Ina Garten’s Heavenly Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

Bakers and dessert lovers adore this rich vanilla cream cheese pound cake recipe that combines decadent flavors with simple elegance.

Ina Garten’s classic approach creates a moist, tender cake that melts in your mouth with every bite.

The careful balance of cream cheese and vanilla transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert.

Smooth and dense, this pound cake delivers pure comfort with its golden exterior and velvety interior.

Each slice promises a luxurious experience that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Dense yet incredibly light, the cake brings warmth to any gathering.

You’ll fall in love with how easily this recipe comes together, making it perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.

Grab your mixing bowl and let’s craft a dessert that will become your new favorite sweet indulgence.

Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Ingredients List

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation and ensures tender texture with smooth melting properties.
• Cream Cheese: Adds luxurious tangy depth and contributes to the cake's incredible moistness.
• Granulated Sugar: Delivers perfect sweetness and helps create delicate, light cake structure.

• Eggs: Binds ingredients together, creates stability, and contributes to the cake's soft, velvety crumb.
• Cake Flour: Ensures delicate, tender texture with lower protein content for a softer cake.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.

• Vanilla Extract: Delivers classic, warm aromatic depth with complex sweet undertones.
• Vanilla Seeds: Provides intense, pure vanilla flavor with beautiful speckled appearance.
• Demerara Sugar: Creates delightful caramelized crust with subtle molasses-like crunch.

Gear to Help You Make Her Creamy Vanilla Pound Cake

• Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter, cream cheese, and sugar to create a light, fluffy base.
• Rubber Spatula: Perfect for scraping down bowl sides and ensuring all ingredients are well mixed.
• Loaf Pans (2, 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches): Metal pans with baking spray and demerara sugar for non-stick, caramelized edges.
• Medium Bowl: Used for mixing dry ingredients like cake flour and salt.
• Baking Rack: Helps cakes cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by inserting into the center.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient measurements.

Steps to Bake This Cream Cheese Classic from Ina

• Oven Preparation

Warm your oven to a cozy 325 degrees, setting the stage for a delightful baking adventure.

• Pan Setup

Grab two metal loaf pans and give them a quick spray with baking spray. Sprinkle a generous layer of demerara sugar inside, creating a sweet, sparkly coating.

• Creamy Base

In your mixer, combine soft butter, smooth cream cheese, and granulated sugar. Whip this mixture until it becomes light and dreamy, about 3 minutes of mixing magic.

• Egg Integration

Gently add eggs one by one, letting each one blend smoothly into the creamy mixture. Splash in vanilla extract and scatter those beautiful vanilla seeds for extra flavor.

• Flour Magic

Softly fold in cake flour and a pinch of salt, mixing until everything comes together in a silky-smooth batter.

• Baking Transformation

Pour the batter into your prepared pans, creating two beautiful, even surfaces. Slide them into the center of the oven and bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out perfectly clean.

• Cooling Ritual

Let the cakes rest in their pans for half an hour, then carefully release them onto a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

Flavor Enhancers for Ina’s Pound Cake Perfection

• Exciting Twists and Pro Tips
• Replace vanilla seeds with orange or lemon zest for a bright, citrusy flavor profile that adds unexpected complexity to the classic pound cake.
• Let butter, cream cheese, and eggs sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smoother, more uniform batter and better cake texture.
• Drizzle a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, or top with fresh berries and whipped cream to transform this classic cake into an elegant dessert.
• Wrap cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 3-4 days, or freeze whole or sliced for up to 2 months to enjoy later.

Serve It Bold or Subtle – How to Present Ina’s Cake

• Serve with Fresh Berries: Top slices with a vibrant mix of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for a burst of color and tangy freshness that complements the cake's rich, creamy texture.
• Drizzle with Vanilla Glaze: Create a simple glaze using powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a splash of milk, then pour over cooled cake slices for an extra layer of sweet indulgence.
• Pair with Coffee or Tea: Enjoy a slice alongside a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea or a smooth cappuccino, letting the cake's delicate vanilla notes enhance your afternoon break or morning ritual.
• Elevate with Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of softly whipped cream on top, optionally garnished with a sprinkle of vanilla bean seeds or a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.

How to Store a Pound Cake That Stays Rich & Soft

• Slice and Serve Smart: Cut the pound cake into even slices for easy serving and portion control. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap for quick grab-and-go snacks or desserts.
• Refrigerate for Freshness: Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap the entire cake or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months for a make-ahead dessert option that's ready whenever you need it.
• Room Temperature Magic: Keep the cake at room temperature for up to 2 days if serving within a short time frame. Place under a cake dome or cover loosely with foil to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Calories: 470 kcal

Servings: 8

Heavenly Ina Garten Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s vanilla cream cheese pound cake delivers rich, buttery perfection with classic flavor profiles. Home bakers will savor each delectable slice of this elegant dessert that promises comfort and indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ¾ lb (340 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 ½ cups (500 g) granulated sugar
• 3 cups (360 g) sifted cake flour, measured after sifting
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pure vanilla extract
• 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) demerara or turbinado sugar, such as Sugar in the Raw
• Baking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) with the rack centered, ensuring an ideal baking environment for the pound cake.
2. Pan Setup: Thoroughly spray two metal loaf pans with baking spray, then dust the interiors with demerara sugar to create a caramelized, crystalline exterior.
3. Creaming Process: In an electric mixer, combine softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar, whipping at medium speed until the mixture transforms into a light, voluminous, and pale cream (approximately 3 minutes).
4. Egg Integration: Reduce mixer speed, adding eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly and scraping the bowl between additions to ensure complete incorporation.
5. Flavor Enhancement: Gently fold in vanilla extract and freshly scraped vanilla bean seeds, infusing the batter with deep, aromatic vanilla notes.
6. Flour Incorporation: Sift cake flour and salt together, then gradually add to the butter mixture at low speed, mixing until just combined and avoiding overmixing.
7. Baking Preparation: Distribute the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the surfaces with a spatula to create a uniform top.
8. Baking Process: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, testing doneness with a toothpick that should come out clean when inserted into the cake’s center.
9. Cooling Stage: Let the cakes rest in their pans for 30 minutes, then carefully invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, allowing the structure to set and flavors to develop.

Notes

• Optimize Butter Temperature: Ensure butter and cream cheese are genuinely room temperature, soft but not melting, for the smoothest, most luxurious cake texture.
• Vanilla Bean Magic: Using fresh vanilla bean seeds alongside extract elevates the flavor profile, creating a more complex and rich vanilla essence.
• Demerara Sugar Trick: Coating pan interiors with demerara sugar creates a delightful caramelized crust that adds unexpected crunch and depth to the cake’s exterior.
• Mixing Mastery: Mix ingredients thoroughly but gently, avoiding overmixing which can develop tough gluten and result in a dense, less tender pound cake.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 470
• Sugar: 54 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 61 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg