These are busy days, my friends. Work is overwhelming at times. And on the personal front, family commitments and baking class seem to take up any extra time I have. Sometimes it’s all a bit much.
I suspect this is why I have been enjoying baking again so much. I survived without an oven during the month of September, but I just wasn’t the same Cream Puff. I feel better now, if spread a bit thin with all that’s going on.
The other night, to relieve some stress, I produced these beautiful little cakes from The Cake Book. It was one of those desserts that just happened. I just happened to have cream cheese in the fridge. I just happened to have dried cherries. I just happened to have kirsch. I just had to bake.
As a special treat, I poured the batter into mini-bundt molds. Once cooled, I dusted these little babies with icing sugar and treated myself to one.
Busy days are hard. Sweet nights help.
Ciao!
Cherry Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Adapted from The Cake by Tish Boyle.
- a handful of dried cherries, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp. kirsch
- 1 tbsp. hot water
- 1 cup butter
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1-3/4 cups sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
- 5 large eggs
- 3 cups cake and pastry flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- icing sugar
- Soak cherries in kirsch and hot water for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, drain cherries and reserve liquid.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a bundt cake pan or a mini-bundt pan.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and light (2 or 3 minutes).
- With the mixer on medium speed, add the sugar, vanilla extract and lemon zest. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add the cherries and the reserved liquid, and mix until combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. If using a bundt pan, bake for 50 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. If using mini-bundt molds, bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cool the cake on a wire rack.
- Once cook, dust with icing sugar and serve.
- Enjoy!
Technorati tags: dried cherries, cream cheese, pound cake, the cake book
50 comments
gattina
oh so adorable your cake! Now look forwards to your more fantastic baked goods ๐
Meeta
… and I just happened to fall in lluuurv with these cuties. Ivonne, I can so what from understand what you mean with the workload and family commitments. I hear you loud and clear on that! But the great thing is we can encourage each other to keep going. So GO GIRL! You’re doing a great job!
Here’s a hug!
Kat
these are so cute! you deserve a treat, especially since you didn’t have an oven for a whole month.
rowena
I know what you mean about things getting a bit too much. And to think that it’s going to get worse as the season approaches! A-I-U-T-O!!!!!!!!
peabody
Yet another yummy creation from the Cake Book.
Ellie
Beautiful cake and beautiful photography!
veuveclicquot
Glad that you’re feeling a little more like yourself. ๐
Quick questions: what bundt-size pan do you use? And where did you acquire the wonderful pan that created the darling cake in the photo? Merci!!
Brilynn
With all you have going on you still produce the most beautiful and drool worthy desserts I’ve seen. I love seeing what you’ve come up with.
gilly
Hi Ivonne – oh how I’ve missed this blog – I mean, just *look* at all of these delicious cakes! Absolutely lovely!
I hear you on the busy-front! Time is just wizzing by – I hope is slows down a bit before the snow flies – yipes!
yoony
adorable! i wish i could just whip up desserts like you. all my spontaneous dessserts have been utter failures, esp of the cupcake and cookies sort. you got mad skills!
Lauren
Those look beautiful! I’m sure it wasn’t too bad tasting either. Wonderful picture.
Glenna
As a fellow baker, this is the best of what cakes are all about. The beauty in the simplicity in that little bundt made me happy just to look at it.
vanessa
from one busy gal to another, keep your head up. you create such lovely things ๐
Laura Rebecca
I love that picture — your pound cake looks like the perfect way to cap off a romantic dinner.
Callipygia
wow Ivonne, don’t get me started on cream cheese poundcake…but with cherries. I am excited to try this out. I have to say this darling little cake is what I imagine you might look like if you were a cake. Hmmm now that should be a meme question!
Monisha
I hear you, Ivonne, sometimes life and work just get in the way of doing things that you really want, and every once in a while a pick-up like this adorable bundt cake helps. Here’s to more sweet nights!
maura
Don’t you just LOVE a mimi bundt mold?!
maura
Of course, that’s “mini”!
