Southern Pound Cake

Southern Pound Cake

12 servings
Southern pound cake with a moist and velvety crumb!

Ingredients

  • all-purpose flour

    measured correctly. see note.

    3 c
  • baking powder

    measured correctly. see note.

    ½ tsp
  • salt
    ½ tsp
  • unsalted butter)

    room temperature

    1 ½ c
  • granulated cane sugar
    3 c
  • eggs

    room temperature

    5 large
  • whole milk

    room temperature

    ¾ c
  • pure vanilla extract
    1 tbsp
  • pure lemon extract
    ¼ tsp
  • pure coconut extract

    optional but yum

    ¼ tsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease a 10-cup bundt cake pan with a thin layer of shortening (I use butter-flavored shortening for this. It gives the crust a nice golden crunch and buttery flavor) and then very lightly coat it with flour. Set aside. (If using loaf pans use two 9.5 loaf pans) Set aside.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl add flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together well to make sure all of the dry ingredients are combined. Set aside.

  3. 3

    In another large bowl, cream together butter until creamy.

  4. 4

    Gradually add sugar while mixing at low speed. Mix for about 3 minutes until creamy and combined. (set timer).

  5. 5

    Mix in eggs one or two at a time, just until combined. Keep your mixture on low speed and do not overmix.

  6. 6

    Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients alternating with milk. Start and end with dry ingredients. Mix until batter is combined and fluffy. Keep the mixer on low speed. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl regularly.

  7. 7

    Stir in the vanilla extract, lemon extract, and coconut extract if using.

  8. 8

    Spoon batter evenly into prepared bundt pan. Shake and tap the pan on the counter to even out the batter and release any air pockets.

  9. 9

    Place on the middle rack and bake for 1 hour and 10-20 minutes (check on it at the 70-minute mark) or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the pound cake comes out clean. (Ovens vary and you may need to add a few more minutes) To be on the safe side, I peel up a piece of the cake to make sure it's done. Since this is the bottom of the cake nobody will see it.

  10. 10

    Place pan on a cooling rack until it is cool enough to touch but still warm.

  11. 11

    Carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool.

  12. 12

    Slice the cooled cake and serve. *Remember pound cake is one of those desserts that gets even better the next day.

Southern Pound Cake

Southern Pound Cake

95 min12 servings

Similar Recipes

Classic Southern Pound Cake Recipe

Classic Southern Pound Cake Recipe

A pound cake's beauty is its simplicity. It isn't as showy as a tall, frosted layer cake or as dramatic as a fruit-crowned upside-down cake or as cute as a cupcake. But this humble, comforting treat rises to nearly every setting, occasion, and crowd, whether served on a paper plate or on grandmother's heirloom china.

Easy Paula Deen Pound Cake

Easy Paula Deen Pound Cake

This delicious pound cake recipe is the perfect southern cake for summer! Make it for an everyday treat or dessert to share.

100 minutes
Southern Butter Pecan Cake

Southern Butter Pecan Cake

Moist Southern Butter Pecan Cake loaded with pecans and frosted with a pecan brown sugar cream cheese frosting!

58 minutes10 servings
Chocolate Church Cake

Chocolate Church Cake

Layer cakes are formative for Southerners: They grace wedding tables, shiva gatherings, quinceañeras, baptisms and funerals. Because of this — and because layer cakes may be as close as some will ever get to a holy experience — they’re often called church cakes. This chocolate one is a perfectly moist and stacked rendition of a pudding cake, with just the right amount of richness from the frosting. This formula needs no alterations, but there’s no sense in breaking the tradition of Southern bakers, who personalize recipes as a point of pride. Add pulverized praline to the center, or cinnamon or instant-coffee granules to the batter. Don’t be afraid to make it your own. To make it a true church cake, serve it to those you hold in the highest regard, for celebrations or to simply indulge in the good glory of company.

Old Fashioned Pound Cake

Old Fashioned Pound Cake

This Old Fashioned Pound Cake recipe is one my mother made often throughout my childhood.  Dense and buttery, this traditional pound cake is the perfect blank canvas for a fruit glaze or whipped topping.

75 minutes371 kcal
Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

This moist and delicious carrot cake is a breeze to put together and is SO GOOD! You can bake it in a bundt pan or in two 6" or 9" pans to make a layer cake, but it also makes perfect muffins! Double the icing if you are making a layer cake.

12 servings
Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

A Southern gem, our classic Hummingbird Cake Recipe was submitted in 1978 by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins and boasts three incredibly moist layers flavored with canned pineapple and bananas.

The Perfect Pound Cake Recipe

The Perfect Pound Cake Recipe

A true classic, my Pound Cake recipe is simple (only six ingredients) and satisfying! This cake is so moist and buttery, and it pairs beautifully with fresh fruit. This recipe includes a how-to video--keep scrolling to watch!

95 minutes696 kcal

Ratings & Reviews

Be the First to Rate

Your rating helps others discover amazing recipes. Share your experience and let others know what you think!

About this Recipe

Dreaming of a classic Southern pound cake with that perfect moist, velvety crumb? This recipe brings the timeless elegance and comforting flavors of a true Southern staple right to your kitchen.

The secret to its unparalleled richness lies in the generous use of room temperature unsalted butter and sugar, creamed to fluffy perfection, which ensures a light yet incredibly dense texture. Combining pure vanilla, lemon, and an optional touch of coconut extract creates a nuanced flavor profile that truly sings, setting this pound cake apart from simpler versions.

Prepare for a truly indulgent experience. This Southern Pound Cake boasts a golden crust and a uniformly fine, velvety crumb that melts in your mouth. Each slice offers a symphony of classic vanilla and bright lemon, with a subtle, intriguing hint of coconut if you choose to include it. It’s a substantial yet tender cake, perfect for a leisurely afternoon or a celebratory gathering, delivering comfort in every bite.

While the blend of vanilla, lemon, and coconut extracts offers a delightful complexity, feel free to adjust to your taste. You can omit the coconut extract for a more traditional vanilla-lemon forward flavor, or even increase the lemon extract slightly for a brighter finish. For a deeper flavor, ensure your butter and sugar are perfectly creamed, and your Bundt pan is well-prepared.

Baked beautifully in a Bundt pan, this Southern Pound Cake is ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, or simply elevating your everyday dessert spread. Serve it plain, with fresh berries, or a dollop of whipped cream for an unforgettable treat that will have everyone asking for the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions