This Nutella swirl pound cake is a wealthy, plush loaf cake swirled generously with Nutella and baked till fantastically golden. It’s sturdy, tall, and sliceable, with a traditional pound cake crumb and outlined Nutella swirls all through.
Initially revealed in 2013, this recipe has been a longtime favourite, however after greater than a decade of baking (and loads of loaf truffles later), I knew it was time for a considerate refresh.
The guts of the recipe stays the identical: a traditional butter-based pound cake with a thick, luxurious batter and ribbons of Nutella all through. However with slightly extra flour, barely extra sugar, and an adjusted leavening stage, the up to date model bakes up taller, sturdier, and extra evenly structured… whereas nonetheless staying moist and tender.
For those who love wealthy loaf truffles with that unmistakable pound cake crumb, this one delivers.
By the best way, let’s at all times respect a dessert that smiles again at us! đŸ™‚
Why You’ll Love This Up to date Nutella Swirl Pound Cake
- Extra construction & top: Further flour and a contact extra sugar give the cake higher assist and a fuller loaf form.
- Traditional golden crust: Baked low and sluggish, this pound cake develops a deep golden exterior with out drying out. You do NOT need to rush pound cake, one thing you could know if you happen to’ve tried this cream cheese pound cake!
- Thick, swirlable batter: The batter is deliberately thick, which helps droop the Nutella so it doesn’t sink.
- Even Nutella distribution: Layering the batter and Nutella creates outlined swirls as an alternative of streaks that disappear into the crumb.
That is nonetheless very a lot a pound cake, not a fast bread: wealthy, dense (in one of the simplest ways), and meant to be sliced.
Key Components You Want & Why
- Baking Powder: This up to date recipe makes use of extra baking powder than the unique model I revealed in 2012. Extra baking powder makes a noticeable distinction in elevate and construction, serving to the loaf bake up taller and extra evenly with out dropping its traditional pound cake crumb.
- Butter: Use room temperature unsalted butter. Correct creaming is essential for construction and elevate. For those who want a refresher, right here is easy methods to cream butter and sugar.
- Sugar: Sweetens, enhances tenderness, and helps the cake brown evenly.
- Eggs: 4 eggs present richness and stability. Ensure they’re room temperature.
- Bitter Cream: Provides moisture and softness with out thinning the batter.
- Nutella: Measure by quantity, not eyeballing. Why? This ensures the swirls keep balanced and don’t overwhelm the cake.
- Cinnamon: A delicate background observe that deepens the chocolate-hazelnut taste with out tasting like spice cake.
Easy methods to Make and Assemble Nutella Pound Cake
You’ll bake this cake at 325°F (163°C). This decrease temperature helps the thick batter bake evenly with out over-browning. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for straightforward elimination, and grease nicely. The pictured loaf pan is from Wilton and I can’t appear to search out it on sale anymore, however right here is one other loaf pan that I personal and use usually.
You’ll whisk the dry elements collectively, after which flip your consideration to the moist elements.
Beat the butter till clean, then add the sugar and beat till gentle and fluffy, a full 4–5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as wanted. This step is crucial for correct elevate and construction. Beat within the bitter cream and vanilla, then add the eggs one after the other, mixing nicely after every addition. (That is precisely how we add eggs to cheesecake batter.) Keep away from over-mixing from this level on.
Beat within the dry elements, after which end folding by hand to include something on the backside of the bowl. The batter shall be very thick, which helps hold the Nutella swirls in place. You’ll have round 800g of batter:
Spoon about 1/3 of the batter into the ready pan and unfold into a fair layer. A small offset spatula or perhaps a spoon is useful for this step. Then, dollop half of the Nutella over the batter and gently unfold it with the again of a spoon, preserving it away from the perimeters of the pan:
Add one other 1/3 of the batter, adopted by the remaining Nutella:
End with the remaining batter on prime.
