23 Perfect Pound Cakes We Can't Get Enough Of

Any way you slice it, these pound cake recipes are worth their weight in sweet delight.

By

Patricia S York

and

Updated on August 15, 2024

Brown sugar-cranberry pound cake with caramel frosting on white and gold cake stand — Photo:
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Pound for pound, a pound cake is a dessert that certainly satisfies above its weight. A true Southern favorite, these pound cake recipes are simple and delicious. The Million Dollar Pound Cake is an easy-to-make recipe, best served with ice cream or fresh berries. For a bite-size treat that is a decadent pleasure, enjoy the Mini Triple Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes. One of our readers' favorite recipes, it mixes cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, and semisweet chocolate, creating an irresistible combination. If you prefer a more sophisticated approach to this simple dessert, try our Brown Sugar-Cranberry Pound Cake With Caramel Frosting. Or for simple Southern flavors, bake a Sour Cream or Key Lime Pound Cake. Any way you slice it, these pound cake recipes are worth their weight in sweet delight.

Give your go-to pound cake recipe a breather and try one of these pound cake recipes from scratch. When the new neighbor moves in, ditch the plate of chocolate chip cookies and bake one of these pound cakes instead. Now that sounds like our kind of welcome!

01 of 23

Vanilla Pound Cake

Southern Living Vanilla Pound Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There’s nothing boring about this classic Vanilla Pound Cake on its own, but it does make the perfect canvas for whatever you happen to have on hand, whether fresh berries, powdered sugar, whipped cream, or your favorite glaze recipe.

02 of 23

Lemon Pound Cake

Lemon Pound Cake

This sweet, tart, and totally moist pound cake is the ideal partner for a warm cup of coffee. “Fantastic recipe,” wrote one recipe reviewer who left five stars. “Definitely the best pound cake I have ever made.”

03 of 23

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Brown Sugar Pound Cake — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

This oh-so-versatile pound cake recipe might just replace the old one that’s been your go-to for years. Be sure to check out the section titled “Brown Sugar Pound Cake Variations” on the recipe page for plenty of fun topping and add-in ideas from our Test Kitchen pros.

04 of 23

Strawberry Pound Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Pound Cake on a platter to serve — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Fall baking gets all the attention, but this stunning Strawberry Pound Cake makes a case for spring baking. The cake and the glaze contain fresh strawberries for beautiful color and fresh flavor in every bite.

05 of 23

McLeod Farms' Fresh Peach Pound Cake

Southern Living Peach Pound Cake sliced and ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Every summer, our readers get excited to make this beauty again once fresh peaches are out at the farmers’ market. “I try new recipes all the time, and this was my favorite from this summer!” wrote one reviewer. “It’s delicious. I’ve shared it with friends in multiple settings and everyone loves it.”

06 of 23

Grandby's Sour Cream Pound Cake

Southern Living Grandby's Sour Cream Pound Cake — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Sour cream is the secret to moist pound cake with a hint of tang, and this recipe from Muscadine Bloodline member Gary Stanton’s mom is proof. “There's nothing like walking into the house when I get back home for the holidays and smell her cooking up something in the kitchen,” he says. “It's the best!"

07 of 23

Homemade Pound Cake

pound cake - southern living — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

If you’re craving something sweet, you probably have everything you need to make this classic pound cake already. Our Macerated Strawberries are one of our favorite ways to top a slice.

08 of 23

Two-Step Pound Cake

Southern Living Two Step Pound Cake sliced and ready to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Novice bakers can take comfort in this foolproof recipe. You need just six ingredients, a mixer, and a pan to make it.

09 of 23

Pumpkin Pound Cake

Pumpkin Pound Cake - Southern Living — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

This beautiful Pumpkin Pound Cake might replace the pumpkin pie on your Thanksgiving sideboard. The maple glaze on top is the perfect addition.

10 of 23

Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting

Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Our Slow-Cooker Apple Butter is one of our most popular fall recipes year after year, and it’s the secret to the prettiest pound cake slice you’ll see. The reviews on this cake are glowing, too. “It was, hands down, the best pound cake I have ever had in my life,” reads one.

11 of 23

Brown Sugar-Cranberry Pound Cake With Caramel Frosting

Brown sugar-cranberry pound cake with caramel frosting on white and gold cake stand — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

If you’re looking for a go-to dessert that will impress at any event from the start of fall through the holiday season, this pound cake is just what you need. There’s no extensive decorating required, but the result is no less beautiful than any layer cake.

