Easy Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

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This is a classic traditional pound cake recipe from Southern Living. It’s a moist, lip-smacking good pound cake with just the right amount of sweetness.

Love classic pound cake? Try my 5 ingredient Confectioners Sugar Pound Cake.

Homemade Pound Cake Recipe From Southern Living

I got this vanilla pound cake recipe from my favorite cake baking recipe book. It’s Southern Living’s Southern Living Homemaker’s Cookbook: Cakes. It has so many old school cake recipes and this one did not disappoint.

This vanilla pound cake might sound just a tad bit boring, like a dull Sunday sermon. But, oh no, it’s more like a thrilling roller derby game. It’s anything but boring.

It’s the best vanilla pound recipe. This cake packs a smooth, rich vanilla flavor that is not overly sweet and will excite anyone’s taste buds. In addition, it has that dense pound cake texture and perfect crumb that puts it over the top.

Ingredients For Vanilla Pound Cake

• ½ cup butter room temperature
• ½ cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs room temperature
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk room temperature

How To Make Vanilla Pound Cake

• Grease and flour tube or bundt pan or 2 loaf pans.
• Preheat oven to 325°
• Sift Flour, baking soda and salt and put aside.
• Cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat until yellow is just gone before adding the next egg.
• Add vanilla.
• Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk. Do not overmix.
• Put batter in well greased pan. Fill pan 2/3’s full. Make cupcakes with any extra batter.
• Bake at 325° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Let cool for 10-12 minutes and release.

Tools Used In Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

• Mixer – I prefer to use a stand mixer for pound cake
• Spatula
• Bundt Pan
• Tube Pan
• Dry Measuring Cups
• Measuring spoons
• Liquid Measuring Cup
• Cooling Rack

Tips For The Best Vanilla Pound Cake

• You can half the recipe and use a 9×5 loaf pan and make a vanilla pound cake loaf. Also, you can use the regular recipe and use (2) 9×5 loaf pans for 2 vanilla pound cake loaves.
• Make sure your dairy ingredients are room temperature. Room temperature ingredients incorporate so much easier when mixing.
• Add sugar gradually and beat until light and fluffy. No gritty texture should remain.
• Add eggs one at a time.  Beat each egg just until the yellow disappears. 
• Insert a long sharp knife or long wooden pick into the center of the pound cake to test for doneness.  It should come out clean or with a few crumbs when done.  If there’s clinging batter, it’s back in the oven.

How To Serve Pound Cake

Like any good old fashioned pound cake this vanilla pound cake is mouthwateringly delicious by itself. But wait, pound cake is not just for devouring on its own – oh no, friends. You can take it to the next level with these pound cake topping and serving ideas.

• Top it with fruits and berries and then whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Pair it with grilled peaches and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Toast it slightly and smother it with butter or drizzle with caramel or chocolate sauce.
• Be edgy and soften some Nutella and slather a slice of pound cake with that. So sinfully delish.
• You can always add a glaze icing to your pound cake. This adds a depth of flavor and makes the cake look romantic with a cake glaze cascading down. Here’s a link to my cream cheese glaze.
• Transform your pound cake into a trifle layered with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Make Your Pound Cake Ahead

Pound cake stores and freezes so well, so it’s ideal to make ahead of time.

• Store any pound cake at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or place in a Ziploc Bag or airtight container. 
• Refrigerate pound cake up to 6 days.  Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or place in a Ziploc Bag or airtight container.  
• Freeze pound cake from 3 to 6 months. Wrap your cake in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and place in a large Ziploc Bag or a large airtight container. 

Final Thoughts On Classic Southern Pound Cake

Like I said above, this cake might sound like a boring, plain pound cake, but it’s far from that. This traditional pound cake has outstanding rich, vanilla flavor and tastes amazing. It will be the hit of your church’s pot luck or homecoming. Vanilla pound cake recipe is super easy to make and can be served almost anywhere. It’s a must for any cake baker’s recipe collection.

In case you have any questions or comments about this vanilla pound cake recipe, please feel free to leave a comment via the comment section or the contact page. Also, if you have tried this recipe, I would love to hear what you think.

I have linked to our related recipes below and I’m sure you will love them.

More Traditional Pound Cake Recipes

• Old School Pound Cake
• Simple Whipping Cream Pound Cake
• Melt In Your Mouth Pound Cake
• Old Fashioned Sour Cream Pound Cake
• Simple Almond Pound Cake, Just So Easy