I get by with a little help from my friends (thank you, Beatles)…and today that friend is Williams-Sonoma.
I’m taking a page from Sandra Lee. Do you remember her show on the Food Network? Semi-Homemade Cooking? Oh yes…
Dom and I are smack dab in the middle of a home-improvement project and have been displaced from our bedroom to a pull-out couch in the basement for over a month. As we’d been living with what I considered to be America’s ugliest master bath and closet…where’s Oprah, now(?), it was time for a facelift. Time to breathe fresh air and modern amenities into our 19 year old home.
Of course with this welcomed project comes dust, clothes strewn about, a makeshift bedroom and a tiny bit of exhaustion. The dust is getting to me. There seems no way to stay ahead of it.
But a beautiful thing happened on my way to the dry Swiffers – from the back of the pantry, a little angel in the form of a beige box with block lettering got my attention and went on to save the day.
During a relatively recent excursion to the mall which included a field trip to Williams-Sonoma, there sat a boxed Marble Pound Cake Mix that all but jumped into my hands…….I think you know where this is going…
I was introduced to this buttery cake with its swirls of creamy vanilla and rich dark chocolate that I would happily serve for Easter dessert.
With minimal modification, I swapped an ingredient and added a few components more to create a lovely pastry that is semi-my own. I replaced the recipe’s sour cream for Greek yogurt and added a homemade strawberry whipped cream and fresh berries.
This premium mix swirls Guittard Cocoa and vanilla to create a classic flavor combination. The cake is light and moist and unless someone told you otherwise, you’d think it was made-from-scratch. And although delicious on its own, when topped with homemade berry whipped cream, it’s a dessert that feels extra special.
When life gets really busy, as it sometimes can, it’s nice to remember there are quality mixes out there that with a little imagination can be turned into something pretty spectacular.
Have a lovely weekend, my friends!
Buon Appetito!
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Buttery Marble Pound Cake with Sweet Strawberry Whipped Cream
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- Marble Pound Cake
- 2 Tbsp. hot water
- 1 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter
- 12 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- cake mix
- Strawberry Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup strawberry preserves
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- For the marble pound cake, have all ingredients (except the hot water) at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Spray a 4″ x 8″ loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Follow mix directions, remembering to replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- While cake is cooling, prepare the whipped cream. Mix the whipping cream with the preserves until medium-soft peaks form.
- Place a dollop of whipped cream and a couple slices of strawberry on slices of cooled pound cake.
- Serve.
Ciao!
Mmm that pound cake looks incredible!! Would LOVE a slice right about now!! Happy Easter 🙂
Thank you, Christina! Happy Easter, my friend! 🙂
When semi-homemade results in a quality pound cake like this…I’M IN. Also, you deserve like twelve cakes for all that renovation stress! I’d be going bonkers.
Hahahah! Yes! Twelve cakes…I love the way you think! Thank you, friend!
Love how you’ve combined a cake mix with your own little additions. Great idea when you’re in a hurry!
Oh, and the swirls are perfect … you got that JUST right!
Swirls, I get! haha! Thanks, dear!
Strawberry whipped cream sounds so yummy! This is so pretty 🙂
So simple…but so delicious…Thank you, Medha! 🙂
I have some home improvement projects we have been wanting to get to but I really don’t want to have a construction zone in our house so I’ve been putting them off! This pound cake looks so pretty! There isn’t much better than pound cake and whipped cream with strawberries!
We did the same thing! But it was time! And with this miserable winter, we thought it was as good a time as any to take the plunge! And I agree – pound cake with whipped cream – awesome!! Thanks, dear!
Annie – Gorgeous pictures as usual! This marble pound cake sounds amazing. Nothing is worse than being displaced from the bedroom. Last year, my family decided to pull out all of the carpeting in my room and replace it with hardwood. The result was beautiful, but the two weeks that I was without my own bed, fumbling through piles of clothes for the shirt I was looking for…awful!
Hahha! So you get it!! What I know is that it will all be worth it!! Thanks, Erin!
Girl, do you ever have my sympathy! You know that we are going through home renovations too and I sure wish I had a box of Williams-Sonoma on hand. And some of that strawberry whipped cream too! Oh well, there is always beer, right? 🙂
Hahah! If there’s anyone who can empathize, I knew it would be you! How’s your project going?? We’re not seeing the light yet but I believe we’re getting there. And as far as the cake vs. beer goes – yours is definitely the better option. I’ll take some of your home brew! However, we did just finish a new batch of limoncello, so we should be good to go for a little bit! Thanks, friend! Hang in there!
Annie, pound cake looks so moist and delicious! I love watching Sandra’s show and this cake is sure a stellar. thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Savita! I appreciate that! 🙂
This is gorgeous, and you probably need a much deserved treat (renovations aren’t much fun)!
Awhhh! Thank you, Kari! So worth it – but not much fun! Happy Friday, my friend!
You had me at swirl and Guittard (my fave chocolate). This pound cake sounds absolutely dreamy, Annie! Boxed mixes can be so convenient too. Somehow when in WS, things tend to jump off the shelf for me too… sometimes they jump into my husbands arms as well… we don’t know how it happens, hehe! Thank you for sharing your modifications… they are fabulous! Have a beautiful weekend, Annie!
Sometimes only convenience will do! This is a nice mix to have in your back pocket… Thank you, Traci! You also have a lovely weekend!
This looks so pretty! I love the marble in the cake. This would be an awesome Easter dessert.
Thank you, Kelly! 🙂
Annie, this marble pound cake is gorgeous!!!! and hey, I’m not opposed to cake mix. . love that you used it!!! this is gorgeous, I just pinned this . . twice! 😛
Right? Sometimes there’s nothing better! Thank so much for the pins, Alice! 🙂
Give me this cake! GIVE ME THIS CAKE NOW! lol Anything with the word “Maple” in it has my divided attention. I bet this cake tastes amazing and I couldn’t care less it is not made from scratch!
This cake is soooo good! So buttery and flavorful! Thanks, Olivia!!
Nothing wrong with a little help especially if it turns out this amazing! This marbled cake looks incredible, love the strawberry whipped cream! Happy Easter and hope the reno is done soon!
You betcha…this cake is so darn good…I think I’ll be needing a little more help! 😉 Thanks, Kelly! Have a wonderful Easter!
This marble cake looks awesome Annie! And I love the whipped cream on top! Happy Easter!
Thanks, Mira! You also have a wonderful Easter!
I would like a piece of this wonderful cake !
Happy weekend and happy Easter !
Thank you, Eva! Have a lovely weekend!
Ohhh, I am loving this pound cake! I started drooling at the first word… buttery! I love how light it looks, and anything marbled is always so pretty! Plus that sweet strawberry whipped cream?? YUM!
You know, we don’t eat it often, so it’s very much a treat! And that whipped cream sets it off rather nicely! Thanks, Cheyanne!
Wow! Stunning marble cake, Annie! I just love all of those wonderful swirls and flourishes! I hope you have a happy Easter and I hope you get your bed & bath back soon! 😉
Thank you, Kathleen! It is a pretty cake…Williams-Sonoma know what they’re doing! Oh yesss – that can’t happen soon enough! Have a happy Easter, my friend! 🙂
This pound cake is absolutely gorgeous, Annie! I’ve never thought to make a marbled version before, so I’m loving this. And that strawberry whipped cream sounds like the perfect touch!
This marbled version is a fun twist on a classic. Thanks, Gayle! 🙂