10 Dishes You Can Make with Store-Bought Pound Cake
By Jackie Alpers
Elevate store-bought pound cake with these 10 easy, fancied-up takes on the versatile dessert.
Next-Level Pound Cake
Store-bought pound cake was a weeknight dessert staple when I was growing up, and it’s still got a strong presence in the grocery store’s freezer section. It’s sturdy, but not too sweet, making it a good base for creative elaboration. Here are 10 ways to fancy up store-bought pound cake. I ate a couple of slices plain along the way, for old time’s sake.
Grill It: Grilled Pound Cake Slices
Grilling adds smoky flavor and crispiness to store-bought pound cake slices. To make dark, even grill marks, butter both sides, then don’t move the slices once you lay them on a medium-hot grill. Flip them with a spatula when they start to smoke. It takes only a minute or two for each side.
Spear It: Grilled Pound Cake Kebabs
Run skewers through the crust instead of the middle of buttered pound cake slices, then layer with sliced apricots or other summer stone fruit before grilling. Add goat cheese or whipped cream cheese and a mint garnish after removing the kebabs from the grill.
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Layer It: Grilled Pound Cake Banana Pudding
Cut grilled slices of pound cake into one-inch squares, then layer with pudding and slices of banana for a summertime twist on a classic Southern dessert favorite.
Toast It: Pound Cake Croutons
Lightly butter pound cake slices on both sides, then cut them into small cubes. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add the crunchy bites to fruit salad, or use them as a topping for sweet summer soups.
Crumble It: Easy Baked Berry Crumble
Crumble leftover pound cake on top of fresh or frozen berries and bake until bubbly and golden brown.
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Batter It Up: Pound Cake French Toast
Let extra-thick slices of pound cake absorb your favorite French toast batter for a little longer than usual, then cook in butter over medium-low heat until brown. Serve with fruit, whipped cream and lots of syrup for a decadent special occasion breakfast treat. The sprinkles are pretty Dark Chocolate Decoratifs from India Tree.
Slather It: Pound Cake Peanut Butter and Jelly Dessert Sandwiches
You will probably have to eat this with a knife and fork, but I’m still calling it a sandwich.
Dip It: Chocolate-Dipped Pound Cake Slices
Dip slices halfway in melted chocolate, then decorate while still warm. Set on waxed paper and let the coating harden before serving.
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Poke It: Poke Cake
Using a chopstick, poke holes in the top of a whole pound cake at even intervals, but different depths. For an extra shot of dramatic color, dab a drop of natural food coloring into some of the holes. Then pour warm, prepared Jell-O over the cake and into the holes. Refrigerate until the Jell-O is set, about 4 hours.
Make It Fancy: Fruit and Whipped Cream
Take your poke cake to the next level of fanciness by decorating the top with berries, whipped cream and mint leaves, then dust with a bit of confectioners’ sugar.
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