Caramel Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Rich Swirl (Print version)

A tender cream cheese pound cake baked with thick caramel ribbons and a rich, buttery crumb.

# Ingredients:

For the pound cake batter

01 - 1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
04 - 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk, room temperature

For the caramel cream cheese swirl

09 - 4 oz (115 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) thick caramel sauce, plus more for serving if desired

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment, leaving overhang on the long sides.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.
04 - Add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk. Mix on low just until the batter is smooth and no dry streaks remain.
05 - In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the caramel sauce just until the mixture looks streaked and thick.
06 - Spread half the cake batter in the pan. Dollop the caramel cream cheese mixture over the top, then cover with the remaining batter. Drag a thin knife through the batter 3 or 4 times to marble it.
07 - Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil near the end if the top browns too fast.
08 - Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift the loaf onto a wire rack. Let it cool completely before slicing so the swirl sets.

# Good to know:

01 - Room-temperature butter, eggs, milk, and cream cheese give the smoothest batter.
02 - Use thick caramel sauce so the swirl stays visible in the baked loaf.
03 - Cool completely for clean slices.

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