12 of 23

Ivy's Favorite Pound Cake

Ivy's Favorite Pound Cake — Frederick Hardy II; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mat Gibilisco

Senior Producer Ivy Odom’s secret to the best pound cake ever? No preheating! That’s right: She recommends starting your pound cake in a cold oven for perfect texture.

13 of 23

Million Dollar Pound Cake

million dollar pound cake - southern living — Will Dickey

This classic pound cake only needs a few pantry staple ingredients to make something incredible.

14 of 23

Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake

Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake — Alison Miksch

We took the traditional pound cake recipe and gave it a stunning, triple-chocolate twist. This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. It's indulgent and, we admit, so much fun to eat and serve. Chocolate enthusiasts will be over the moon for this recipe, but it has enough unexpected flavor—thanks to the addition of the buttermilk glaze—that you'll also win over the harder-to-please dessert eaters at the table. Warning: You—and they—won't be able to resist a second slice.

15 of 23

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

There are a few things to note about this recipe before you start baking. First, the cream cheese is added after beating the butter and sugar. And, yes, you read the cooking instructions correctly—the cake bakes at a slightly higher temperature than usual.

16 of 23

Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes — Photo: Alison Miksch

Guests are sure to love these little gems—and thanks to the sweet flavors of chocolate and buttermilk, they'll thank you for the petite serving. Anything bigger would be too hard to resist!

17 of 23

Key Lime Pound Cake

Southern Living Key Lime Pound Cake sliced to serve — Dotdash Meredith

Dress up traditional pound cake with a little lime zest and a homemade Key lime glaze for a deliciously tropical dessert.

18 of 23

Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Southern Living Caramel Frosted Pound Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Two Southern classics—caramel cake and pound cake—meet in this dessert that quickly became a reader favorite.

19 of 23

Classic Chocolate Pound Cake

Classic Chocolate Pound Cake — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Make this rich chocolate pound cake ahead of time for an easy, satisfying dessert the whole family will love.

20 of 23

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Cream Cheese Pound Cake — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

No dessert has ever tasted worse with the addition of cream cheese, including this decadent pound cake.

21 of 23

Old-Fashioned Pound Cake

Old Fashioned Pound Cake — Southern Living

This rich cake still manages to be light as cloud. We love it topped with a dollop of homemade whipped cream and fresh fruit.

22 of 23

Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Sweet Potato Pound Cake — Jennifer Davick

Fall's favorite spud makes a rare appearance at the dessert table with this amazing pound cake recipe.

23 of 23

Classic Southern Pound Cake

Classic Southern Pound Cake — Skyler Burt; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

This pound cake recipe proves that sometimes the best things in life are the simplest.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

Southern Living Hummingbird Sheet Cake

12 Hummingbird Cake Recipes That Can't Get Any Sweeter

Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing

40 Sweet Bread Recipes To Pair With Your Morning Coffee

Angel Food Cake

36 Spring Cake Recipes As Stunning As Any Seasonal Blooms

Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve

75 Luscious Layer Cakes Perfect For Any Occasion

Southern Living Strawberry Cheesecake on a platter ready to serve

47 Delicious Cheesecake Recipes For Every Season And Occasion

Key Lime Sheet Cake

37 Party-Perfect Sheet Cake Recipes

Atlantic Beach Pie Bars - Southern Living

58 Sweet-On-Citrus Dessert Recipes

Southern Living Christmas Morning Coffee Cake on a platter to serve

8 Coffee Cake Recipes To Sweeten Your Day

Blueberry Cobbler with a scoop of ice cream

28 Old-Fashioned Pie And Cobbler Recipes That Are Simply Delicious

Southern Living Honeybee Cupcakes on a plate to serve, topped with edible flowers and a drizzle of honey

17 Cupcake Recipes That'll Make Any Day Sweeter

No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

22 Homemade Ice Cream Recipes Made For Hot Summer Days

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

10 Inviting Apple Pies For Every Fall Occasion

Heirloom Tomato Pie in a pie pan with a server and plates around it

Our 8 Best Tomato Pie Recipes To Make All Summer

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

30 Tube Pan Cake Recipes That Will Convince You To Get Yours Out

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

20 Pot Pies Meant For Cozy Weeknights

Southern Living Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges on a blue platter to serve

50 Classic Picnic Recipes For Your Next Outdoor Gathering