have tried this pound cake recipe as cupcakes. Same oven temperature and baking for about 20 minutes. They won’t rise too much. Fill about 3/4 full.
Hi Sally!
I am so excited to try this recipe! I have been studying pound cake recipes for about a month. While talking about them to a friend, he suggested starting in a cold oven. I have not come across many recipes testing this theory; but I have heard it mentioned by my mother as well. Have you ever tested a pound cake starting with a cold oven? If so, please let me know how it turned out.
So interesting, Brittay! I have not tried it but let me know if you decide to experiment!
Can a tube pan be used instead?
Hi Denise! You can, yes, but your tube pan may hold a different amount of batter, so the bake time could change.