Babes, let me introduce you to the ultimate summer vibe – the Strawberry Lemonade Cake. It’s a heavenly, moist, and buttery lemon pound cake that’s jazzed up with a fab strawberry swirl, all hugged by the most amazing strawberry and kicky lemon glazes! Every bite is like a burst of sunshine, mixing that tangy lemon with lush, sweet strawberries. It’s like your fave summer drink got a glow-up into a cake that’s all about bringing the joy and the flavor. This cake isn’t just dessert, y’all, it’s a whole summer mood on a plate!
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By now, you might have noticed that I’ve got quite a thing for lemonade. From cupcakes to fresh squeezed, I can never seem to get enough of the sour yet sweet nectar. I mean, is there anything better on a hot Summer day than a tall glass of ice-cold lemonade? I think not.
Having endured most of my childhood Summers in the Mississippi heat, I know my way around a frosty drink. I’ve squeezed plenty of lemons and stirred so many batches of sweet tea in my day! These days, I still enjoy sugary, chilled beverages but I also love using those same drinks to make something new.
Strawberry Lemonade is a zippy, fruity variation of classic lemonade. I’m drawing inspiration from this heavenly libation to create this Summer’s latest and greatest dessert. Strawberry Lemonade Pound Cake is perfect for picnics, potlucks and weekend BBQ’s!
The Heart and Soul of this Strawberry Lemonade Pound Cake Recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort Meets Summer Freshness
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Contains Gluten and Dairy
Key Flavor: Tangy Lemon Infused with Sweet Strawberries
Skill Level: Baker Extraordinaire (Intermediate)
Sweet Highlights:
Perk 1: Dual Delight: Why choose between strawberry and lemon when you can have both? This cake features a luscious lemon batter with a surprise strawberry lemonade heart that’s all kinds of yum.
Perk 2: Glaze Galore: Double the glaze, double the fun! Alternating layers of strawberry and lemon glazes not only add an extra burst of flavor but also make this cake a feast for the eyes.
Perk 3: Summer in a Slice: Every bite of this moist, rich pound cake screams summer, making it the perfect centerpiece for your picnic, BBQ, or garden party. Rain or shine, it’s summertime!
Perk 4: Sweet Nostalgia: Remember those lazy childhood days sipping strawberry lemonade in the sun? This cake is just like that, but better. It’s a nostalgia trip in every bite.
Perk 5: Impress the Guests: This isn’t just a cake; it’s a showstopper. The vibrant colors and unique flavors make it the kind of dessert that gets all the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ at your table.
Ingredients
Alright y’all, you’re in for a real treat today! Seriously, this pound cake is one of the best things I have ever made. Every bite is decadent, buttery and chock-full of harmonious zesty, sweet flavor. I promise you, each slice will remind you exactly of an impossibly tasty glass of strawberry lemonade!
There are quite a few ingredients in this recipe but here’s what really makes the magic happen:
Cream Cheese
Pound cakes need a hefty amount of moisture to achieve that tender, buttery texture. Cream cheese has both a high fat and moisture content; they work together to build a creamy, soft consistency.
Lemon Instant Pudding
Instant pudding mixes are a great way to infuse an extra kick of flavor and create a creamier batter.
Lemon Juice & Zest
This wouldn’t be a Strawberry Lemonade Cake without a strong, tart lemon flavor. Using the tangy juice and floral zest is what makes for a strong, deliciously sharp citrus taste.
Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder
Made with freshly freeze-dried strawberries, this powder is a great way to naturally flavor desserts. I love the fresh strawberry aroma that comes from using this powder.
Strawberry Preserves
Jam preserves contain a rich portion of fruitiness which makes it perfect for baking. The highly-concentrated flavor and bits of natural strawberry create a luscious glaze.
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Pound Cake
Step 1: Creamy Beginnings
Start with preheating your oven to a cozy 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, let’s get the party started by creaming room temperature cream cheese, butter, and a pinch of salt on high speed until it’s smoother than jazz.
Step 2: Sweeten the Deal
Next up, it’s sugar time! Slowly introduce sugar to the bowl, creaming until it’s light and fluffy – about 5 minutes should do the trick.
Step 3: All About Eggs
Dial down your mixer to medium, and add one egg at a time, making sure each one is fully onboard before inviting the next.
