Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake (Print Version)

Buttery pound cake loaf with fresh strawberry marbling and a glossy vanilla glaze, ideal for teatime or gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Strawberry Swirl

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
02 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch

→ Pound Cake

05 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
09 - 1 cup granulated sugar
10 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
11 - 1/3 cup sour cream, room temperature
12 - 1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
13 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Vanilla Glaze

14 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons milk
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until strawberries break down and mixture thickens slightly. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 teaspoon water and stir into strawberry mixture. Cook for 1 minute until thickened. Remove from heat and cool completely.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
05 - Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract.
06 - On low speed, alternately add flour mixture and milk to wet ingredients, beginning and ending with flour. Do not overmix.
07 - Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan. Spoon half of cooled strawberry mixture over batter and swirl gently with a knife. Repeat with remaining batter and strawberry mixture, swirling the top layer.
08 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled loaf and allow glaze to set before slicing.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The strawberry swirl is cooked down just enough to concentrate flavor without turning the cake into a soggy mess.
  • It's fancy enough to serve at a spring brunch but simple enough to make on a random Wednesday without stress.
  • Leftovers stay moist for days, making it perfect for grab-and-go breakfast moments.
02 -
  • If your strawberry swirl isn't completely cool before swirling, it will melt into the batter and disappear—chill it in the fridge for 5 minutes if you're in a rush.
  • Don't open the oven door to check on the cake before 50 minutes; temperature fluctuations can cause the top to crack or bake unevenly.
  • Overmixing the batter after adding the flour is the quickest way to end up with a dense, tough cake instead of a tender one.
03 -
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon freeze-dried strawberry powder to the swirl if you want a more intense strawberry flavor that edges toward sophisticated rather than one-dimensional.
  • Make the glaze just before serving—it sets fastest on a cool cake and looks most elegant when it's freshly drizzled and still has a slight sheen.
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