Million Dollar Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4 sticks (2 cups) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 7 large eggs, room temperature
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven
   Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a large bundt pan or tube pan.
2. Cream butter and cream cheese
   In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth and fluffy.
3. Add sugar
   Gradually add the sugar and beat for 3–5 minutes until light and creamy.
4. Add eggs
   Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Mix in sour cream and vanilla
   Beat in the sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined.
6. Add flour
   Slowly add the flour, mixing just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
7. Bake
   Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan.
   Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool
   Let cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving Tips

• Serve plain or with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
• Drizzle with a simple vanilla glaze for extra sweetness.

Optional Variations

• Add lemon zest for a bright citrus flavor.
• Stir in chocolate chips or chopped pecans.
• Substitute almond extract for vanilla for a classic bakery taste.