There’s something timeless about pound cake. Maybe it’s the warm aroma that fills the kitchen, the rich golden crust, or the dense, buttery slices that make your morning coffee or afternoon tea feel like a special occasion. Pound cake is the ultimate comfort dessert; simple, elegant, and indulgent, yet surprisingly easy to make.
Imagine walking into a kitchen where butter and sugar are slowly creaming together, the sweet scent of vanilla fills the air, and your oven is gently warming, ready to transform your batter into a perfectly golden, soft, and moist masterpiece. That’s the magic of pound cake. It’s classic, it’s nostalgic, and it’s the kind of cake that makes people linger over their slice, savoring every bite.
Whether you’re baking for a celebration, a quiet treat for yourself, or impressing friends and family, this pound cake recipe gives you rich, buttery flavor and a tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Kitchen Tools
- Bundt pan or loaf pan, greased and floured
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wire cooling rack
How to Make Pound Cake
1. Preheat & Prepare
Start by preheating your oven to 175°C / 350°F. Butter your loaf or bundt pan generously and dust with flour, making sure the cake won’t stick. This little step ensures every slice comes out perfectly intact, nothing ruins a pound cake like it sticking to the pan.
2. Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it’s light, fluffy, and pale in color. This is the moment where magic starts to happen, your mixer hums, your kitchen fills with the sweet scent of sugar and butter coming together, and you know the base of your cake is perfect.
3. Add Eggs & Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. The batter should be smooth and slightly thick. Add vanilla extract for that aromatic, inviting fragrance that hints at the rich flavor to come.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients & Milk
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to your creamed butter, alternating with milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined, overmixing can toughen the cake, and we want a tender, buttery crumb.
5. Pour & Bake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Slide it into the oven and let the heat work its magic. Bake 60–70 minutes for a loaf or 50–60 minutes for a bundt, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
The house will fill with that irresistible warm, buttery aroma that makes everyone peek into the kitchen for a sneak taste.
6. Cool & Optional Glaze
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. For extra flair, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to create a simple glaze. Drizzle it over the top while the cake is still slightly warm, it will soak in slightly, adding a sweet, shiny finish.
Tips for the Perfect Pound Cake
Room Temperature Ingredients – This ensures the batter comes together smoothly for a fine, soft crumb
Don’t Overmix – Once you combine dry and wet ingredients, stop mixing; overmixing makes it dense
Use Quality Butter – Real butter gives the cake its rich flavor; avoid margarine or spreads
Check Oven Temperature – Every oven bakes differently — start checking around 55 minutes to avoid overbaking
Cool Before Slicing – Cutting too early can cause the cake to crumble
Fun Variations
- Lemon Pound Cake – Add zest and a touch of lemon juice to the batter and glaze
- Chocolate Marble Pound Cake – Swirl cocoa into half of the batter for a chocolatey twist
- Coconut Pound Cake – Fold shredded coconut into the batter and top with coconut glaze
- Almond Pound Cake – Add almond extract and sprinkle slivered almonds on top
Pound cake is classic, comforting, and endlessly adaptable. Its buttery richness and soft, tender crumb make it perfect for tea, coffee, or dessert. Making it at home is an experience, the mixing, the smell, the golden bake, all of it comes together to create something truly satisfying.
Once you’ve mastered this recipe, you’ll realize pound cake isn’t just dessert, it’s a moment, a memory, a slice of nostalgia baked into a loaf. Serve it plain, glaze it, or get creative with flavors; either way, every bite is pure, buttery happiness.
