Monday, June 7, 2010

Cream Cheese Pound Cake + Strawberry Sauce


One weekend I got it in my head that I wanted to make trifle. I think because the weekend before, my dad had been talking about what an amazing trifle my grandma makes and how people are always sad when she doesn't make it. So I called her to get her recipe but as it turns out there isn't really a recipe. She told me to just use whatever cake you want to get rid of or pick up from the grocery store. She usually uses canned fruit, and mixes the juice from the can with a bit of alcohol (again she said whatever you want to get rid of - are we seeing a theme here?) and pours it over the cake. And then she said she uses pudding mix. And puts whipped cream on top. Oh and she also mixes jello in with the fruit and cake once it's been layered. The details are a bit fuzzy now, but basically there was no exact recipe. So I just decided to pick a cream cheese pound cake, a white chocolate custard, and the strawberry sauce I've made a few times that my fiance (who I will refer to from now on as E) really likes.


Individually, all the components were really good. The pound cake was so perfectly pound cake-y - really dense and wonderful and you can taste the cream cheese. And it was so soft. The white chocolate custard was adapted from a bittersweet chocolate custard and I didn't adjust the sugar enough so it was way too sweet - especially when combined with the strawberry sauce. The strawberry sauce was perfect though and is good for everything. So I'll share with you the recipe for the cream cheese pound cake and the strawberry sauce and will save the white chocolate custard for when I try again and it turns out better.


If this sounds good, you might also like:
Tres Leches Cake
Sour Cream Doughnuts
Strawberry Cream Cake
Orange Cream Cheese Muffins

Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen who adapted liberally from Staff Meals from Chanterelle

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 package (4 ounces) Philadelphia brand cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly butter an 8"x4" pan, then line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. Place the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar, increase the speed to high, and beat until light and airy, at least five minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the vanilla, then the flour and salt all at once. Beat just until incorporated.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and shake lightly to even out the top. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 1 1/4 hours.

4. Place the pan on a cake rack and cool for 20 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan and let it cool completely. Serve at room temperature.

Strawberry Sauce
Adapted from All Recipes (Heislord5)

1 pint (454 g) strawberries, cleaned and stemmed
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cut about strawberries in 1/2-1 inch size pieces. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine strawberries, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Store in refrigerator.

17 comments:

FH said...

That cake looks so moist and with Strawberry sauce, it must be delicious.

Joanne said...

Grandmas are awesome like that. I tried to ask mine for a recipe once and it was all pinches and handfuls. No real numbers. The only problem was that the recipe was for a yeast bread...and you can't just wing it with yeast breads!

This trifle sounds delicious. I love the sound of the cream cheese pound cake. And strawberry sauce...mmmm

Tia said...

the crust on that pound cake looks TO DIE FOR!

Hannah said...

Mmm, that trifle is mouth-watering! It's like a giant, deconstructed bowl of strawberry shortcake!

Anonymous said...

Is it strange that I've never made pound cake before? I think I've always stayed away because I often find them plain. This one with cream cheese and the strawberry sauce, however, are a different story!

grace said...

i LOVE trifle--it's such an elegant yet easy dessert, although you've definitely made it more complex by going the all homemade route. bravo, and do get that white chocolate custard right--it'd be heavenly!

Johanna GGG said...

I love how your grandmother described the recipe - they always make it sound effortless

I got the impression you weren't happy with your trifle but are you almost there and when you hit gold I hope you will tell us more about your trifle - it sounds wonderful

Unknown said...

Oh man, everything about this screams my name. I LOVE cream cheese pound cake and trifles, LOVE THEM!

Lot-O-Choc said...

Mmmm your trifle looks delicious, my grandma used to make an amazing trifle!! Mm!

Pam Walter said...

Pound cake is my favorite! This recipe looks like a real keeper. http://blog.sweetservices.com/sweetscandyblog/

Anonymous said...

this looks delicious! i love your blog :) http://bakingserendipity.blogspot.com

Deborah said...

Oooh, what I wouldn't do for a slice of that pound cake right now!

Ameya said...

Hi,
Cream cheese and strawberries are two of my absolute favorite ingredients, so I'm sure I would just love your pound cake :)
You have an amazing blog with fabulous recipes!! Especially your oreo crunch brownies :) Ive recently started my own food blog and would love it if you dropped by and left your feedback. http://www.spicesavant.blogspot.com.

Unknown said...

Cream cheese + strawberries? Yumm!

Unknown said...

Despite the unpleasantly warm Seattle weather, this pound cake called my name this afternoon. Just took it out of the oven, and it looks, smells, and tastes wonderful! I mixed everything by hand to no detriment.

I thoroughly enjoy your posts!

eatme_delicious said...

Laura: I'm sure we're having the same weather now (since I'm in Vancouver) but like you, I can't help but turn on the oven if I have the urge to bake! Glad you enjoyed the pound cake and thanks for the kind words. :)

Lydia said...

Oh, I made this once! With strawberry sauce too. I didn't love it, but I'm not huge on cream cheese in baking. I am huge on trifle though, I registered for and received a lovely trifle dish for my wedding last year. Try the banana pudding recipe from Magnolia Bakery, it is off the hook.