Pound cake can be boring when served as is. But this classic dessert can become simply astonishing if you add fruit, whipped cream or chocolate to the equation. Here’s how to serve pound cake to upgrade its taste!
The name ‘pound cake’ comes from the original recipe, which contained one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. But the finished product was tremendous, so, over time, the ratio of the ingredients used was adjusted to make a smaller, lighter cake. The ingredients for pound cake have also changed because every chef wanted to bring some new flavors to it. However, the name of the cake has remained the same.
In different countries and regions, people make pound cake in their own style. Some use flavoring agents, like vanilla or almond extract, lemon zest, orange zest, or add dried fruit into the batter like currants or dried cranberries. Some even replace the butter with vegetable oil.
When you make a pound cake, one of the most important things is to bake it in a Bundt mold. You can also use a loaf pan, but the visual result isn’t the same.
After you choose your recipe, you’ll have a moist, tender, and rich pound cake. Every bite is dense and decadent, full of butter, sugar, and your favorite flavors. It tastes like a simple cake and it’s perfect for a cup of coffee in the morning. But this isn’t a dull dessert if you know how to serve pound cake in a more sophisticated manner.
How to Serve Pound Cake
1. The basic way: pound cake, whipped cream, and fruit
A typical pound cake can look fancy even if you serve it simple: with fruit and whipped cream. Take a slice of pound cake and top it with good whipped cream, then add beautiful colored fresh berries and mint leaves. Want some magic dust? Sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over it!
2. Greek yogurt, sweet syrup, and nuts
Is pound cake too dry and dense for your taste? Balance its texture and flavor with one or two tablespoons of Greek yogurt, which is thick and creamy, but also has a fresh taste that makes a perfect base for a sweet sauce and some nuts. You may add honey or maple syrup, then sprinkle crunchy almonds, walnuts, and/or pistachios.
3. Grilled pound cake slices with summer fruit
If you have some leftover pound cake that seems to harden, grill it! Grilling adds smoky flavor and crispiness to pound cake slices. Heat the grill, butter the pound cake slices on both sides then lay them on grilling machine and don’t move the slices until they start to smoke! Then flip them with a spatula, to grill the other side. It takes only a minute or two for each side, and you’ll obtain some nice brown lines.
Since you’ve already heated the grill, cook some summer fruit too and add them to your dessert. You can choose apricots, peaches, plums. Remove their pits, butter each half, and grill them 4 to 5 minutes per side.
How to serve pound cake if it’s grilled? Just like that: combine it on a plate with grilled fruit and add goat cheese or cream cheese. We guarantee you it’s delicious!
4. Pound cake with banana and pudding
This is a dessert in a glass. Cut slices of pound cake into one-inch squares, then layer them with cold pudding and banana slices or strawberries. It’s perfect for a summertime treat. In fact, you can use any fruit.
5. Pound cake croutons for fruit salad
If you don’t grill it, bake it! Lightly butter pound cake slices on both sides, then cut them into small cubes and bake them in the oven for about 7-8 minutes at 400 degrees F/200 degrees C, occasionally stirring, until they’re browned. Add the crunchy croutons to fruit salad.
6. Pound cake sandwiches
Slice the pound cake and make a sandwich! Add cream cheese, peanut butter, strawberry jam, Nutella, camembert or brie cheese with apricot jam, or anything that spreads well on a pound cake slice.
7. Chocolate and raspberries
Chocolate spread on a waffle and topped with raspberries is a classic dessert. But what keeps you from making the same thing with pound cake? Exactly! Nothing!
8. Ice cream and almond flakes
Put one or two scoops of your favorite ice cream on a slice of pound cake. Top everything with almond flakes, or crushed walnuts, or pistachio, or hazelnuts, or fruit.
9. Lemon curd and pistachio
It’s not very difficult to make lemon curd. Whisk together fresh lemon juice, grated lemon zest, sugar, and eggs in a heavy saucepan, then stir in butter (cut into small cubes) and cook over moderately low heat, frequently whisking, until curd is thick enough. Let it cool.
Add a tablespoon of homemade lemon curd on a slice of pound cake. Give it a fresh twist by sprinkling on it a handful of pistachio, toasted and chopped.
10. With ricotta and figs
A slice of pound cake works well with ricotta cheese, which is creamy and has a slightly sweet taste. Make a crown of sliced fresh figs on top, and you have a beautiful dessert! Want it sweeter? Honey or maple syrup will help you with that!
From now on you’ll know how to serve pound cake magnificently, so you’ll impress your guests.
