Here’s a classic homemade pound cake recipe—rich, buttery, and simple, with detailed directions and tips so it comes out perfect every time.
🍰 Classic Homemade Pound Cake
Yield
1 loaf (9×5-inch) or 10–12 servings
Prep Time
15 minutes
Bake Time
70–80 minutes
🧈 Ingredients
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1½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter, softened
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3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar
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6 large eggs, room temperature
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3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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¾ cup (180 ml) whole milk, room temperature
🔥 Directions
1. Prepare the Pan and Oven
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Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
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Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter.
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Lightly dust with flour and tap out excess.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar
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In a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed for 3–4 minutes until creamy.
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Gradually add sugar and continue beating for 4–5 minutes.
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The mixture should be pale and fluffy—this step is key for a tender cake.
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3. Add Eggs
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Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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Scrape down the bowl as needed to keep batter smooth.
4. Add Vanilla
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Mix in the vanilla extract.
5. Add Dry Ingredients and Milk
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
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Add flour mixture to batter in three additions, alternating with milk.
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Begin and end with flour.
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Mix on low speed just until combined.
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Do not overmix or the cake will be dense.
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6. Bake
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Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
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Bake for 70–80 minutes.
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Check at 70 minutes:
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A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
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If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
7. Cool
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Let cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
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Turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.
✨ Optional Variations
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Lemon Pound Cake: Add 2 tablespoons lemon zest and replace vanilla with lemon extract.
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Vanilla Glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2–3 tablespoons milk or lemon juice and drizzle on top.
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Almond Pound Cake: Replace vanilla with almond extract.
🧠 Tips for the Best Pound Cake
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Use room-temperature ingredients for smooth batter.
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Cream butter and sugar thoroughly—this gives the cake lift.
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Low oven temperature helps the cake bake evenly.