Pound Cake Recipe

You’re going to feel immensely proud of yourself once you make this delicious, decadent, and comforting Pound Cake!

Have you ever wondered why it’s called a “pound cake?” It was named such because it was originally cooked in Great Britain in the 1700s with a pound of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Nowadays, there are many versions of the Pound Cake in different countries. It’s easy to cook yet absolutely satisfying until the last slice. You can serve it for breakfast, desserts, and snacks to give everyone a dish to remember.

Its light, fluffy, creamy texture, and sweet and subtle flavor can sate your sweet tooth cravings. It’s also perfect for celebrations, Thanksgiving, and even weekends. Unleash the inner baker in you to make the Perfect Pound Cake!

How to Make Pound Cake

If you haven’t tried cooking Pound Cake before, then seize the moment and start with this recipe. I’ll tell you everything you need to know to bake the best Pound Cake yet.

Are you ready to cook your family’s next favorite cake recipe?

Ingredients

After trying many Pound Cake recipes, these ingredients have proven to be the best ones to use:

Flour

It won’t be a Pound Cake recipe without flour in the mix.

When it comes to cake recipes, using flour is a “must”. It helps form and shape the cake inside and out. According to Baker Bettie, the flour also allows the cake to rise for a fluffy and bouncy quality.

Moreover, it distributes the seasoning and leavening agents for a well-balanced flavor at every bite. With the right amount of flour, you can give the cake fine and tender crumbs too.

I always have flour on my grocery list because my family loves baked goods like Vanilla Cake, Almond Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, and Carrot Cake!

Sugar

Give the cake some flavor with sweet sugar.

One of the best seasonings you must use in cake recipes is sugar. Baking Sense mentioned that the sugar makes the sweet flavor of the dish, making it yummy even without any filling.

Sugar can also improve the cake’s texture to make it moist and soft. It even gives the dish a caramelized quality that will leave your guests wanting more. You can use granulated sugar, but I also suggest trying powdered sugar.

Bake more with sugar by making Plantain Loaf Cake, Banana Bread, and Almond Loaf Cake!

Baking powder

Can you even bake a cake without baking powder?

The baking powder is a powerful leavening agent that will give the dish a wonderful rise, tender crumbs, and a soft crust. Without it, the cake will likely be flat and thin.

I can assure you that your cake will have an airy and fluffy quality with baking powder. Test the effectiveness of baking powder by adding them to Pancakes, Coconut Cake, and Crispy Fried Fish!

Butter

Maybe the cake batter needs some butter, too?

Everyone loves a rich and aromatic cake, so add butter to give the dish a refined quality. Once it melts into the cake, it will surely add a divine taste that melts in your mouth.

An article by the Institute of Culinary Education mentioned that butter could help give the cake a good rise. It will react with the baking powder for a puffy appearance.

Eggs

Make it a real Pound Cake recipe with some eggs!

Give the cake the proper structure by adding eggs to your batter. These will help activate the ingredients to make a moist and tender texture inside out. The egg yolk can even give the cake a better flavor.

Cake Blog also mentioned that eggs could lighten the texture of the cake to make it easier to slice and fill. I also use eggs to bake Sponge Cake, Orange Cake, and Plantain Bread!

Evaporated milk

The Pound Cake will have a rich and milky quality with some evaporated milk.

With evaporated milk, it will be so much easier to mix everything. It also adds a creamy and mildly sweet taste to the recipe. In fact, the milk can activate the dry ingredients for the best results.

You will also appreciate the golden brown effect that it can have on the cake. According to Baking How, the milk also tenderizes the cake while maintaining stability.

Vanilla extract

For the finishing touch, you will need some vanilla extract!

No matter what happens, don’t skip the vanilla extract because it will add an incredible flavor to the Pound Cake. It’s one of the best flavoring agents you can use for cakes.

Without it, the cake may taste bland, but a teaspoon of it can already make a big difference in your batter. Honest Food Talks even mentioned that the vanilla extract could neutralize the smell of the eggs.

Can you believe that you can make Pound Cake with seven simple ingredients? Once you have these in stock, you can make the cake anytime you want!

Directions

Get the perfect Pound Cake by following these steps:

1. Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Grease the parchment with butter or oil.
3. Set it aside. 
4. In a mixer, combine the plain flour, sugar, and baking powder.
5. Then, add the butter to the dry mixture.
6. Set the mixer at medium speed for one minute.
7. In a bowl, mix the eggs with evaporated milk and vanilla extract.
8. Add half of the egg mixture into the mixer.
9. Mix everything on medium speed for 30 seconds.
10. Then, add the remaining half of the egg mixture.
11. Continue to mix at medium speed for another 30 seconds. 
12. Preheat the oven to 160° C for at least 15 minutes. 
13. Transfer the batter to the lined baking pan.
14. Smooth out the surface with a spatula.
15. Place it in the oven to bake for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. 
16. Check the cake for doneness with a cake tester, toothpick, or skewer.
17. Leave to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and enjoying!

How was your experience creating this amazing Pound Cake recipe? Wasn’t it fun and satisfying? Pound Cake uses basic ingredients; sometimes, it all boils down to how you make it! 

