Cream Cheese-Poppy Seed Pound Cake

I've never made a poppy seed cake before, but really enjoyed making this cake. Many people commented that poppy seed cakes are usually so "greasy" but this one was not. I hope you enjoy!


Cake:

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temperature
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• 6 eggs, room temperature
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup poppy seed
• 2 tsps vanilla

Lemon Icing:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
• lemon juice

For cake,

1. Bring butter, cream cheese, and eggs to room temperature.
2. Grease and lightly flour a bundt pan or 10-inch tube pan; set aside. Preheat oven to 325.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds or until softened.
5. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 2 tbsps at a time, beating on medium speed about 5 minutes until very light and fluffy.
6. Add poppy seed and vanilla.
7. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low to medium speed for 1 minute after each addition and scraping bowl frequently.
8. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan.
10. Bake at 325 for 1 1/4 hours, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
11. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
12. Drizzle with lemon icing.

Makes 16-20 servings.

Lemon Icing,

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel.
2. Stir in enough lemon juice (1-2 tbsps) to make an icing of drizzling consistency.
   

You really don't want to know the nutrition info...but you might as well know so you don't overdo it; Nutrition info (per serving): 415 calories, 6 g protein, 55 g carbohydrates, 19 g fat (11 g saturated), 126 mg cholesterol, 239 mg sodium.

Meal Budget:

• Butter= $0.99
• Cream cheese = $2.00
• Eggs = $0.33
• Flour = $1.00 (approx.)
• Sugar = $1.00 (approx.)
• Poppy seed = $3.32
• Lemon = $0.33

Approximate total = $8.97 or $0.56 per serving!

From Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.