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A close-up slice of moist lemon cream cheese pound cake on a white plate, topped with a thick white lemon glaze and fresh lemon zest, with the rest of the Bundt cake in the background

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake


  • Author: Emma Hart
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 16 servings 1x

Description

Indulge in the ultimate Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake! This recipe transforms a simple cake mix into a decadently moist and tender dessert. The cream cheese ensures a rich, velvety texture while fresh lemon provides a bright, zesty flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness. Topped with a tangy lemon glaze, this bundt cake is impressively easy to make and stays soft for days. It’s the perfect treat for any occasion!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon lemon flavoring (optional)
1 box lemon cake mix, 13.25–15.25 oz (dry)
1 small box (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding (dry)
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
⅓ cup milk of choice
¼ cup fresh lemon juice

For the Glaze

2 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice


Instructions

Prep: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Generously grease and flour a 10 or 12-cup bundt pan to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.

Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add Eggs and Flavor: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Then, mix in the fresh lemon juice and optional lemon flavoring.

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry cake mix, instant pudding mix, and all-purpose flour.

Make the Batter: On low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Mix only until just combined to avoid a tough cake.

Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Cool and Glaze: Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. While it cools, whisk the confectioner’s sugar and lemon juice for the glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the fully cooled cake.

Notes

Room Temperature Ingredients: For the best results, ensure your butter, cream cheese, and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them combine into a smooth batter, creating a finer crumb and a more even rise.

Don’t Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix on the lowest speed only until the flour streaks disappear. Overmixing develops gluten and will result in a tough cake.

Use Full-Fat Cream Cheese: For the classic rich and dense pound cake texture, use full-fat, block-style cream cheese, not the spreadable kind from a tub.

Proper Cooling: Allowing the cake to cool completely before glazing is crucial. A warm cake will absorb the glaze, making it runny and transparent instead of a distinct, opaque layer.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 495
  • Sugar: 55
  • Sodium: 380
  • Fat: 25
  • Saturated Fat: 15
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 65
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 5
  • Cholesterol: 110

Keywords: lemon pound cake, cream cheese pound cake, bundt cake, lemon cake mix recipe, moist pound cake, lemon glaze, easy pound cake, dessert, lemon dessert