Easy Ina Garten Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe to Try

Vanilla cream cheese pound cake transforms ordinary ingredients into a slice of pure comfort.

Soft, dense textures whisper promises of indulgence with every golden-brown crumb.

Butter and cream cheese create a luxurious backdrop for subtle vanilla notes that dance across your palate.

Sweet memories of home kitchens emerge from this classic dessert’s inviting aroma.

Rich ingredients meld together, producing a cake that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

Gentle baking techniques ensure a perfectly moist interior with a delicate, tender crumb.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this pound cake welcomes you into a world of delectable simplicity: prepare to be delighted.

Why Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake Is Irresistible

• Luxuriously Creamy Texture: The combination of butter and cream cheese creates an incredibly smooth, velvety pound cake that melts in your mouth with each delightful bite.
• Flavor-Packed Vanilla Sensation: Double vanilla (extract and bean seeds) delivers an intense, rich aromatic experience that elevates this classic dessert beyond ordinary pound cakes.
• Effortlessly Elegant Baking Method: Simple mixing technique and straightforward ingredients make this recipe approachable for bakers of all skill levels, promising professional-looking results with minimal technical expertise.
• Perfect for Versatile Occasions: Adaptable cake that works beautifully as a breakfast treat, afternoon snack, elegant dessert, or lovely homemade gift for friends and family gatherings.

Essentials for Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake

• Butter: A rich ingredient that provides moisture and helps create a tender crumb.
• Cream Cheese: Adds richness and creates a smooth, dense texture to the pound cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a golden, crisp exterior.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide structure to the cake.
• Cake Flour: A soft, low-protein flour that ensures a delicate and tender cake texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Vanilla Extract: Provides deep, classic vanilla flavor throughout the cake.
• Vanilla Bean Seeds: Adds intense, authentic vanilla flavor with visible specks.

• Baking Spray: Helps prevent the cake from sticking to the pan.
• Demerara Sugar: Creates a sweet, crunchy exterior when sprinkled in the pan.

Straightforward Steps for a Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 2 loaf pans with baking spray and sprinkle Demerara sugar evenly across interior surfaces.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

• Softened butter
• Cream cheese
• Granulated sugar

Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, ensuring smooth consistency.

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs and Flavor

• Vanilla extract
• Vanilla bean seeds

Mix until fully integrated.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Cake flour
• Salt

Gradually fold dry mixture into wet ingredients on low speed. Scrape bowl sides to ensure complete mixing.

Step 5: Bake Pound Cakes

Evenly distribute batter between prepared loaf pans. Smooth top surfaces with spatula. Position pans in oven center. Bake 60-70 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Allow cakes to rest in pans for 30 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Pro Tips for a Velvety Pound Cake

• Create Caramelized Crunch: Sprinkle Demerara sugar inside the pan, generating a delightful golden exterior with subtle sweetness and irresistible texture.
• Sift for Superior Softness: Eliminate cake flour clumps by sifting before measuring, guaranteeing a tender crumb that practically dissolves on your tongue.
• Master Egg Mixing Magic: Incorporate eggs individually, scraping bowl sides between additions to develop a luxuriously smooth, lump-free batter.
• Unleash Vanilla Intensity: Extract fresh vanilla bean seeds directly from the pod, delivering an authentic, rich aromatic experience throughout the cake.
• Butter Temperature Matters: Soften butter to room temperature beforehand, ensuring a creamy foundation that produces an incredibly moist, delectable pound cake.

Storing Ina Garten’s Pound Cake

• Refrigeration Seal: Wrap the pound cake in multiple layers of plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain. Cold storage extends the cake's freshness up to 7 days while maintaining its rich, creamy texture and preventing moisture loss.
• Freezer Preservation: Slice the cake before freezing to create convenient individual portions. Place each slice in a separate airtight freezer bag, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen slices will maintain quality for 2-3 months, allowing spontaneous dessert enjoyment anytime.
• Counter Storage: Position the cake in a ceramic cake dome or covered container at room temperature. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources to preserve its delicate cream cheese structure. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and moisture retention.

