15 Best Pound Cake Recipes

Written by
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
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Lizz Schumer
Published 12/28/20
Pumpkin pound cake with Maple Pecan Glaze recipe

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

I don't know about you, but when I think about pound cake, I get in a celebratory mood. The rich, buttery cake has a dense, tender crumb and often gets baked in a loaf pan for the perfect teatime treat. And once you master a basic pound cake recipe, variations abound. Adding mix-ins, interesting flavorings, and delicious glazes and drizzles can turn a basic snack cake into a stunning dessert. Start with the basics, then work your way through this list of favorites.

  • 01 of 15

    Basic Vanilla Pound Cake

    Classic Two Egg Vanilla Pound Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    For the best basic pound cake, start with all of your ingredients at room temperature, and follow the directions to the letter. The butter and sugar really do need at least five minutes to get light and fluffy, so have patience. Serve the finished product with fresh berries and whipped cream or all by itself for a simple sweet.

  • 02 of 15

    Sour Cream Pound Cake

    Sour cream pound cake recipe

    The Spruce 

    Tangy sour cream gives this pound cake a nice richness, and a sweet vanilla glaze contrasts nicely with the cake. Beaten egg whites keep the batter from getting too leaden, but don't overbeat the batter, or you'll deflate the air bubbles.

  • 03 of 15

    Lemon Lavender Pound Cake

    Lemon Lavender Pound Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    For a delicate, floral cake, try this one that uses fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and dried lavender flowers for its unique flavor. The added ingredients appear in both the cake and the glaze for a double dose of taste.

  • 04 of 15

    Sweet Potato Pound Cake

    sweet potato pound cake recipe

    The Spruce / Patty Lee

    Mashed sweet potato adds an earthy sweetness to this autumnal pound cake that makes a great alternative to pumpkin or sweet potato pie. Feel free to swap out the chopped pecans for walnuts or omit them altogether if you don't care for nuts.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake

    cream cheese pound cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    For a versatile basic pound cake recipe, this Southern version uses cream cheese for even more richness. We included two different glaze options, but it also tastes great plain or dusted with powdered sugar. A fruit sauce would also add interest.

  • 06 of 15

    Chocolate Pound Cake

    Chocolate pound cake recipe
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Dutch-Process cocoa gives this simple chocolate pound cake a deep brown color and lots of chocolatey flavor. It bakes up in a tube or bundt pan, so it travels well. Consider it for your next potluck, bake sale, or treat trade.

  • 07 of 15

    Pineapple Pound Cake

    Pineapple Pound Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    With crushed pineapple and juice in the batter and more crushed fruit in the topping, this pound cake brings tons of tropical flavor. Let it rest overnight before serving to give the flavors time to get to know each other for the tastiest presentation.

  • 08 of 15

    Pumpkin Pound Cake with Maple Pecan Glaze

    Pumpkin pound cake with Maple Pecan Glaze recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Add this pumpkin pound cake to your holiday dessert rotation, or whip it up anytime you want an easy dessert that tastes and looks like a special occasion. It tastes great with or without the nuts.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.
  • 09 of 15

    Peach Cobbler Pound Cake

    Peach Cobbler Pound Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Michael Young 

    When you can't decide between peach cobbler and pound cake, solve that problem with this hybrid treat. Stew fresh peaches into a flavor-packed chunky paste that imbues it with the taste of Southern summer then decorate the top with fresh slices for a pretty presentation.

  • 10 of 15

    Lemony Pound Cake

    Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

     The Spruce

    Brushing this super citrus-forward lemon pound cake with a fresh lemon and sugar sauce while it's still warm gives it a moist, lemon grove sweetness. Sprinkling a dash of salt into the batter will enhance the flavor, and adding a little vanilla extract will give it a lovely fragrance.

  • 11 of 15

    Chocolate Pumpkin Pound Cake

    Chocolate Pumpkin Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Chocolate and pumpkin may sound like an unlikely combination, but the squash gives this pound cake a moist texture and earthy richness without adding a ton of flavor itself. The result? A deep, dark cake that would work perfectly for fall holidays or anytime you need a unique dessert.

  • 12 of 15

    Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake

    Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Sour cream adds a tangy element to chocolate pound cake for the chocoholics in the crowd. It also freezes well if you have a small family to feed, so slice before sticking in the freezer and pull out individual pieces whenever you need a sweet moment.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    Matcha Green Tea Pound Cake

    Matcha Green Tea Pound Cake recipe

    TailorTang / Getty Images

    Matcha green tea powder adds an earthy, fresh flavor to the classic butter pound cake in this simple recipe. Dust it with powdered sugar before serving, or leave it plain for a simple tea time treat. The pretty swirled slices also look nice on your table.

  • 14 of 15

    Blueberry Pound Cake

    blueberry pound cake recipe

    The Spruce / Allyson Kramer

    Use up leftover blueberries from your trip to the picking patch by making this tasty tea cake. If you don't have fresh berries, frozen ones work too. Just thaw and drain them thoroughly first, so they don't weigh down the batter too much.

  • 15 of 15

    Apricot Sour Cream Pound Cake

    Apricot Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe

    Grace Clementine/ Getty Images

    Apricot nectar gives this Southern-style pound cake a fruity sweetness while drizzling warm apricot preserves over the top levels up the flavor. You can also serve it plain or dusted with powdered sugar for a simple dessert.