Anita
What a cutie of a cake! I’m glad you’re still finding time for recreational baking after all your busy days!
jackie
take it easy! don’t overdue it! a mini cake for dinner sounds like the perfect remedy to a tough day, though! good for you! ๐
elsa
I hear you. I definitely have the spread thin feeling right now, too. I’m looking forward to some down time this weekend. This lovely little cake looks so good but I’m going with my Fall favorite – Pumpkin Pound Cake. mmmm…
I hope things settle down for you soon.
Karina
I couldn’t agree more, Darling. Sweet nights really help!
connie
i hope things calm down for you. and while i love seeing what you make, i hope to see less baking, because that would mean less stress!
jasmine
I love little desserts (and other foods/drinks) that look like big ones…
Yummy yummy yummy
j
Lera
Wow! Awesome Cake ! Ivonne, Thanks for tempting me to indulge this gulity pleasure ..:)
Ari (Baking and Books)
I also find baking to be a stress reliever, especially bread baking. There is something so soothing about kneading the dough… if I can fit all that rising time into my hectic schedule I do!
Sweet nights do help. I hope you get the best of both worlds though: sweets and no stress!
Baking Soda
I agree with all of the above and especially with Ari here, in many ways baking is a stress reliever. Go easy on yourself!
I was wondering for some time now about cream cheese, do you think I could substitute with quark or ricotta? (I think it will be too thin and sour…maybe mascarpone will be a better option?)
carolyn
I swear I’m gaining pounds just looking at your cooking!
Greg
Truly a work of art!
farmgirl
There is absolutely nothing like sweet kitchen therapy! These sound delicious, and the photo is gorgeous. Now where did I put my mini-bundt molds?
Wandering Coyote
How decadent! I have to get myself one of those mini bundt pans – I can see lots of uses for them.
Paz
I love your cake. Ihave to find out what Kirsch is.
Paz
Gina
Oh yummy.
Orchidea
Ma questo dolce รยจ stupendo… fai sempre decorazioni bellissime!
Ciao.
Dreska
Finally can get back into this wonderful food-recipe blogging. Your cake looks so plump and yum. I can’t get dried cherries, I must supplement with something else. Any good ideas? Thanks.
Nazca
Cheesecakes everywhere! I was thinking of making one, now I think I have no choice!
PS I made a choccy cake as promised ๐
Sarah
By the looks of it, I know those are really delicious. When you’re tired it’s just so relaxing to eat those sweetness.
jenjen
glad to hear that your oven is now up and running, you have done well even without it. But I’m sure you are delighted to have it back!
Julie O'Hara
Whenever I want to do spontaneous baking, I always seem to be missing that ONE essential ingredient! This has actually been happening recently even when I planned my baking in advance. Cooking is a wonderful stress reliever; what a pretty flower, too.
Vanessa
sounds tasty and they look absolutely darling. i understand what you mean though, sometimes you need that one particular thing to keep you grounded throughout the franticness of life. i find it really easy to lose myself in a kitchen, simply getting consumed with a recipe makes the rest of the world disappear sometimes. congrats on the oven!
Dianka
I know what you mean! Hope things settle down. The pound cake looks amazing! I could use some right now =)
Bron
Sigh, wish I had some nice bundt pans to make this, it’s delightful, it’s delicious!
Becca
What a lovely, delicious recipe with a perfect photo.
Gluten Free Desserts
You never cease to amaze me with your absolutely incredible desserts and pictures. Even though I can not eat many of the things you bake, I always look forward to reading your blog and just eating with my eyes.
Simply, Awesome!
heather lorin
Divine – now I need to go out and buy a new cake pan. I featured this one in today’s coffee break over at mixed bag.
http://heatherlorin.blogspot.com/2006/10/coffee-break-life-is-sweet.html
krista
Desserts are my weakness, I love reading your blog and your pictures are lovely.
Sheri Burhoe
I’m so happy I found this blog, it’s amazing – Very informative and I love the pics.
hag
OOhh cherries! If I was a baker, I would try this right away….perhaps in the near future…if I ever get a decent kitchen…For someone so busy, I love the fact you still find time for your passion….brava!
lory
Dรยฉlicieux!!
Ivonne
Hi everyone!
Isn’t it just the sweetest little cake?! I’m so glad you all liked it. It definitely helped me through the busy days!