Step 4: Slow-Mo Flour Fusion
Time to slow things down. On the lowest speed, add flour one cup at a time until it’s just hitched a ride with the creamy mix. No overbeating, we want it chill!
Step 5: Zesty Business
Put aside ⅓ of your batter for some fruity fun soon. Now, add half of the lemon pudding mix and some lemon zest to the original batter, mixing until just combined.
Step 6: Strawberry Fields Forever
Take the set-aside batter and whisk in freeze-dried strawberry powder and preserves. Want a pop of color? Add in food coloring until you get a pink that makes you smile.
Step 7: Layer it Up!
In your pan, smooth out half of the lemon batter. Spoon on your strawberry batter, then cover it with the rest of the lemon batter. Smooth and sleek is what we’re going for!
Step 8: Patience, Darling
Bake for 1 hour and 10-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then flip it onto a serving plate and wait (the hardest part!) until it’s cool to the touch.
Step 9: Double Trouble Glazes
For the lemon glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust as needed! For the strawberry glaze, do the same with all the ingredients in another bowl.
Step 10: The Grand Finale
Time to make it rain! Drizzle your lemon and strawberry glazes on the cake, making sure both make an appearance. Crown your masterpiece with strawberries and lemon slices.
Leftover Pound Cake Storage
Pound cakes have a high moisture content that will begin to dry out from the moment you cut into it. Though they can be kept at room temperature for 1-2 days, I find that it’s best to refrigerate a pound cake. Cover the leftover cake with either foil or plastic wrap then, place in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To Freeze: Wrap the cake in aluminum foil or plastic wrap then, put it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. A frozen pound cake will keep for 4-6 months. When ready to consume, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Best Strawberry and Lemonade Recipes
This Summer is coming in hot! It’s time to stack up a few recipes to keep you cool, sane and satiated. Try out a few my favorite refreshing sunny-day drinks & desserts:
- Easy Strawberry Lemonade
- 7 up Pound Cake
- Strawberry Lemonade Bars
- Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake
- Strawberry Pound Cake
- Lemon Pound Cake
Strawberry Lemonade Cake
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Equipment
Ingredients
For the Lemon Pound Cake
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature (3 sticks)
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs room temperature
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 3.4 oz lemon instant pudding package
- 2 tsp lemon zest
For the Strawberry Swirl
- 1/3 cup freeze dried strawberries powder
- 2 tbsp melted strawberry preserves
- red food coloring if desired
For the Lemon Glaze
- 1 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar sifted
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- lemon zest optional
For the Strawberry Glaze
- 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar sifted
- 4 tbsp strawberry preserves melted
- 5-6 tsp whole milk
- optional: fresh strawberries and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
For the Pound Cake Batter
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add room temperature cream cheese, butter and salt to large mixing bowl and begin creaming on high speed until smooth.
- Slowly add sugar to bowl and cream until light and fluffy which takes about 5 minutes.
- Lower speed of mixer to medium and add one egg at a time and mix until incorporated.
- Slow mixer to slowest speed and add flour one cup at a time into bowl until just incorporated. Do not overbeat at this point.
- Remove ⅓ of the batter from the mixer and set to the side.
- Add half of the lemon pudding mix and lemon zest to the mixer and mix in until just combined.
For the Swirl
- Add freeze dried strawberry powder and preserves to the set aside ⅓ of batter and whisk until combined.
- Finally add in food coloring until you reach a color you like. I went with a moderately bright pink.
- Add half of the lemon cake batter to the pan and smooth out. Next spoon strawberry cake batter on top and smooth out. Finally add the remaining lemon cake batter and smooth completely covering the strawberry cake batter.
- Bake for 1 hour and 10 -20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert cake on serving plate for at least an hour or until the cake is cool to the touch.
For the Lemon Glaze
- Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. If it is too runny, add a bit more sugar or if it is too thick, add a little bit more lemon juice. You want to consistency to coat the back of a spoon but slide off easily. Set aside.
For the Strawberry Glaze
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients until smooth. If it is too runny, add a bit more sugar or if too thick, more milk.
- Finally to assemble the cake, alternate drizzling both lemon and strawberry glaze on top of the room temperature cake making sure both icings are seen.
- Add strawberries and lemon slices to center of cake and serve.
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Can this cake be made as a three layer cake?
You can try it! I have not tested this recipe as a 3 layer cake and it will be dense as it is a pound cake and a traditional layer cake.