Our Best Pound Cake Recipes

Updated August 03, 2015
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Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Perfectly dense and buttery yet somehow light, pound cake is delicious any time of the year and for any occasion. While plain pound cake is fantastic on its own, special touches like flavored glaze or additional ingredients take things up a notch. Of course, you can always learn, and then master, our basic pound cake recipe, but if you'd rather experiment, take a go at one of our seasonal and specialty pound cake recipes. 

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Sandkaka

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Elise Mayfield; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke and Laura Evans

Sandkaka Recipe

Potato flour serves as the backbone for this delightfully simple Swedish classic. Though gluten-free, sandkaka is similar in texture to a dense, buttery pound cake and, thanks to the starchiness of the potato flour, will retain its moisture for days. 

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Coconut-Macadamia Nut Pound Cake

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Coconut-Macadamia Nut Pound Cake Recipe

Lightly toasting the macadamia nuts brings out their rich, buttery flavor.

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Basic Pound Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos and Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Basic Pound Cake Recipe

So comforting and delicious, with a perfectly crusty bottom. Keep things classic or get adventurous with your glaze. 

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Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake Recipe

We took the traditional pound cake recipe and raised it a stunning, triple-chocolate twist. This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. It’s indulgent and, we admit, so much fun to eat and serve. Chocolate enthusiasts will be over the moon for this recipe, but it has enough unexpected flavor—thanks to the addition of the buttermilk glaze—that you’ll also win over the harder-to-please dessert eaters at the table. Warning: You—and they—won’t be able to resist a second slice. Go for it. We won’t tell.

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Grilled Pound Cake with Brandied Red Plums

Credit: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Jeffrey Larsen

Grilled Pound Cake with Brandied Red Plums Recipe

Get the grill going to make this delicious pound cake and top it off with juicy, red plums, whipped cream, and almonds.

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Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pumpkin Pound Cake with Buttermilk Glaze Recipe

If you’re looking for the perfect fall dessert, let the hunt stop here. This incredibly moist pumpkin pound cake is one of our favorite cakes of all time. Perfect for any fall festivities—Halloween, Thanksgiving, and beyond—this easy pumpkin cake delivers just the right amount of spice, balanced by the rich tang of buttermilk (in the mouthwatering glaze and the cake itself). A few smart swaps keep this tasty seasonal treat a bit lighter than a traditional pound cake, but you’re not likely to notice enjoying its perfectly sweet flavor and rich texture. Note: Draining the canned pumpkin before mixing it into your batter keeps you from adding too much liquid to the cake, so don't skip on this step.

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Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes Recipe

If you want a whole pound cake to yourself, try these individually-portioned chocolaty pound cakes. You'll hardly be able to bake these little gems before they're devoured.

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Yogurt Pound Cake with Pomegranate Syrup

Credit: Sheri Giblin; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Yogurt Pound Cake with Pomegranate Syrup Recipe

Not your typical pound cake. Shaya adds Greek yogurt to the batter for a slight tang, then soaks the cake in a fragrant lemon-cardamom liquid and serves it with spiced pomegranate syrup.

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Powdered Sugar Pound Cake

Credit: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson

Powdered Sugar Pound Cake Recipe

With its fine crumb and almost candylike almond-studded shell, this is pound cake gone to fancy class--but still pound-cake-easy.

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Strawberry Poke Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze

Credit:  Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Strawberry Poke Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze Recipe

Poke cake meets pound cake in this must-make spring dessert. A perfectly moist, dense vanilla pound cake (with a delightful hint of almond) is filled with a fresh strawberry filling—adding to the cake's tender crumb and providing the perfect fruity sweet-tart flavor balance. Finish the whole thing off with an eye-catching fresh strawberry glaze, and you have a supremely awesome cake on your hands. Be warned, if you share this pound cake with friends, you'll need to be ready to share the recipe as well. 

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Elderflower Pound Cake with Lemon-Elderflower Glaze

Credit: Whitney Ott; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Elderflower Pound Cake with Lemon-Elderflower Glaze Recipe

This delightfully floral pound cake is a super fun and elegant twist on the classic 7-Up pound cake—not to mention, a most delicious introduction to elderflower if you’re not familiar with its flavor. Easy to whip up and incredibly impressive, this elderflower dessert is a fantastic option for your next dinner party. The floral notes from the elderflower liqueur and tonic water, as well as the lemony tart glaze, perfectly balance the pound cake’s richness. You can find elderflower tonic water at grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Fresh Market, but you can also order it online if you have trouble tracking it down locally. You will have leftover tonic—but don’t worry, that’s just a perfect excuse to make yourself an elderflower gin and tonic to enjoy while your cake bakes. While the flower flavor in this fabulous cake certainly shines, it isn’t at all overbearing. 

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Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake Recipe

Turn out a high-rise cake with a moist, tender crumb by layering the ingredients in the bowl in the order specified. Don't have a stand mixer with a 4-qt. bowl and paddle attachment? Prep the batter in the traditional way.

