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Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Cake Recipes » Best Pound Cake Recipe – Only 4 Ingredients!

Best Pound Cake Recipe – Only 4 Ingredients!

By Lynette on February 12, 2019 · 28 Comments

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pound cake recipe
best pound cake recipe made from scratch with four ingredients

This traditional pound cake recipe has been passed down from generation to generation in my family.  With only four ingredients and no baking powder or baking soda, this dense, moist and delicious pound cake recipe is delicious and is best topped with raspberry sauce.

best pound cake recipe made from scratch with four ingredients

I was in the mood for pound cake.  And so naturally I called my mom and asked her about the pound cake she always talks about from her Aunt Pauline.  Only four ingredients, she would tell me – and it makes the best pound cake.  Obviously, I was intrigued.  And even though she mentioned that I’d had it many times as a child, I had to make it for myself.

traditional pound cake recipe handwritten

Here’s the story with this pound cake. After World War II my grandma’s family would send this pound cake overseas to Germany to their relatives who were unable to access many of the things they needed.  This pound cake would become such a treat that decades later when my mother visited there, they would mention the pound cake and how much it meant to their family.

That’s a good cake!

Here’s why I think this is the best pound cake recipe

  • In case you missed it, it only has four ingredients that you most likely have on hand.
  • It’s not a super sweet pound cake, so it pairs beautifully with ice cream or a homemade raspberry sauce.
  • It’s super simple to make and if you follow my directions, you’ll have a perfect pound cake each and every single time.

Easy Pound Cake Recipe Directions

pound cake batter with creamed sugar and butter

Step 1: Cream the butter and then add the sugar.  Blend well so that the butter and sugar and fully incorporated.

best pound cake recipe eggs

Step 2: Beat five room temperature eggs one at a time.  Beat each egg for 3 minutes each.  Yes, that’s 15 minutes total.  The beating of the eggs is what give the cake lift while you bake it.  This step is very important!

If you have a kitchen aid stand mixer you’ll want to beat the eggs on level 4 of your mixer.  If you don’t have a kitchen aid mixer, then you’ll want to set your mixer to medium.  Think of the level of mixing with a hand mixer.  My mom talked of beating the eggs for 15 minutes holding the hand mixer the entire time.  So, that’s what you’re going for here.

easy pound cake recipe batter in bundt pan

Step 3:  Add flour and mix gently on a low setting until combined.

Step 4: Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake at 350˚ F for 45 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

Here’s a great resource on how to grease and flour your bundt pan.  There’s nothing worse than having your cake not come out of the pan!

fresh pound cake from the oven

Step 5:  Wait 30 minutes to remove from pan.  Cool and sprinkle powder sugar on top.

Once I made this recipe I was transported back to my childhood and the many times my grandma and mom had made this recipe.  I enjoyed a slice right away, the next morning for breakfast with a cup of coffee and also as an evening snack.

pound cake without baking powder and baking soda on cooling rack

I like to imagine the excitement this pound cake would have brought when my ancestors received it in Germany all those years ago.  What a treat it must have been.  And I’m so grateful my grandma kept good notes of Aunt Pauline’s recipe so that we could enjoy it today.

Enjoy!

old fashioned pound cake recipe

Pound Cake Recipe From Scratch Tips

Does this pound cake freeze well?  Yes!  It freezes really well.  After letting it cool completely, wrap in saran wrap and place in a freezer bag before adding to your freezer.

Can I make this recipe in a loaf pan?  Yes.  You will need to adjust your baking time.

How do I make sure that my pound cake stays moist?  Make sure to put in an air tight container as soon as it is cool to protect the pound cake from air.

How do I keep my pound cake from getting too brown?  Make sure to use a light colored bundt pan. Mine is copper, and it worked really well.  You want the outer edge to be a deep golden brown.

What do I serve pound cake with?  You can serve it along side fresh berries, whipped cream, ice cream and/or a fruit sauce.  It’s also delicious on it’s own!  However, I like having something with it as this is not a super sweet pound cake recipe.

How to Make Pound Cake Video

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best pound cake recipe baked from scratch

Best Pound Cake Recipe

★★★★ 4 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Lynette
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

With only four ingredients, this pound cake recipe makes a dense, moist and delicious dessert.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ⅔ Cup sugar
  • 5 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 Cups all-purpose flour
  • powdered sugar, to sprinkle on top

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter.  Add sugar and cream together for 2 minutes on medium speed.  (#4 speed on Kitchen Aid mixer)
  2. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating each one for 3 minutes.  (#4 speed on Kitchen Aid mixer)
  3. Add flour and gently mix in.  (#2 speed on Kitchen Aid mixer)
  4. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake in preheated oven at 350˚ F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes and then carefully remove.  Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Notes

Make sure to properly grease and flour the bundt pan.

Keywords: best pound cake recipe, easy pound cake recipe, pound cake recipe from scratch, pound cake without baking powder and baking soda

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cleverlysimple on Instagram and hashtag it #cleverlysimple

 

Lynette

About Lynette

Lynette is the home cook, recipe tester and photographer for Cleverly Simple which she created in 2010.  Most of her recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from her great-grandma, grandmother, and mother.

Lynette’s recipes and projects have been featured in Country Living, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful and others.

Previous Post: « Jiffy Cornbread Casserole – 30 Minute Recipe!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLaverne Hampton

    February 14, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    Hello, the cake is in the oven as I’m writing. It was very simple. As I cleaned the bowl (a.k.a licked) I noticed it wasn’t very sweet. I used 2/3 cup of sugar. Was that correct? I will use the recipe again because it is so simple.

    Reply
    • LynetteLynette

      February 15, 2021 at 10:16 am

      Hi! The recipe states 1 2/3 cups of sugar. So, you need an additional cup. How did it turn out with less sugar?

      Reply
  2. AvatarKelli

    January 24, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    Should we use all-purpose or self-rising flour?

    Reply
    • LynetteLynette

      January 25, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      Hi, this recipe calls for all-purpose flour.

      Reply
  3. AvatarJenniferTorresOrtiz

    December 31, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    Can this be made with gluten free flour? If so, which kind? Thank you.

    Reply
    • LynetteLynette

      January 04, 2021 at 2:30 pm

      I have never tried this recipe with gluten free flour. That being said, IF I had to go gluten free I would recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 flour. I’ve tried others with pie crust, and that gluten free flour did the best. All that being said, I have no idea if the pound cake would turn out with it. I’m sorry I’m not more help!

      Reply
  4. AvatarChristy

    December 24, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    You dont mention if we should use all-purpose or self-rising flour. Maybe this would make a big difference?

    Reply
  5. AvatarPatty

    December 04, 2020 at 7:41 am

    Really the best vanilla pound cake I’ve ever had! Follow the directions and you’ll cake a perfect cake!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • LynetteLynette

      December 04, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Thank you so much for saying so! We love it too!

      Reply
  6. AvatarCaleb McDonald

    December 01, 2020 at 11:55 pm

    Can we buy this pound cake? If so how do we order it?

    Caleb

    Reply
  7. AvatarNancy

    June 07, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    I just love this recipe. I love pound cake and have fervently hunted the right recipe for a novice. This is so simple and exact even a child could make perfect pound cake!
    Caramel icing is a great variation.

    Reply
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Lynette Rice head shotHi, I’m Lynette. My desire is to help women who feel uninspired weave time honored recipes into their routines to create a sense of simplicity. Most of my recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from my great-grandma, grandmother and mother. And I want to share them with you.  Learn more.

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