The pound cake is a dessert that dates back to the early 1700s, somewhere in Northern Europe. So if you believed that the pound cake was a culinary masterpiece gifted to us by the Southern US, you’d be wrong. But that’s no biggie. In fact, almost every corner of the world has some variation of the pound cake, because in many ways it’s the most basic version of a cake that you can possibly get. In the UK, it’s called a madeira cake; in Mexico it’s panque; and in the Caribbean, the pound cake is the basis from which the well-loved rum cake developed.
Pound cake gets its name because traditionally a baker used a pound of each of four ingredients: eggs, flour, butter, and sugar. If that sounds a little heavy to you, then you’d be correct. It’s basically a heart attack in a loaf pan. But as time has gone on, people have learned how to modify it or at least make it slightly less unhealthy (no simple feat, we assure you).
How to Make a Simple Pound Cake
The pound cake recipe we’re going to share here is a bit modified in order to use less butter and eggs, but it still results in a delicious and moist pound cake that’s perfect for summer or fall weather. And it still only requires a handful of ingredients to whip together. Here’s what you need: 2 cups granulated sugar; 2 cups all purpose flour; 5 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; and 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) – slightly melted.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the flour and sugar together in a large bowl. Add in the eggs and melted butter and continue to mix thoroughly. Throw in the vanilla extract while continuing to mix everything together.
Next, take a bundt pan or large loaf pan and grease with thoroughly with butter. Sprinkle flour on the inside to help prevent sticking. Once the pan is ready, pour the dough into the pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
After the pound cake is done baking, let it cool completely before cutting and serving. For a simple topping, sprinkle powdered sugar lightly on top. Or, top with berries or a light icing.
How do you like to serve your pound cake? Share your ideas and recipes with us in the comments!