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Double-Chocolate Swirl Pound Cake

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Double-Chocolate Swirl Pound Cake Recipe

Look for whole-wheat pastry flour in the baking aisle at major supermarkets.

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Black Forest Pound Cake

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Black Forest Pound Cake Recipe

This decadent dessert is an easy, one-pan twist on the traditional layered cake.

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Grilled Pound Cake with Lemon Cream and Blueberries

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Grilled Pound Cake with Lemon Cream and Blueberries Recipe

Fire up your grill for dessert! Keep the flame still going and make luscious Grilled Pound Cake with Lemon Cream and Blueberries. The lightly grilled cake will be a favorite all around.

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Buttery Pound Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Buttery Pound Cake Recipe

Sweet brown sugar pairs perfectly with the apples in this pound cake recipe.

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Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze Recipe

Look for whole-wheat pastry flour in the baking aisle at major supermarkets. Garnish with additional strawberries and fresh mint leaves.

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Grapefruit Pound Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Grapefruit Pound Cake Recipe

Grapefruit Pound Cake blossoms from the floral essence of grated grapefruit rind, while fresh grapefruit juice packs refreshing flavor to the powdered sugar glaze which is drizzled over this moist pound cake.

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Canola Oil Pound Cake with Browned Butter Glaze

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Canola Oil Pound Cake with Browned Butter Glaze Recipe

Heart-healthy canola oil helps lighten this classic dessert. And an ingenious technique of soaking a vanilla bean in the oil adds deep, rich flavor to Canola Oil Pound Cake with Browned Butter Glaze.

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Pound Cake Cupcakes

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pound Cake Cupcakes Recipe

We've stirred up a little magic with our Pound Cake Cupcakes, which are a Thumbelina version of the tube-pan classic.

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Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Allison R. Banks

Sweet Potato Pound Cake Recipe

Bored with sweet potato casserole? Try this sweet potato pound cake, a twist on traditional pound cake that features nutrient-rich sweet potatoes. It's the perfect addition to holiday dessert tables.

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Lemon Curd Pound Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Lemon Curd Pound Cake Recipe

Wait to prepare the Lemon Curd Glaze until the cake comes out of the oven so it will still be warm when spread over the cake.

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Candied Ginger Pound Cake Truffles

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Candied Ginger Pound Cake Truffles Recipe

If you like spicy sweets, Candied Ginger Pound Cake Truffles are for you. Chopped crystallized ginger make up part of these cake balls as well as the garnish.

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Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake Recipe

Drizzle an almond-flavored pound cake with homemade amaretto glaze for a delightfully decadent dessert. 

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Bourbon-Pecan Pound Cake Truffles

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Bourbon-Pecan Pound Cake Truffles Recipe

We take a favorite Southern dessert and turn it into bite-size Bourbon-Pecan Pound Cake Truffles.

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Key Lime Pound Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Key Lime Pound Cake Recipe

Dress up traditional pound cake with a little lime zest and a homemade Key lime glaze for a deliciously tropical dessert.

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Miss Lizzie's Pound Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Miss Lizzie's Pound Cake Recipe

A yummy caramel frosting paired with a moist and delicious pound cake makes for an irresistible dessert.

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Raspberry Pound Cake Truffles

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Raspberry Pound Cake Truffles Recipe

Raspberry Pound Cake Truffles is our update on the ubiquitous cake ball. We roll these sweet little gems in chopped toasted almonds for added crunch and flavor.

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Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake Loaf

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake Loaf Recipe

Garnish this pound cake with flaked coconut or, for a dressier look, curly shavings of coconut.

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Pound Cake S'mores

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Pound Cake S'mores Recipe

This is one of the easiest desserts you will ever make, but it is also one of the tastiest. Instead of using traditional graham crackers to complete your s'more, the base becomes soft, moist pound cake. Drizzle with caramel topping and nuts.

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Sauvignon Blanc Pound Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Sauvignon Blanc Pound Cake Recipe

Sauvignon Blanc goes into the batter and the glaze of this pound cake.

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Buttermilk Pound Cake with Custard Sauce

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Buttermilk Pound Cake with Custard Sauce Recipe

We sampled this traditional pairing several different ways and loved them all, but our favorite was warm cake with chilled custard.

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Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

Here the cream cheese is added after beating the butter and sugar, and the cake bakes at a slightly higher temperature than usual.

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Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel

Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake Recipe

We replicated the flavor profile of Mexican chocolate using semisweet chocolate and cinnamon. If you prefer to use Mexican chocolate, look for it with the hot drink mixes or on the Hispanic food aisle. This moist pound cake is equally delicious without the sauce.

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Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream

Credit: Gentl & Hyers; Styling: Kendra Smoot

Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream Recipe

Because of the addition of cornmeal to the batter, the texture of this pound cake resembles a sweet and tender cornbread. Top this simple cake with whipped cream and berries for a company-worthy dessert.

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