Pound cake with strawberry: three easy ways to serve it

Pound cake with strawberry is one of the simplest desserts to make, and it works three easy ways. Serve slices with sugared strawberries and whipped cream, bake a loaf with a strawberry swirl, or toast the slices and top them with warm berries. A plain pound cake bar works well as the base.

Why does pound cake go so well with strawberries?

Pound cake goes well with strawberries because its dense, buttery crumb absorbs the berry juice without falling apart, and its mild sweetness balances the fruit’s acidity. The pairing is the base of classic strawberry shortcake variations.

A sturdy pound cake holds shape under wet toppings. Softer sponge cakes can turn soggy quickly, while a firm pound cake stays distinct and soaks up just enough juice to taste rich.

How do you macerate strawberries?

To macerate strawberries, slice them, toss them with sugar and let them stand for 30 minutes so they release a light syrup. The sugar draws juice from the fruit and softens the berries slightly.

1. Hull and slice 1 pound (450 g) of ripe strawberries.
2. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice.
3. Let the bowl stand 30 minutes at room temperature, stirring once.
4. Spoon the berries and syrup over the cake.

Taste the berries before adding all the sugar. Very ripe strawberries need less, and a pinch of salt sharpens their flavor.

What are three easy ways to serve pound cake with strawberry?

The three methods are fresh strawberries and cream, a baked strawberry swirl loaf and toasted slices with warm berries. Each takes less than 30 minutes of active work.

How do you make strawberry pound cake slices with cream?

Cut thick slices of pound cake, top them with macerated strawberries and finish with a spoonful of lightly whipped cream. This needs no oven and takes 10 minutes once the berries have stood.

1. Cut the pound cake into slices about 3/4 inch thick.
2. Whip 1 cup cold heavy cream with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar to soft peaks.
3. Place a slice on each plate and spoon macerated berries and syrup over it.
4. Add a dollop of cream and, if you like, a few thin strips of basil or mint.

Use the syrup generously, because the cake absorbs it and the juice becomes part of the dessert.

How do you bake a strawberry swirl pound cake?

For a swirl loaf, cook chopped strawberries into a thick jam, cool it and ripple it through a vanilla pound cake batter before baking at 325°F. Cooking the fruit first keeps the loaf from getting wet and heavy.

1. Simmer 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries with 2 tablespoons sugar for about 10 minutes, until thick. Cool completely.
2. Make a basic pound cake batter (butter, sugar, eggs, flour, vanilla).
3. Spoon half the batter into a greased 9 by 5 inch pan, dot with half the jam and add the rest of the batter.
4. Dot with the remaining jam and drag a knife through once or twice to swirl.
5. Bake 60 to 70 minutes until a skewer is clean, covering with foil if the top darkens.

Do not over-swirl. Two passes make visible ribbons, while more blend the jam into the batter.

How do you make toasted pound cake with warm strawberries?

Brown pound cake slices in butter, then top with strawberries warmed in a pan with a little sugar. The toasted edge gives crunch and the warm fruit melts into the cake.

Melt a teaspoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat and brown each slice about 1 to 2 minutes a side. In a second pan, warm sliced strawberries with a spoonful of sugar for 3 minutes until just softened. Plate the cake, spoon the berries on top and add cream or ice cream if desired.

How do you choose good strawberries?

Choose strawberries that are fully red, glossy and fragrant, with fresh green caps and no soft or white shoulders. Strawberries do not ripen after picking, so color and smell at purchase decide the flavor.

Smaller berries are often sweeter than very large ones. In season, usually late spring and early summer in much of the United States, local berries taste best. Out of season, a spoonful of sugar and a squeeze of lemon bring up flavor in paler fruit.

Rinse the berries just before use, not earlier, and pat them dry. Water left on the fruit dilutes the syrup and speeds spoilage.

What toppings go with strawberry pound cake?

Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, lemon curd, mascarpone and a drizzle of honey all pair well. The mild cake takes nearly any creamy topping.

• Whipped cream: light and classic, the usual choice.
• Vanilla ice cream: turns the dessert into a warm and cold plate when the cake is toasted.
• Lemon curd: adds sharp contrast to the sweet berries.
• Sweetened mascarpone or cream cheese: richer and thicker than whipped cream.
• Mint or basil: a few thin strips add a fresh note.

How do you keep the berries and cake fresh?

Keep pound cake wrapped at room temperature and strawberries covered in the refrigerator, then combine them just before serving. Assembled dessert gets soggy within a few hours.

• Unwashed strawberries keep 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Macerated berries keep up to a day in a covered bowl.
• Pound cake keeps 3 days at room temperature and about 2 months in the freezer.

Can you use a store-bought pound cake?

Yes. A good bakery pound cake bar is an excellent base, because it is already dense, buttery and sliceable. Cut it into slices and use the same toppings.

Stock’s Bakery in Philadelphia is known for pound cake sold as hand-cut bars of about 2.5 pounds, in vanilla or marble, with vanilla or chocolate frosting, according to the 2016 Philadelphia Inquirer. A plain vanilla slice suits the strawberry toppings above. The bakery is family-run for generations.

No official menu is published. Recorded items also include butter cake, a decorated double-layer pound cake, cookies, doughnuts, coffee cake and pies. WHYY reported that it takes cash only. See the menu page and the hours and location page before going. This guide is independent and takes no orders.

Common questions

Planning a visit? Start with Stocks Bakery: address, opening hours, menu and directions in one place.

This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Stock's Bakery itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.