Made with just eight simple ingredients, this cream cheese pound cake recipe comes together quickly. It’s perfect topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit!

Half of a cream cheese pound cake on a wire rack. Three slices of cake sit in the front and two milk bottles rest in the background.

Did you know that pound cake got its name because it used to be made with a pound of each ingredient — butter, sugar, flour, and eggs? Most pound cake recipes today use different proportions of those ingredients as well as cream cheese or sour cream to produce a cake that’s slightly lighter than a traditional pound cake.

The recipe I’m sharing with you today uses both butter and cream cheese, which results in an ultra moist pound cake. The entire recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare, and then the cake is ready to go into the oven! 

This simple pound cake is a delicious treat year-round and can be garnished with seasonal toppings like fruit syrups, lemon curd, fresh fruit, and more. It’s perfect for holidays and family gatherings too!  

Overhead view of pound cake ingredients on a gray surface.

Ingredients for This Recipe 

Don’t let this cake’s pretty appearance intimidate you, it’s secretly such a simple pound cake recipe to make. The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are basic, but I want to briefly go over them so you feel 100% confident when making it. 

  • Cake flour: Cake flour contains less protein than all-purpose flour, which makes for a lighter, softer cake.
  • Baking powder: This isn’t a typical ingredient in pound cake, but it gives the cake a little lift and prevents it from being too dense. 
  • Salt: Balances out the sugar and enhances the buttery flavor of this cream cheese pound cake. 
  • Unsalted butter: I always use unsalted butter in my baked goods because the amount of salt in salted butters can vary between brands. If you only have salted butter on hand, omit the salt called for in the recipe or reduce it to a tiny pinch. 
  • Cream cheese: You want to use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Avoid the cream cheese in a tub as it’s not thick enough. 
  • Granulated sugar: There’s a good amount of sugar in the batter, but the pound cake doesn’t taste cloyingly sweet. The higher ratio of sugar also helps to develop the beautiful golden brown crust on the outside of the cake.
  • Eggs: Need to be room temperature before being mixed into the batter. If your eggs are still cold, place them in a bowl of warm water to bring them to room temperature. 
  • Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for the best flavor. There are 2 teaspoons in this recipe which adds a rich vanilla flavor to the cake. 
Butter and sugar creamed together in a stand mixer.
The pound cake batter after the eggs have been mixed into the creamed butter and sugar.

How to Make Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Making pound cake from scratch is simple! First, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

In another bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy. This process will take a good 4 to 5 minutes. It’s very important that you cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar for several minutes as this incorporates air into the batter and helps the cake rise in the oven. Since there’s not much baking powder in this cake, this step is crucial. 

Add the eggs, one at a time, to the cream cheese mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl between additions, if needed, then mix in the vanilla extract.

An overhead view of the finished pound cake batter in a glass mixing bowl.
The pound cake batter poured into a bundt pan.

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet, taking care to stir until the batter is just combined. Over mixing the batter can result in a gummy cake, so be gentle. 

Next, turn the batter into a greased 12 cup Bundt pan. This cream cheese pound cake needs to bake at a slightly lower temperature (325ºF) for roughly 90 minutes. If the top of the cake starts to brown too much, loosely tent the pan with foil to prevent it from burning. You’ll know the pound cake is finished when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack. Don’t try flipping the cake sooner, otherwise it could fall apart. 

Overhead view of a cream cheese pound cake dusted with powdered sugar on a wire rack. Part of the cake has been sliced.

Different Toppings to Try 

Homemade pound cake can be enjoyed so many ways! It’s neutral enough in flavor that it can be topped with any number of fruits, sauces, and toppings. Here are a few pound cake topping ideas to get you started: 

Storage and Freezing Instructions 

Cream cheese pound cake can be made a day before you plan on serving it. However, it will last up to five days in an airtight container at room temperature. 

To freeze the cake, wrap it in plastic wrap, then seal inside a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to three months. To thaw the cake, place it on your counter overnight. 

Close up of a sliced pound cake, seen from the side. Milk bottles rest in the background.

Baking Tips 

  • When measuring the cake flour, make sure to spoon and level it rather than scooping it out of the bag. Spooning the flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off prevents you from accidentally measuring out too much flour (which can result in a dry cake). 
  • All of the ingredients need to be room temperature before making the batter. Set the butter, cream cheese, and eggs out on the counter about an hour or so before you begin. 
  • If you don’t have cake flour on hand, you can make your own using all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Real cake flour is preferred, but this substitute will work in a pinch! 

More Bundt Cake Recipes to Try! 

Video Tutorial

Overhead view of a cream cheese pound cake dusted with powdered sugar on a wire rack. Part of the cake has been sliced.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

5 from 1 rating
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Made with eight simple ingredients, this cream cheese pound cake recipe comes together quickly. Perfect with whipped cream and fresh fruit!
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Ingredients

Servings: 12 slices
  • 3 cups (335 grams) cake flour , spooned and leveled
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (340 grams) unsalted butter , softened
  • 8 ounces (226 grams) brick-style cream cheese , softened
  • 2 ¾ cups (550 grams) granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Spray a 10-inch (12 cup) bundt pan well with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
  • Mix in the eggs, one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, then mix in the pure vanilla extract.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together until just combined.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared bundt pan and spread it around into one even layer. Firmly tap the pan on the counter several times to remove any large air bubbles.
  • Bake for 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes (I recommend baking it closer to the higher end to ensure that it’s fully baked) or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. If needed, tent with foil to prevent excess browning on top of the cake.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Then, carefully invert the cake onto the wire rack, remove it from the pan, and allow it to cool completely before slicing into it.

Notes

Storage instructions: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. 
Freezing instructions: To freeze the cake, wrap it in plastic wrap, then seal inside a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to three months. To thaw, place on your counter overnight. 
Cake Flour: If you don't have any on hand, you can use my homemade cake flour substitute. 
Cream Cheese: Be sure to use a block/brick of cream cheese. Avoid using cream cheese spread in a tub in this recipe.
Eggs: These should be at room temperature before being mixed in. If you forget to set them out ahead of time, place them in a bowl of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle Rye
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.