This cream cheese pound cake is everything you can imagine: delicious with a dense, tight, moist crumb and a puckery lemon glaze that's the perfect foil to all that richness.

A partially sliced loaf of cream cheese pound cake with lemon glaze.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living | Martha Stewart's Newlywed Kitchen | Clarkson Potter, 2017

Cream cheese pound cake. Have there ever been four more wonderful words? The cream cheese brings a certain loveliness to the crumb that's moist rather than grab-a-glass-of-milk-so-I-don't-choke dry. As if that's not enough, the cake is drizzled with a glaze that's perfectly balanced between sweet and tart with the slightest, tantalizingly seductive lilt of lemon. And if you're into food porn, be certain to watch the video below. (Trust us. You don't want to miss the video!) What makes this recipe even better is that it makes not just one but two cakes, both of which will keep beautifully, so if you decide to keep both rather than gift one or both, you can selfishly linger over them all week long.–Angie Zoobkoff

WHO CAN RESIST POUND CAKE? ANYONE? WE THOUGHT NOT.

A partially sliced loaf of cream cheese pound cake with lemon glaze.

A partially sliced loaf of cream cheese pound cake with lemon glaze.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A partially sliced loaf of cream cheese pound cake with lemon glaze.

This cream cheese pound cake is everything you can imagine: delicious with a dense, tight, moist crumb and a puckery lemon glaze that's the perfect foil to all that richness.

Prep 25 mins

Cook 1 hr 15 mins

Total 3 hrs 40 mins

  • Two 9-by-5-inch (23-by-13-cm) loaf pans

For the cream cheese pound cake

  • Vegetable oil cooking spray or butter
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 3 sticks (12 oz) unsalted butter room temperature
  • 8 ounces full fat cream cheese room temperature
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the tart lemon glaze (optional, but don't pass it up)

  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice

Make the pound cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously coat two 9-by-5-inch metal or ceramic loaf pans with cooking spray or butter.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer on high speed or in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer on high, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth, 1 to 3 minutes. Gradually add the sugar, beating until the mixture is pale and fluffy, 4 to 8 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.

  • Turn the mixer to low speed and then add the flour mixture in 2 batches, beating until just combined after each addition, about 1 minute.

  • Divide the batter between the 2 prepared pans. Tap the pans on the counter and smooth the tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs attached, 65 to 80 minutes. If the tops of the cakes seem to be browning too quickly, tent them with foil. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Then carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours. (The pound cakes can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 weeks. Thaw the wrapped cakes at room temperature before unwrapping and slicing.)

Make the glaze

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth.

  • Set a rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pour the lemon glaze, if using, over the pound cakes, letting it drip down the sides. Let rest until the glaze sets, 30 to 60 minutes. Slice. Devour. Repeat.

Serving: 1 slice Calories: 414 kcal (21%) Carbohydrates: 57 g (19%) Protein: 5 g (10%) Fat: 19 g (29%) Saturated Fat: 11 g (69%) Trans Fat: 1 g Cholesterol: 105 mg (35%) Sodium: 293 mg (13%) Potassium: 65 mg (2%) Fiber: 1 g (4%) Sugar: 42 g (47%) Vitamin A: 657 IU (13%) Vitamin C: 1 mg (1%) Calcium: 27 mg (3%) Iron: 1 mg (6%)

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Originally published January 18, 2018

Recipe © 2017 Martha Stewart Living. Photos © 2017 David Leite. All rights reserved. All materials used with permission.

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