Utilizing a knife or skewer, very gently swirl the layers collectively. As a result of the batter is thick, the swirl shall be delicate. Do your greatest with out overworking it:
The cake is finished when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with only a few moist crumbs (not moist batter). This takes at the very least 65 minutes to round 75 minutes, or a couple of minutes longer. The secret’s to tent the cake with aluminum foil after half-hour to forestall the highest from burning earlier than the middle can cook dinner.
Cool the cake within the pan for 1 hour, then elevate it out utilizing the parchment overhang and switch to a wire rack to chill fully.
Slice with a pointy knife and serve plain, dusted with powdered sugar, dolloped with contemporary whipped cream, or with a cup of espresso or espresso.
That is the type of loaf cake that feels simply as proper for an informal afternoon deal with because it does for sharing with mates. Wealthy and moist however by no means heavy, easy but particular… every little thing an important pound cake ought to be!
Description
A wealthy, buttery pound cake swirled generously with Nutella and baked low and sluggish till fantastically golden. Thick batter creates a tall, sliceable loaf with a traditional pound cake crumb. Keep away from over-mixing the batter.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray then line the perimeters with parchment paper to assist stop the perimeters of the pound cake from burning. Evenly grease the parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Put aside.
- Utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium pace till creamy, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and beat collectively for 4-5 full minutes till gentle and fluffy. Cease and scrape down the perimeters and backside of the bowl with a silicone spatula a pair instances as wanted. Add the bitter cream and vanilla, and beat till mixed. With the mixer operating on medium pace, add the eggs one after the other and beat after every addition.
- Pour within the dry elements and beat on low simply till mixed. Don’t over-mix. Utilizing a silicone spatula, fold the batter collectively just a few instances to make sure there are not any pockets of flour or butter on the backside of the bowl.
- You’ll have about 3–3.5 cups of cake batter (round 800g). Spoon and unfold about 1/3 of the cake batter into the ready loaf pan. A small offset spatula is useful right here. Spoon half of the Nutella on prime and gently unfold it with the again of a spoon, avoiding the perimeters of the pan. Gently unfold one other 1/3 of the batter on prime, adopted by the remaining Nutella. End with the remaining batter. Utilizing a knife or skewer, very gently swirl the layers collectively. The batter is thick, so do your greatest and keep away from over-swirling.
- Bake for 65–75 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with just a few moist crumbs and no moist batter. Bake time is a suggestion; all ovens differ, so start checking round 1 hour. If the cake is browning too shortly on prime, loosely tent with aluminum foil. (I often tent the loaf after about half-hour.)
- Cool the cake within the pan set on a cooling rack for 1 hour, then take away the cake from the pan and place it straight on the rack to chill fully. Slice and serve.
- Cowl leftovers tightly and retailer at room temperature for as much as 1 week.
Notes
- Freezing Directions: The cake freezes nicely for as much as 3 months. Wrap the cooled cake in a layer of plastic wrap, adopted by a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then convey to room temperature or serve chilly. See Easy methods to Freeze Muffins for extra info.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks):Â 9Ă—5-inch Loaf Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Small Offset Spatula | Cooling Rack
- Room-Temperature Components: All refrigerated objects ought to be at room temperature so the batter mixes collectively simply and evenly. Learn extra about room-temperature elements in baking.
- Bitter Cream: Full-fat bitter cream works greatest on this recipe, however full-fat buttermilk or full-fat plain yogurt (Greek or common) can be utilized in its place. Keep away from low-fat or nonfat choices, as they will produce a drier, much less tender pound cake.
- Nutella: In case your Nutella is additional thick and strong, it’s useful to heat it within the microwave for 10 seconds earlier than utilizing.Â
- Up to date in 2026: The recipe above is new and improved. For those who desire to make the unique model, count on a denser, flatter loaf. To make that older model, skip the bitter cream, scale back the flour to 1 and 1/2 cups (188g), scale back the baking powder to three/4 teaspoon, scale back the sugar to 1 cup (200g). The bake time is round 1 hour, identical oven temperature.
- Tailored from Meals & Wine.