Fun Variations on Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake

• Citrus Splash Pound Cake: Replace vanilla extract with a combination of orange zest and lemon juice. Add fresh citrus zest directly into the batter for a bright, tangy flavor profile that complements the rich cream cheese base.
• Nutty Crunch Edition: Fold in chopped toasted almonds or pecans into the batter before baking. Sprinkle additional chopped nuts on top of the cake for extra texture and a warm, roasted flavor that enhances the cake's creamy richness.
• Chocolate Marble Magic: Divide the batter in half, mixing cocoa powder into one portion. Create a marbled effect by alternating vanilla and chocolate batters in the loaf pans, then gently swirl with a knife for a beautiful visual and taste contrast.
• Spiced Autumn Comfort: Incorporate ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of ground ginger into the dry ingredients. Top the finished cake with a light dusting of powdered sugar and serve with warm apple compote for a cozy seasonal variation.

Parting Words on Ina Garten’s Pound Cake

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s vanilla cream cheese pound cake, a symphony of luxurious ingredients dancing together.

Classic comfort meets sophisticated elegance in this remarkable dessert that whispers sweet memories with each slice.

Bakers discover pure joy through careful technique and quality components blending seamlessly.

Delicate vanilla notes create a harmonious experience that lingers beyond initial taste.

Home kitchens become gourmet spaces when such masterful recipes grace countertops.

Readers, dive into this delightful creation – share your baking adventure, spark conversations, and spread deliciousness across social platforms with passion and excitement.

Ina Garten Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s vanilla cream cheese pound cake delivers rich, velvety indulgence with classic Southern charm. Silky cream cheese and pure vanilla create a luxurious dessert that melts perfectly on your palate, promising pure comfort in each delightful slice.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 sticks (340 grams) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese (room temperature)
• 6 extra-large eggs (room temperature)
• 3 cups (375 grams) cake flour (sifted)
• 2 ½ cups (500 grams) granulated sugar

Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Seeds from 1 vanilla bean
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Finishing Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons demerara or turbinado sugar
• Baking spray with flour (for greasing)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and prepare two 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pans by coating them with cooking spray and generously dusting with Demerara sugar to create a caramelized exterior.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream together softened unsalted butter, room temperature cream cheese, and granulated sugar at medium speed until the mixture becomes pale, fluffy, and significantly increased in volume, approximately 3-4 minutes.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low and incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly mixing after each addition and carefully scraping down the bowl’s sides to ensure uniform integration.
4. Gently fold in pure vanilla extract and delicately scraped vanilla bean seeds, allowing the aromatic ingredients to distribute evenly throughout the batter.
5. Sift cake flour and salt together in a separate bowl to eliminate potential lumps and ensure a smooth texture.
6. Gradually introduce the dry ingredients into the creamy mixture on low speed, mixing until just combined to prevent overworking the batter, which could result in a dense cake.
7. Carefully divide the batter equally between the prepared loaf pans, using a spatula to smooth the surfaces and eliminate any air pockets.
8. Position the pans in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning.
9. Test for doneness by inserting a clean toothpick into the center of each cake; it should emerge without any wet batter clinging to it.
10. Allow the cakes to rest in their pans for 30 minutes, which helps them set and makes removal easier, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

• Bringing all ingredients to room temperature ensures smooth blending and creates a more consistent, luxurious batter with superior texture.
• Sifting cake flour eliminates potential lumps, resulting in an incredibly silky, delicate cake crumb that melts in your mouth.
• Demerara sugar sprinkled on top develops a gorgeous caramelized crust, adding a delightful crunch and depth of flavor to each slice.
• Vanilla bean seeds transform this pound cake from ordinary to extraordinary, infusing intense fragrance and creating beautiful speckled visual appeal.
• Baking at a lower temperature guarantees even cooking, preventing dry edges while maintaining a perfectly moist, tender center.
• Letting the cake cool in the pan initially helps it set firmly, preventing crumbling and ensuring a beautiful presentation when transferred to a serving plate.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 611
• Sugar: 53 g
• Sodium: 182 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 23 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 167 mg