Blue Velvet Swirl Pound Cake
with Cream Cheese Glaze & Blue Crumble
Moist, buttery pound cake with a dramatic blue velvet swirl, finished with a tangy cream cheese glaze and crunchy blue crumble.
INGREDIENTS
For the Pound Cake
3 cups cake flour
2 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 sticks salted butter (1 ½ cups), room temperature
5 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt (optional, reduce if butter is very salty)
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
For the Blue Velvet Swirl
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp buttermilk
Blue gel food coloring (royal or deep blue works best)
CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
BLUE CRUMBLE TOPPING
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup cold butter, cubed
Blue food coloring (a few drops)
INSTRUCTIONS
1️⃣ Prepare the Pan
Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C)
Grease and flour a bundt or loaf pan very well
2️⃣ Make the Cake Batter
In a large bowl, cream butter + sugar on medium speed for 4–5 minutes until pale and fluffy
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each
Mix in vanilla extract
In a separate bowl, whisk:
Cake flour
Baking powder
Salt
Add dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour
Mix just until combined (do not overmix)
3️⃣ Create the Blue Velvet Swirl
Remove 1½ cups of batter into a separate bowl
Mix in:
Cocoa powder
2 tbsp buttermilk
Blue food coloring (until vibrant blue)
4️⃣ Assemble the Swirl
Pour half of the plain batter into the pan
Spoon blue velvet batter over it
Add remaining plain batter
Gently swirl with a knife or skewer (don’t overdo it!)
5️⃣ Bake
Bake for 75–85 minutes
Tent loosely with foil after 60 minutes if browning too fast
Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean
Cool in pan 15 minutes, then turn out and cool completely
BLUE CRUMBLE TOPPING
Mix flour and sugar
Cut in cold butter until crumbly
Tint with blue food coloring
Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10–12 minutes, stirring once
Cool completely
CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
Beat cream cheese until smooth
Add powdered sugar
Mix in vanilla and milk until pourable but thick
FINAL ASSEMBLY
Drizzle glaze generously over cooled cake
Sprinkle blue crumble on top
Let glaze set 10–15 minutes before slicing
TIPS
Gel food coloring gives best color without thinning batter
Cake tastes even better the next day
Store covered at room temperature 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days
