The Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe is lemony, tender, and moist. It’s sweet and simple with a lemon and butter flavoring that melts in your mouth!

With just six basic cake ingredients, this is THE BEST pound cake recipe!

A close-up of a sliced Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake with a golden crust, accompanied by the text "Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe Too Good!" written over the image.

This is my Mom’s cake recipe. She always either made this Cream Cheese Pound Cake or a Sour Cream Pound Cake. For years, I thought it was the only Pound Cake recipe.

Old-fashioned desserts seem to be making a resurgence. My Pound Cake series has been very popular (especially this recipe), as well as other old-fashioned desserts that I’ve shared. My Old-fashioned Butter Roll, Old-fashioned Sugar Pie, Old Fashioned No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, and Old-fashioned Rice Pudding are some of the most popular recipes.

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Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I’ve started a series of testing and reviewing Pound Cake recipes. You can read all the posts and get the recipes here.

This recipe boasts a silky texture. A small crumb that is even smoother than the Whipping Cream Pound Cake. The outside of this pound cake does not have a crispy texture like the Whipping Cream Pound Cake. However, it’s just as flavorful.

It’s a very easy pound cake to make. Even though I used a generous one tablespoon of lemon extract in my Cream Cheese Pound Cake, it does not have a strong lemon flavor. The one and a half cups of butter give it a butter flavoring instead. Also, as I found in this cookie recipe that uses cream cheese, the cream cheese actually complements and intensifies the butter flavor. That’s a good thing!

You may also enjoy these pound cake recipes

The video below is for my Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake. However, the mixing method is the same for this Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe.

More Tips for Cream Cheese Pound Cake

If you truly want a lemon flavor, I suggest adding two tablespoons of lemon extract and two tablespoons of lemon zest to the recipe below. Furthermore, for Cream Cheese Pound Cake with classic vanilla and buttery taste, use vanilla instead of lemon extract. It is very good, and I highly recommend this recipe.

This Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe yields a moist cake that’s dense and slightly sweet. If you crave more sweetness, glaze the cake with a mixture of confectioners’ sugar, milk, and flavoring.

What is the secret to a good pound cake?

The key to making a great pound cake is careful mixing and using high-quality ingredients that are at room temperature, especially the butter and a liquid dairy such as milk, cream cheese, or sour cream. To create a moist and tender texture, start by thoroughly creaming the butter and sugar together. Next, add the eggs one at a time. After that, gently incorporate the dry and liquid ingredients in alternating additions, being careful not to overmix. Finally, bake the cake at a lower-than-normal temperature for a longer time so it cooks evenly all the way through.

Get all my Pound Cake recipes here.

Can I freeze cream cheese pound cake?

Pound cake is great for freezing. Wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap and store it in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.

Can I bake this cake in two loaf pans?

Yes, you can bake this cake in two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans. The cooking time will be 60 minutes, add time if needed.

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe is tender and moist. It’s sweet and simple with a buttery flavoring that melts in your mouth!

Author: Paula

4.86 from 88 votes

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Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 1 10

Total Time: 1 30

Servings: 16 servings

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Equipment

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups butter room temp (How to soften butter)
8 ounce cream cheese room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour sifted then measured
1 tablespoon lemon extract

Instructions

Coat a tube pan or bundt pan with solid vegetable shortening and a dusting of sugar (about 1/4 cup) swirl the pan so the sugar coats all the shortening. Be sure not to miss any areas. Or you can coat the pan with Wilton cake release.
Preheat oven to 350°F
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth.
1 and 1/2 cups butter, 8 ounce cream cheese
Add sugar and beat until fluffy. The mixture will lighten in color slightly. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Return the mixer to low.
3 cups granulated sugar
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl. Return to low.
6 large eggs
Slowly add the flour to the mixture and stir it in gently. Be careful not to overmix.
3 cups all-purpose flour
Add lemon extract and stir it in. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl.
1 tablespoon lemon extract
Pour batter into your prepared pan.
Bake 60 to 70 minutes at 350℉ (or 75 to 80 minutes at 325℉ – I've baked it both ways) or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean or with 'dry' crumbs. Or, you can test with your cake thermometer.
Allow to cool on the countertop on a wire rack 30 minutes before inverting on a serving tray. Cool completely on the counter before covering in an airtight container.
Store in an airtight container on the counter for 5 to 6 days. To revive dried-out 'old' pound cake, spread butter on both sides and toast until it's lightly browned. Or, you can make a Nutella Strawberry Grilled Sandwich. The link is in the notes below.

Notes

You can substitute vanilla extract or almond extract for the lemon. Pure extracts are the best, not imitation.

Here is the recipe for Nutella Strawberry Grilled Pound Cake Sandwiches.

Nutrition

80 Comments

I just put my cakes in the oven. I used your recipe as a base. These are the changes I made. I wanted a strawberry lemonade cream cheese pound cake. I used strawberry cream cheese. Instead of extract I squeezed the juice of 1 large lemon. I zested the lemon and set it aside for the pudding I’m using as a sort of filling. The batter tastes immaculate. Additionally. I used mini bunt cake pans. So they will not cook quite as long. I cannot wait to taste them when done. I will certainly let you know if they come out how I want. 😁

Paula says:

04.24.23 at 8:33 pm

Yes, I’d love to hear the results. I get a lot of questions on useing mini bundt pans so I’d also love to know how long they baked. I keep meaning to test this but forget until I’m asked again. Thanks so much!

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I am just curious why the lemon extract is added after the flour. I would think it would mix in better before but I see this often in recipes. Is there a reason?

Paula says:

03.28.23 at 10:12 am

I’m not really sure. If I’m making a cake with buttermilk, milk, whipping cream etc I dump mine in it and mix it in.

Reply

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One of my favorite pound cake recipes! It’s hard to believe such a short list of ingredients can make something so delectably flavorful, tender and moist. Love it!

I had an excess of strawberries after picking them and wanted to make something different. I made this pound cake and served it with sliced strawberries and it was so delicious!

This cake was so good!

I tried this recipe and everyone said it was the best pound cake they have ever had! I did add a little more lemon extract to it as I LOVE lemon. I am not much of a baker but this was super easy to make!

Hola!! No necesita polvo de hornear?

Paula says:

03.03.22 at 10:31 am

No, the eggs will make the cake rise.

Reply

My Grandmother baked cakes and I do too. This is a perfect replica of her recipe as each one is slightly different. It’s the butter for me. It’s the tablespoon of flavoring too. I substituted vanilla for my family. Make sure you sift the flour and everything is room temperature. Now, this version yields a lot of mixture so there was enough a 6 or so cupcakes. I will add confection sugar icing to make the dessert a hit! Thank you for sharing. Southern baker, Ingrid