Meet your new dessert obsession: the Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe. There’s just something magical about a classic pound cake—tender, buttery, and perfumed with vanilla—that never goes out of style. Whether you’re serving a crowd or sneaking a slice with your coffee, this cake delivers golden perfection every time, complete with a luscious vanilla bean glaze that’s as simple to make as it is impressive to eat.

Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of this Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe is in its simplicity—just a handful of pantry staples come together to create pure cake bliss. Each ingredient plays a starring role, from creating delicate crumb to infusing rich vanilla notes and building a velvety glaze on top.

Unsalted butter (1 cup, room temperature): Butter is the heart of pound cake, lending a rich flavor and soft texture—make sure it’s at room temperature for easy creaming.
All-purpose flour (1 cup) & cake flour (1 cup): The blend of these flours creates the ideal crumb: sturdy yet tender, with just the right amount of structure.
Granulated sugar (1 cup): Offers sweetness and helps the cake brown to a beautiful golden color.
Large eggs (2) and egg yolks (4): These add richness and moisture—the extra yolks guarantee a dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth bite.
Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Gives the loaf a gentle lift, so your Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe is never heavy or dense.
Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Just enough to balance sweetness and intensify flavors.
Vanilla (1 teaspoon): The key to that comforting, unmistakable vanilla aroma everyone loves.
Whole milk (1/2 cup, room temperature): A splash of milk melds everything together and keeps the cake wonderfully moist.
Confectioner’s sugar (1 1/2 cups, sifted): Essential for making the silky-smooth vanilla bean glaze.
Vanilla bean paste (2 teaspoons): Delivers intense, flecked vanilla flavor and those gorgeous specks in the glaze.
Whole milk or heavy cream (5-6 tablespoons): Loosens the glaze to a pourable, glossy finish that drips beautifully down the cake.

How to Make Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, then line the bottom and two short sides with parchment paper, leaving some overhang to help you lift the cake out later. This little prep step makes for a stress-free release and a pristine golden loaf.

Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together both flours, the baking powder, and salt. Combining these first means you’re guaranteed an even rise and perfect seasoning throughout the cake—no sneaky bursts of baking powder or salty pockets.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar

With your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the room temperature butter until it’s pale and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Next, add in the sugar gradually with the mixer running on medium-low. This not only dissolves the sugar evenly but helps add volume, creating that classic Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe texture.

Step 4: Add the Eggs and Vanilla

Drop in the eggs and yolks one at a time, mixing until each is fully blended before adding the next. This technique keeps your batter silky and uniform—don’t forget to scrape the bowl now and then! Once the eggs are in, blend in the vanilla, letting that heavenly fragrance set the stage for what’s to come.

Step 5: Alternate Dry Ingredients and Milk

Reduce the mixer speed and add the dry ingredient mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk (start and end with the dry mix). Gently mix just until each addition disappears—over-mixing can lead to a heavy cake. The result: a smooth, airy batter ready for the oven.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and use an offset spatula to level the top. Slide the pan into the oven and bake for about 60 minutes, checking at the 50-minute mark. If your cake’s top is browning too quickly, just tent it with foil. The Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe is done when the top springs back lightly and a toothpick comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are just right).

Step 7: Cool and Release

Let the cake rest in its pan for about 10 minutes after baking; this helps it firm up, so it unmolds neatly. Then, pull it out using your handy parchment paper sling and set it on a rack to cool completely. Tempting as it is, resist slicing while it’s warm for the best texture!

Step 8: Make the Vanilla Bean Glaze

Whisk together the sifted confectioner’s sugar and vanilla bean paste in a bowl. Gradually add milk or cream (one tablespoon at a time) until you have a thick but pourable glaze—you want it to cascade over the cake without running off entirely. If you need more thickness, add a bit more sugar; for a thinner glaze, splash in more milk.

Step 9: Glaze and Set

Spoon the luscious glaze evenly over the cooled cake, letting it drip artfully down the sides. Give it about 15 minutes to set—you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeously glossy finish that slices like a dream.

How to Serve Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

Garnishes

The Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe shines beautifully with just its velvety glaze, but a sprinkle of toasted almonds, a dusting of extra confectioner’s sugar, or even a handful of fresh berries can elevate it further. A few edible flowers or a grating of lemon zest make for a stunning, flavor-packed decoration.

Side Dishes

While this cake is bliss all on its own, it pairs perfectly with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a side of macerated berries. For a light brunch, consider tucking it alongside some ripe fruit salad or a creamy yogurt parfait.

Creative Ways to Present

Slice the Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe into thick slabs for dessert, cubes for elegant trifles, or even toast individual slices and serve with honey for a comforting breakfast treat. Layering it with seasonal fruit and soft cream turns a simple loaf into an eye-catching centerpiece for gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Wrap any leftover pound cake tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps the crumb soft and the slice just as irresistible on day three as on day one.

Freezing

The Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe freezes like a dream! Double-wrap cooled, unglazed cake in plastic and aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe bag. For best results, freeze the glaze separately and add it after thawing. Simply thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Reheating

To gently revive your pound cake, heat individual slices in a microwave for 10-15 seconds, or warm larger portions in a low oven for several minutes. This brings back a touch of that freshly-baked warmth and soft crumb.

FAQs

Can I use only all-purpose flour if I don’t have cake flour?

Absolutely! Though a cake flour and all-purpose blend yields a more tender crumb, using only all-purpose flour will still make a delicious Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe. For best results, try to spoon and level your flour to avoid a dense cake.

How do I know when the pound cake is fully baked?

You’ll want to gently press the top of the cake—if it springs back, it’s likely ready. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. Overbaking is easy with pound cake, so keep an eye out around the 50-minute mark!

What’s the best way to line the loaf pan?

Lightly grease the pan, then place a strip of parchment paper along the bottom and up the short sides, leaving a couple of inches overhanging. This “sling” lets you lift out the whole pound cake easily and neatly, glaze and all.

Can I make the Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe ahead of time?

Definitely! The flavors actually deepen after a day, making it perfect for prepping in advance. Store the cooled, unglazed cake tightly at room temperature, and glaze it the day you plan to serve for the prettiest presentation.

Why is my pound cake dense and heavy?

Dense pound cake is often a result of overmixing or adding too much flour. Remember to mix only until combined and to measure your flour by spooning and leveling, not scooping. Also, make sure your ingredients, especially butter, eggs, and milk, are at room temperature before starting.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a treat that never fails to delight, the Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The tender crumb, the fragrant glaze, the utter simplicity—this cake is proof that the classics are always in style. Give it a try, share it with friends and family, and see how quickly it disappears!