This Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake is so easy to make from scratch, and it topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
If you've ever stepped foot in Starbucks and peered in their bakery case, you most likely have seen slices of their Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake. It's sweet, moist, and laced with raspberry flavor.
It's delicious and all, but I'm a strawberry girl. I grew up pulling strawberries from the garden, and eating them right there, dropping the stems to the ground as I went.
I just wished that Starbucks would make a strawberry swirl pound cake, because I'd buy it by the loaf.
However, until they do, I'll be making this one at home!
What ingredients do I need to make Strawberry Pound Cake?
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- butter
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- sour cream
- lemon juice
- seedless strawberry preserves
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
Can I substitute the sour cream?
Yes, you can use plain greek yogurt.
Tips for the perfect Strawberry Pound Cake:
- You never want to overmix the batter. (like most desserts)
- You want to always grease and flour your pan. Or use the non stick spray with the flour already in it. (this is just the easiest way to do things)
- Always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use room temperature eggs, butter, and any other refrigerated item. In the case of our Strawberry Swirl pound Cake, the sour cream. Of course you should always use room temperature items in all of your baking, unless that particular recipe calls for it to be cold.
Why do you use room temperature ingredients when baking?
Because when they are at room temperature, they trap air in them, and when they are baking in the oven, that trapped air expands, and produces fluffy baked goodies. This is the reason 99.9% of my desserts call for room temperature ingredients.
Here's the deal...I know that room temperature isn't always easy. You want cookies now dang it. Or a cake or whatever, so you don't want to wait. Ok, that's cool.
Need to get things room temperature quick?
You can place eggs in room temperature water for a few minutes to bring them to room temperature. NOT HOT water! Like lukewarm.
Cold butter? Warm a tall glass with hot water, dry it out, and drop the stick of butter in inside. Within a few minutes you have room temperature butter. I have also used my microwave to soften butter and cream cheese. But, I wouldn't recommend this, unless you have a soften/melt setting. Things can go from cold to liquid in a matter of seconds. I don't even use that setting very often. Mainly for cream cheese, and not butter.
Do you have any quick baking tips or hacks? Oh, I'll also add that instead of a toothpick, I usually use a wooden skewer. How else do you get into the center of a cake like one baked in a loaf pan? I have yet to have a toothpick reach.
I've tested this recipe with two different extracts; vanilla and lemon. You can use either one!
Strawberry and lemon pair so well together that when used in this pound cake, you get this nice little hit of lemon with a mix of strawberry. You could also toss in the lemon extract in the icing. Because everyone knows that lemon and cream cheese go together...and if you didn't then you must make this recipe for my Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting! It is so good, if you love lemon.
Have you made pound cake before? I've only made a few, and they've all been made in a loaf pan, so this size.
I would love to try and replicate a few recipes for pound cake that I've found in various cookbooks that belonged to my mother and grandmother. Each one has a written variation of a pound cake.
Then I can never ever forget my Mammies (my mother's mother) pound cake with lemon glaze. WOW, it was one that I'll never forget! Do you have a family recipe for pound cake?
More strawberry recipes that I think you'll enjoy:
- Strawberry Ice Cream
- Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake
This Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake is so easy to make from scratch, and it topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract can for lemon extract
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup seedless strawberry preserves
Icing
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract can sub lemon extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, and spray with non stick cooking spray that includes flour. (or you can grease and flour your pan) Set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar for 2 whole minutes. Add the eggs in one at a time, beating after each. Beat in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low, add half the flour mix, and beat until almost combined. Add in the sour cream, beat until mixed, and then add the remaining flour. Do not overmix. Beat until just combined. Remove 1 cup of the batter, and mix it with the seedless strawberry preserves. Stir the lemon juice into the remaining batter.
- In the bottom of the loaf pan, pour in half of the white batter. On top of the pour in the strawberry batter, and then top with the remaining white batter. Using a knife swirl slightly. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 20 minutes in the loaf pan, and then lift out and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, beat the cream cheese, and whisk in the powdered sugar. Spread on the top of the cake, slice and serve.
Notes
Optional: to bump up that color, add 2 to 3 drops of pink food coloring.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 463Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 377mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 10g
candy says
Pound cake and strawberries are the perfect match this time of year. Never made your swirl cake so will be adding it to our list of strawberry things to make.
Joanna says
It's a great strawberry treat to have!
Alli Smith says
I could eat that icing with a spoon! I usually make sour cream pound cakes and I've never made a strawberry one. This looks sooooo good!
Joanna says
This is a great one to try out!
robin rue says
What a wonderful summer dessert this is. We are having a big cookout on Memorial Day and this would go over big with my guests!
Joanna says
This ia perfect for Memorial day!
Ashley says
My kids would eat this all up. It looks delicious!
Joanna says
My daughter loves it!
Melissa Chapman says
This looks like a great pound cake for breakfast or dessert. You make it seem so easy to make I have to try it myself in the next few days.
Joanna says
You can totally do it! It's an easy one. ?
Tasheena says
This pound cake looks delicious. I love that it calls for strawberry preserves which is great to have on hand. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Joanna says
I hope you give this one a try soon!
Amber Myers says
I love strawberries! I need to make this soon. Plus I'm all about cream cheese frosting.
Joanna says
Cream cheese frosting is everything!
chubskulit rose says
Can I have a slice, pretty please???? This looks so delicious, it would be great for a cup of tea.
Joanna says
It's perfect to have alongside tea or coffee.
Glamamom says
Okay, you really got me at buttercream! I love a good pound cake but the swirl with the buttercream makes this recipe a must-try!
Sarah Bailey says
Oh my goodness how good does this look, I have to admit I do love cake and hey who doesn't love strawberry added in! YUM!
Joanna says
And so perfect for summer coming up!
Terri Steffes says
I love strawberries and this looks like a great way to eat them! I can't wait to try it. I have an event coming up and I can't wait to try this.
Joanna says
This will be great for any event or gathering. 🙂
Lisa says
Can you please tell me how much sour cream is used?
Joanna says
1/4th cup. So sorry, I will edit that when I get home.
Lisa says
It’s absolutely wonderful!!!!! My husband can’t stop eating it!
Carol Cassara says
Pound cakes are pretty awesome and I just love having a slice or two with coffee or tea! Especially in the afternoon. I think this recipe is really lovely!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
I love that it looks so dense, I am a fan of that consistency. I love that it is strawberry too!
Ricci says
I have been strawberry obsessed lately! I need to try this recipe soon!!
Kita Bryant says
I would love to bake this. Swirl cake sounds like a lot of fun!
Wendy Polisi says
Ooh this looks really great! Strawberry is such a great cake flavor too!
Joanna says
We love incorporating strawberry into a lot of desserts.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
I haven't made a pound cake before. I may try to make one soon with this recipe! I love strawberry flavors in food!