Southern Pound Cake – Immaculate Bites Cake and Pie Recipes

Why It’s Called Pound Cake

The first time I asked this question, the answer surprised me. So logical and simple. The original recipe calls for basic ingredients: a pound each of flour, sugar, and butter, plus a dozen eggs. These simple ingredients cream together for the right consistency.

My recipe is for half a pound cake because my family is smaller than families used to be when they invented this recipe. For an authentic Southern pound cake, double the recipe.

Staple Ingredients

1. Butter – Unsalted butter softened to room temperature delivers the perfect mouth feel and tender crumb. If all you have is salted butter, omit added salt.
2. Sugar – Granulated sugar sweetens the cake and provides moisture. Coconut sugar, brown sugar, and date sugar are suitable substitutes. However, each type of sugar has its own sweet flavor.
3. Eggs bind the cake together so it doesn’t crumble, and they help the cake rise.
4. Dry Ingredients – All-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, and baking powder make the cake’s base. The original recipes don’t have baking powder, so for a denser cake, you can leave it out.
5. Milk – The original recipes also don’t have milk, but I like it this way. Buttermilk and sour cream are tasty substitutes. A splash of vanilla extract adds a decadent aroma and flavor.

How to Make a Southern Pound Cake

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease a bundt or tube pan generously with cooking spray and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar on high in a stand mixer until it’s fluffy and starts looking white (5- 7 minutes). (Photos 1-2)
• Eggs – Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. (Photos 3-4)
• Combine – Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt into the egg mixture, followed by milk and vanilla extract. Stir well until thoroughly combined without overmixing. Scrape the sides of the bowl down as you mix. (Photos 5-7)
• Pour the batter into a greased cake pan. Tap the pans on the work surface to eliminate any large air bubbles. (Photo 8)
• Bake at 300℉ (150°C) until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean (60-80 minutes).
• Serve – Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool before slicing and serving with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Enjoy!

Flavor Twists

1. Southern cream cheese pound cake. Replace half the butter with full-fat cream cheese for a decadent twist.
2. Drizzle with a homemade glaze. I usually serve this as is, but feel free to rip off the glaze from another recipe. Strawberry, lemon, and pineapple glazes or caramel sauce are excellent options.
3. Fruity toppings. Top it off with fried apples or fruit salad for a slightly healthier dessert 🤫.
4. Chocolatey pound cake. Fold a cup of mini chocolate chips into the batter before pouring it into your bundt pan. That will satisfy your cake craving at the same time as your chocolate craving.

Tips and Tricks

1. Bring ingredients to room temperature for a smoother batter and more even mixing.
2. Use real butter. For a dairy-free version, feel free to use a butter substitute, but real butter tastes so much better.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Pound cake tastes even better the next day. Wait for it to cool to room temperature and keep it at room temperature in a covered cake plate for 2-3 days. Refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it well-wrapped for 3-4 months.

You can also freeze individual slices wrapped tightly in heavy plastic wrap for a quick fix or surprise guests. They thaw quickly, but you could speed up the process by toasting the pound cake slices in the oven for a few minutes.

Perfect Pairings for Southern Pound Cake

Southern pound cake is a great finish to a hearty Southern meal. Chicken bog with smothered green beans and delicious homemade dinner rolls delivers a soul-satisfying meal.

When you get to dessert, top your mouthwatering cake with homemade whipped cream and serve it with a steaming cup of tea or coffee.

Other Easy Cake Recipes to Try

1. Easy Bundt Cakes
2. Cream Cheese Pound Cake
3. Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake
4. Cinnamon Apple Cake
5. Vanilla Cake

By Imma

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in February 2021 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video