10+ Pound Cake Recipes to Sweeten Your Dessert Table

Pound cake recipes are a classic pick for anyone who loves a simple, tasty dessert. These cakes have a rich texture and a sweet flavor, making them perfect for just about any occasion.

These recipes show you how to make a moist, delicious cake with just a few basic ingredients.

Whether you’re baking for a family get-together or just craving a homemade treat, pound cake is easy to whip up and always hits the spot. You’ll learn how to mix, bake, and serve a cake that feels both traditional and a little bit special.

Ingredients

• Butter
• Sugar
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Gradually add flour and mix until smooth.
5. Pour batter into a greased loaf or bundt pan.
6. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Let cool before slicing and serving.

1) Classic Southern Pound Cake with Buttermilk

This Classic Southern Pound Cake is moist, buttery, and just sweet enough. The buttermilk adds a slight tang and helps the cake turn out tender.

The texture is soft, and the cake holds up well whether you serve it plain or with fruit. Baking at a moderate temperature keeps it from drying out.

It’s a great recipe for beginners or experienced bakers. Honestly, it’s hard not to want a slice with your coffee or tea.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
5. Mix in vanilla.
6. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour.
7. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
8. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

2) Traditional Pound Cake with 1:1:1:1 Butter, Sugar, Eggs, Flour

You can make a traditional pound cake by using equal parts butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. This simple ratio creates a moist, dense cake that tastes rich and buttery.

Each ingredient weighs about a pound, so the batter is thick and holds its shape. Serve it plain or add your favorite toppings.

Carefully creaming the butter and sugar first makes the cake lighter. Don’t rush this part—it really matters.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450g) butter, softened
• 1 pound (450g) sugar
• 1 pound (about 9 large) eggs
• 1 pound (450g) all-purpose flour

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Gradually add flour, stirring just until combined.
5. Pour batter into a greased and floured loaf pan.
6. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cake cool before removing from pan.

3) Vanilla Pound Cake with Milk and Powdered Sugar

This vanilla pound cake is easy and tastes great with just a few extra touches. Milk makes the cake moist and soft.

Powdered sugar on top gives a light, sweet finish that’s easy to pull off. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and flour, then add milk for moisture.

Sprinkle powdered sugar for a nice look and a little extra sweetness. Bake it in a loaf pan for simple serving.

You can dust the powdered sugar before or after baking, depending on how shiny or sweet you want it. This cake is ideal for a quick dessert or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup milk
• Powdered sugar for topping

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
4. Mix in vanilla.
5. Alternate adding flour and milk, beginning and ending with flour.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.

4) Moist Pound Cake with Secret Ingredient (Sour Cream)

If you want a pound cake that stays moist and tender, try adding sour cream. It gives the cake a rich flavor and keeps it soft without making it greasy.

The sour cream balances sweetness and adds a gentle tang. You don’t need any fancy extras—just mix it into your batter.

This cake is perfect for any occasion when you want a simple, satisfying dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
5. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
6. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing just until combined.
7. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool before slicing.

5) Buttery Pound Cake with Butter Flavoring

This pound cake is all about that buttery flavor. Use real butter plus a splash of butter flavoring to make the taste pop.

It’s moist and dense but soft enough to slice without crumbling. Honestly, you don’t need any toppings—the buttery taste stands on its own.

It’s a classic dessert for anyone who loves a rich, simple cake. Serve it with tea or just enjoy it plain.

You’ll start by mixing butter, sugar, and eggs. Then add flour and butter flavoring for a balanced, smooth cake.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups butter, softened
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups white sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time.
4. Add butter flavoring.
5. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with buttermilk.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool before slicing.

6) Dense and Tender Pound Cake with a Smooth Crumb

If you like your pound cake dense but still soft, this one’s for you. The smooth crumb feels tender with every bite.

It’s not dry or crumbly, so it holds together nicely. The flavor is balanced and not overly sweet.

You get that texture by using the right mix of butter, eggs, and flour. The baking process is simple and honestly worth it.

Enjoy it plain or drizzle a light glaze on top. It’s a classic, and it works for tea time or any gathering.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (120ml) milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly grease a loaf pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time.
4. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt separately.
5. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately into the butter mixture.
6. Stir in vanilla extract.
7. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
8. Bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool before removing from the pan.

7) Chocolate Swirl Pound Cake

Making a chocolate swirl pound cake is surprisingly simple and always tasty. You swirl together vanilla and chocolate batters for that pretty marble look.

Every bite gives you a mix of flavors. The texture is moist and rich, which makes it a hit with friends or family.

Serve it plain, or maybe with coffee or milk if you’re feeling fancy. For a smooth swirl, gently mix the batters before baking—just enough so the colors stay distinct.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate syrup

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
4. Mix in flour and milk alternately.
5. Stir in vanilla extract.
6. Divide batter in half, add chocolate syrup to one half.
7. Pour vanilla and chocolate batters alternately into your pan and swirl with a knife.
8. Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool before slicing.

You can find more details on chocolate swirl pound cakes at Food.com.

8) Lemon Zest Pound Cake

Lemon zest really wakes up a pound cake. You get that fresh, citrusy aroma without adding extra liquid.

Both zest and lemon juice blend in the batter, balancing sweetness with a little tang. If you want to kick up the flavor, drizzle on a simple lemon glaze or syrup.

The cake turns out moist. It’s light and packed with flavor—honestly, it works for just about any occasion.

You probably have most of the ingredients already. This recipe is easy, classic, and just a bit different thanks to the lemon.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup buttermilk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
3. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest in a bowl.
4. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. Add eggs one by one, then stir in lemon juice.
6. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mix, starting and ending with flour.
7. Pour batter into the pan.
8. Bake for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool before removing from the pan. Glaze if you want.

Check out the FiveHeartHOME lemon pound cake recipe for a solid base.

9) Honey Butter Pound Cake

Honey brings a gentle sweetness to this butter pound cake. The butter and honey together make each bite super moist and tender.

You don’t need fancy ingredients. This cake is easy to whip up and tastes great with coffee or tea.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for an even, golden crust. Let it cool before you slice in—trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup honey
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and honey until smooth.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
5. Stir dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently.
6. Mix in vanilla extract.
7. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Cool before slicing.

10) Almond Extract Pound Cake

Almond extract gives this pound cake a nutty, almost marzipan flavor. It’s dense and moist, just right for afternoon tea or dessert.

I love how the almond glaze on top adds a sweet finish. Sometimes I’ll serve it with ice cream, but honestly, it’s great on its own.

You only need basic ingredients—just butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and almond extract for that signature taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tsp almond extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grab your butter and sugar, then cream them together until the mixture looks light and fluffy.

3. Crack in the eggs, one at a time. Mix well after each addition.

4. In a separate bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Now, alternate between adding the dry mixture and the milk to your batter.

6. Pour in the almond extract and give it a good stir.

7. Scoop the batter into a greased loaf pan.

8. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Check with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, you’re good.

9. Let the loaf cool before you glaze it or slice it up to serve.