There is something irresistibly comforting about a classic pound cake that is both rich and tender, and this Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe perfectly hits all those notes. The combination of buttermilk’s slight tang and smooth vanilla flavor creates a beautifully moist crumb that melts in your mouth, while the luscious cream cheese glaze adds just the right touch of sweetness and tangy contrast. Whether you’re baking for a cozy afternoon tea or a special celebration, this pound cake is destined to become a beloved favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe, you only need simple, everyday ingredients that transform into something extraordinary. Each staple plays an important role, from the creamy butter that ensures a tender crumb to the fresh eggs that bring structure and richness.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and body for the pound cake.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps achieve a beautiful golden crust.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and moisture; be sure it’s at room temperature for easy creaming.
- Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a slight tang, enhancing tenderness and flavor depth.
- Pure vanilla extract: Infuses the cake with warm, aromatic vanilla notes.
- Large eggs: Help bind ingredients and contribute to the cake’s fluffy texture.
- Baking powder: Leavens the cake, ensuring it rises perfectly.
- Cream cheese: Forms the base of the decadent glaze; use softened cream cheese for smooth blending.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the glaze and gives it a silky texture.
- Milk: Thins the glaze just enough so it drizzles perfectly over the cake.
How to Make Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to get everything nice and hot so your cake bakes evenly. Don’t forget to grease your loaf pan well, which ensures a smooth release of the cake and helps create those lovely browned edges that are a pound cake hallmark.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy—about 3 to 4 minutes. This step is crucial because it incorporates air into the batter, creating a tender and airy crumb that you will love.
Step 3: Add Eggs One at a Time
To keep the batter silky and smooth, add your eggs slowly, one at a time, beating well after each addition. This technique helps everything to emulsify properly, ensuring a consistent and tender texture throughout.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Alternate with Buttermilk
In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder, then gradually add these dry ingredients into your butter mixture. Alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk in portions, mixing just until combined each time. This alternating method prevents overmixing and keeps the cake light and moist.
Step 5: Stir in the Vanilla
Fold the pure vanilla extract into your batter, making sure it’s evenly distributed. This simple addition enriches the flavor profile, giving the cake its signature warmth and complexity that make it so delightful.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing out the top for an even bake. Place it in the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is a gorgeous golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. That perfect balance of moist crumb and firm edges is what makes this recipe shine.
Step 7: Prepare the Cream Cheese Glaze
While your cake is cooling, whisk together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until you achieve a smooth, drizzle-able glaze. This tangy, sweet topping is absolute magic when poured over the warm cake—it seeps into the cracks and creates an irresistible finish.
Step 8: Glaze and Serve
Drizzle the cream cheese glaze evenly over the top of your cooled pound cake. The creamy glaze adds a luscious shine and a delightful flavor contrast that takes this cake from simple to spectacular in every bite.
How to Serve Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra touch of elegance, sprinkle some freshly grated lemon zest or a few toasted almond slices over the glaze. These garnishes add subtle brightness and texture, elevating the cake’s look and flavor. Fresh berries on the side also make for a colorful, tart complement to the cake’s sweetness.
Side Dishes
This Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe pairs beautifully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat. For a cozy afternoon, serve alongside a cup of rich coffee or a fragrant herbal tea to balance the cake’s buttery richness.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your pound cake into a showstopper by slicing it into thick pieces and layering with fresh fruit and mascarpone for a quick trifle. Alternatively, cut into cubes and serve with fondue or as part of a decadent dessert platter at your next gathering—guests will be wowed by the luscious cream cheese glaze and moist crumb every time.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap your leftover pound cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to maintain moisture. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to three days, making it perfect for enjoying throughout the week without losing any of its delicious texture or flavor.
Freezing
This Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe freezes wonderfully. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. When properly stored, the cake will keep for up to two months. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator before glazing and serving.
Reheating
When you’re ready to enjoy your pound cake, warm individual slices briefly in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or in a low oven (around 300 degrees Fahrenheit) for a few minutes. This gentle warming brings back the cake’s fresh-baked softness and enhances the glaze’s melt-in-your-mouth appeal.
FAQs
Can I substitute buttermilk with regular milk?
While regular milk can be used, buttermilk adds a delicious tang and tenderness to the cake that’s hard to replicate. If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar with 1/2 cup milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before using as a good substitute.
What if I don’t have a loaf pan?
You can use a bundt pan or an 8×8 inch square pan, but baking times may vary slightly. Keep an eye on your cake and use the toothpick test to check doneness.
Can I add other flavors to this recipe?
Absolutely! Try adding a teaspoon of almond extract or fold in fresh berries or chocolate chips for a fun twist while still enjoying the classic vanilla-buttermilk base.
Is it important to use room temperature eggs and butter?
Yes, room temperature eggs and butter help the ingredients emulsify properly, resulting in a smooth, airy batter and ultimately a tender, fluffy cake.
How do I make sure the glaze isn’t too runny or thick?
Start by adding milk slowly, a little at a time, until you reach a consistency that drizzles easily but still coats the back of a spoon. If it’s too thick, a small splash more milk will help; if too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend enough giving this Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe a try at home. It’s one of those special treats that feels simple yet indulgently satisfying, perfect for sharing with family and friends or savoring with a quiet cup of coffee. Once you experience that tender crumb and creamy glaze combo, I promise it will become a go-to recipe in your baking repertoire.
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Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
This Delightful Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake is a moist, tender cake infused with rich vanilla flavor and a tangy hint of buttermilk. Topped with a smooth cream cheese glaze, it offers a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess, ideal for any occasion or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 2 tsp baking powder
Glaze Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes, which helps to incorporate air for a tender crumb.
- Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition to ensure full incorporation and an emulsified batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder to evenly distribute the leavening agent and remove clumps.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the sifted flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the batter, which can make the cake dense.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Stir in the pure vanilla extract thoroughly to infuse the batter with its characteristic aromatic flavor.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the smooth batter into the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to even out the top for uniform baking.
- Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Glaze: While the cake is cooling, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk in a bowl. Whisk until the glaze is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Glaze the Cake: When the cake is still warm, drizzle the cream cheese glaze evenly over the top to allow it to gently soak into the cake, adding moistness and a tangy-sweet finish before serving.
Notes
- Make sure all ingredients like eggs and butter are at room temperature to ensure proper mixing and a smooth batter.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to keep the crumb tender instead of dense.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cake center; clean removal means it’s ready.
- Let the cake cool slightly before glazing to prevent glaze from melting too much and running off.
- This cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
