Chocolate Streusel Poundcake

Updated Feb. 17, 2023

Chocolate Streusel Poundcake
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
2 hours, plus cooling
Rating
5(954)
Comments
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In this stunning dessert, a moist and soft chocolate poundcake is topped on two sides — bottom and top — with crunchy, slightly salty streusel flecked with chocolate chips. The combination of cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate gives this cake a particularly rich flavor. You can make it up to 3 days ahead. Store it at room temperature, well wrapped in foil. Then serve it topped with ice cream or whipped cream and fresh berries, or toasted and buttered, or plain as it is. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings

    For the Streusel

    • ½cup/60 grams all-purpose flour
    • 3tablespoons/45 grams granulated sugar
    • tablespoons/11 grams cocoa powder
    • ½teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt
    • tablespoons/64 grams cold unsalted butter, cubed
    • cup/60 grams semisweet chocolate chips

    For the Poundcake

    • 3ounces/85 grams extra-bittersweet chocolate (70 percent), chopped
    • 1⅓cups/185 grams all-purpose flour
    • ¾cup/89 grams Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ½teaspoon/2 grams baking powder
    • ¼teaspoon/2 grams baking soda
    • ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, melted
    • 1cup/200 grams granulated sugar
    • ½cup/100 grams dark brown sugar
    • ½teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt
    • 1large egg, at room temperature
    • 2teaspoons/10 milliliters vanilla extract
    • ½cup/120 milliliters plain Greek yogurt
    • ½cup/120 milliliters whole milk
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

471 calories; 22 grams fat; 13 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 69 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 44 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 313 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, then line with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the edges of the pan. Grease the parchment on the bottom of the loaf pan.

  2. Step 2

    In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate for the cake, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool while you prepare the streusel.

  3. Step 3

    Prepare the streusel: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Using fingers or a fork, cut in the butter until it is evenly distributed and forms large, moist crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips.

  4. Step 4

    Scatter half the streusel evenly into the bottom of the loaf pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until baked through.

  5. Step 5

    Prepare the cake: In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda.

  6. Step 6

    In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat melted butter, both sugars and salt together until combined. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, yogurt, milk and melted chocolate. Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.

  7. Step 7

    Scrape batter into prepared pan and top with remaining streusel. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake emerges clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool completely before turning out and slicing.

Ratings

5 out of 5
954 user ratings
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Comments

This is a technical question for the NYT: When a recipe shows two measurement standards, can there be an option to save it in your preferred format? Easier to work from that way.

Made this twice and loved it. I didn't find the streusel on the bottom added anything (other than extra work/time), so I halved the streusel ingredients the second time and eliminated the bottom portion. Comments about the cake being dry surprise me, as I found one of its best characteristics was moistness, even days after baking. Maybe my storing in a plastic bag enhances this property?

Made it twice, the second time substituting 1/2 of the flour in the poundcake with cake flour & found the crumb to be nicer. Next time, I'll try it with all cake flour. It was a big hit with our guests this weekend!

I think it would be helpful to have what the temperature of the finished cake should be.

This cake tastes amazing. I have to lead with that because mine was a disaster. It volcanoed in the oven and streusel sunk to the bottom. I could have made a mistake or it could be a high altitude thing. Rather than scrap it, I made an ice cream cake out of it. I cut and discarded the top then cut the remaining in thirds. I layered it with chocolate cherry ice cream and covered with hot fudge when I served it. Delicious! Will definitely play around with this one to see if I can get it to work.

Delicious intense not dry. Did not have butter to make strusel base. It was still decadent. I used vegan egg substitute and oil. Halved the sugar per recommendations. Served with fruits compote. Lovely afternoon snack with tea.

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