Tips

How to Store Cake Ingredients

• Dry ingredients like baking powder, sugar, and plain flour can easily be stored in cool and dry places.
• Plain flour and sugar are best kept in containers while baking powder can be stored in its original packaging. 
• On the other hand, butter can be refrigerated or kept at room temperature.
• According to the US Department of Agriculture, unrefrigerated butter is safe to consume for up to two days.
• Moreover, the National Dairy Council found that slated butter is less prone to spoiling at room temperature than unsalted butter. 
• Meanwhile, eggs can be stored in carton containers in the fridge to retain their quality and nutrients.
• For vanilla extract, keep it in its original bottle but place it in an area away from sunlight. 
• Lastly, evaporated milk can be stored in a container or bottle in the fridge for up to seven days.

How to Line a Baking Pan

Lining the baking pan is important because it prevents the cake from sticking to the pan, making it easier for you to remove the cake from the pan. 

To properly line a baking pan, you will need baking or parchment paper, scissors, a ruler, and the baking pan. 

1. Measure the parchment paper according to the baking pan‘s sides.
2. Use a ruler and pen to mark out the corners of the baking pan. 
3. Then, connect the points and cut them with scissors.
4. Fold it until it forms the same size as your baking pan.
5. Simply insert it into the baking pan for a snug fit.

How to Mix Cake Batter Without a Mixer

Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a mixer because you can always use a whisk or a spatula.

Use a whisk to beat a mixture without turning it into a whipped batter. It simply helps to give the mixture some air to create a soft and fluffy texture. You can also use a spatula to combine everything together.

How to Make Better Pound Cake

If you want to improve your pound cake recipe, then you can remember and perform some simple tips and tricks. 

• Buy quality ingredients to make the best cake.
• Measure the wet and dry ingredients.
• Do not overmix the batter.
• Line or grease the baking pan.
• Always check the cake for doneness before taking it out of the oven.

Common Pound Cake Problems and Solutions

Cake dryness

Do you think the cake is dry and not decadent and moist? Solve cake dryness by adding milk, eggs, and butter to the batter.

Overflowing batter

One of the common problems with baking is adding too much batter to the pan. Only pour the pan about ¾ full to leave space for the cake to leaven in the oven. 

Sunken in the middle

Did the cake sink in the middle? If it did, then you need to preheat the oven to give the cake an even surface. Do not overmix the cake batter, and avoid opening the oven door as the cake bakes.

Pound cake sticking to the baking pan

Lining or greasing the baking pan properly is a simple and important part of baking. With butter or parchment paper, you can take the cake out of the pan with ease.

Pound Cake Variations

The classic Pound Cake is incredibly delicious and satisfying but how else can you make it interesting?

This pound cake recipe is not entirely vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-free, but you can substitute some ingredients for a more diet-friendly and healthier pound cake recipe!

For instance, instead of salted butter, you can use vegan butter or coconut oil to grease the pan and add flavor to the cake batter. If you’re not comfortable using ordinary sugar, you can opt for brown sugar too. 

You can also use gluten-free flour or self-rising flour instead of plain flour. Evaporated milk can be replaced with soy, almond, or any other plant-based kind of milk. 

Using other ingredients will cause changes in the flavor and texture of the pound cake, but all it takes is some practice. Before you know it, you’ll make diet-friendly pound cakes in no time!

No-Oven Pound Cake

Aside from baking the Pound Cake in the oven, you can also cook it on the stove.

1. Place a wire rack in the middle of a large pan.
2. Preheat the large pan with the wire rack inside for five minutes over medium-low heat.
3. Then, put the baking pan on top of the wire rack.
4. Let it cook over low heat for up to 50 minutes. 

Recommended Tools

• Oven: Bake the Pound Cake in a preheated oven.
• Mixer: Use a mixer to easily and quickly combine the ingredients.
• Baking pan: Pour the batter into a baking pan to bake in the oven. 
• Spatula: Use a spatula to mix the batter and smoothen out the cake batter before baking. 
• Parchment paper: Line the baking pan with baking paper to easily remove the cake when baked. 
• Pastry brush: Grease the pan using a brush. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn commission income from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

Visit my shop for more products.

How to Serve Pound Cake

There are plenty of ways to serve Pound Cake! You can use creamy custard, whipped cream, frosting, icing, and even fresh fruits as toppings to add variety and flavor to the cake. 

Garnish it food with some syrup, powdered sugar, yogurt, chocolates, ice cream, and almond flakes. Pound Cake is served for breakfast, dessert, and snacks. It also pairs well with any of the following drinks:

• Iced Coffee
• Hibiscus Lemon Tea
• Watermelon Juice
• Strawberry Banana Milkshake
• Fruit Smoothie
• Zobo Drink
• Almond Milk

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Plain pound cake can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. Wrap it in cling film or foil. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Pound Cake?

Pound Cake was originally cooked in the 1700s, and back then, the ingredients were composed of one pound each of sugar, flour, butter, and eggs.

What is pound cake vs regular cake?

Regular cakes are normally softer and moister compared to pound cakes. Due to the pound cake’s ingredients, it tends to be dense in texture. Which one do you prefer more?

What is pound cake called in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, Pound Cake is also called Madeira Cake. Sometimes, you can even call it “Loaf Cake” or “Yellow Cake” because of its shape and light color.

How many eggs is 1 pound?

One pound can be comprised of eight to nine eggs. But in the Pound Cake recipe, you will need just three eggs to bake!