Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake – Butter Pound Cake

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The pound cake has often received a bad rep with people calling it bread, not a cake. That is why it’s usually given a different name like butter pound cake, vanilla bundt cake, and vanilla loaf cake. The truth is if baked well, the pound cake is the most delicious cake you will make. And the possibilities with this cake are endless. Since you can customize it when baking or after it’s baked.

If you ever make a trifle the pound cake is the best candidate. It can absorb lots of flavors and still keep its shape. I love using a pound cake for cake pops too. They never break and they are always moist.

Have you ever wondered why it’s called a pound cake?

Back in the old days, in the 18th century, these cakes were made by the pound. It was a simple formula: 1 pound butter, 1 pound sugar, 1 pound flour, and 1 pound eggs. And the resulting cake was a four-pound cake. In addition, a classic pound cake often didn’t use any leavening agent, like baking powder or baking soda. That is why a pound cake is denser than most other sponge or butter cakes.

While a pound cake looks like a straightforward recipe, you must bake it correctly, or it can become dry, especially when overbaked. And because it’s a dense cake with a lot of flour, it tends to dry out very quickly.

I grew up with a pound cake as my basic recipe for cake baking. I learned that from my mom. She’d measure everything by the kg and then make changes to that recipe from there. Now that I look back at how she trained me, it all makes sense. She’d always say – when in doubt go back to the basic formula. Also, she once told me – if you want to be a great baker you got to master the pound cake.

Having baked many cakes over the years, including many variations of a pound cake, I have had my share of successes and failures. 

What is the difference between a sponge cake and a pound cake?

They both have similar ingredients with different results. Unlike a pound cake, a sponge cake usually has some liquid added to it. And often you will whip the egg until light and fluffy to incorporate more air into the batter. While a pound cake is denser in texture.

Is a pound cake the same as an angel food cake?

No, a pound is denser while the angel food is light and airy. Also, an angel food cake has more eggs and less flour. And the eggs are whipped to stiff peaks to add air and lightness. In contrast, the pound cake uses more flour and fewer eggs. So, as a result, the final texture is not as light and airy.

Let’s talk ingredients and Substitutes (Save/Pin)

• Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter so I can control the quantity of salt in my recipe. And yet, if salted butter is all you have, go ahead and use it. Just omit salt in the recipe.
• White sugar – White sugar contributes to a nice soft tender crumb and gives a nice color. You can add brown sugar it will contribute to taste and color differently. 
• Eggs – Always use large size eggs when baking unless specified. The size of the eggs varies these days significantly. So as a guide one large egg weighs between 50 to 60 grams.
• Vanilla – A good quality vanilla will make a huge difference in anything you make. Premium vanilla can be expensive, which is why I make my homemade vanilla extract, bean paste or sugar.
• All-purpose flour – Yes, regular plain flour (maida) is all you need for this cake. And, since self-raising flours contain leavening they must be used with caution.

Useful Tips and Tools

• If you bake often, it would be a good idea to invest in a cake mixer. Because often we try to mix by hand and then we are too tired to give it enough creaming or mixing. So, if you are making a cake go ahead and remove that K-Mix or Kitchen Aid from your kitchen cabinet.
• Personally, I believe in measuring ingredients by weight, which makes my kitchen scale one of the most valuable items when baking.
• The same goes for my measuring cups and measuring spoons. It’s always a good idea to have these handy and use them when baking rather than trying to guess measurements.
• Also, I like to bake my coffee cakes in bundt pans or loaf pans.
• Once baked, always invert your cakes on a cooling rack. This encourages air circulation and prevents the steam from pooling at the bottom of the pan.
• Every oven works differently. So the baking times are just guidelines. In the case of cakes, a skewer inserted in the center is a great indication. If the cake bakes too quick or too slow compared to the time given it might be a good idea to check if your oven needs calibration.
• And, an oven thermometer is a great little gadget to help keep the oven temperature in check. All you need to do then is adjust the temperature accordingly

How to Make A Moist Butter Pound Cake – Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake (Save/Pin)

• Preheat oven to 170 C / 340 F.
• Butter and flour a 6 cup Bundt Pan.
• Combine baking powder, salt, and flour – mix or sift.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time.

Vanilla Bundt Cake Progress Pictures

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• Followed by flour and vanilla.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 40 to 45 mins until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Invert onto a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Vanilla Bundt Cake Progress Pictures-5

Vanilla Bundt Cake Progress Pictures-7

Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake Butter Pound Cake Recipe

Storage

• This cake will stay at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Wrap well and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• It can be frozen well wrapped for up to a month.

Troubleshooting – Pound Cakes

Why is my pound cake so dry?

Over-baking a cake can make it dry. You must test the cake a few minutes before the cooking time guide because all ovens work differently.

Why is my pound cake so dense?

Often this could be the reason of overmixing the cake. When you activate too much gluten in the cake, the cake rises when baking but sinks as soon as it comes out of the oven. The resulting sink causes the cake to be dense.

Why is my pound cake wet in the middle?

Cakes bake from outside in so often the cake may appear cooked while still not finished cooking on the inside. That is why we need to test for doneness by inserting a skewer in the center of the cake. If the skewer inserted in the center comes out clean without any batter it means the cake is done.

Why did my pound cake fall?

Usually, too much leavening agent such a baking powder or baking soda.

Can I put a pound cake back in the oven?

Yes, you can. It will continue to cook the cake but it may not continue to rise. The baked cake may be a bit denser than the expected outcome but still not raw.

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Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake aka Butter Pound Cake

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Calories: 275kcal

Adjust Servings Here: 12 servings

Description

This absolute classic vanilla bundt cake is my moist butter pound cake. Soft, buttery and moist that’s perfect on its own and dusted with powdered sugar. You can bake it in a bundt pan, or a loaf pan would also work. For a bit of extra, try serving it with a vanilla glaze, fresh fruits or whipped cream. It’s a simple and easy recipe that takes 10 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to bake. 

Ingredients

• 228 grams (1 cups) Unsalted butter 
• 200 grams (1 cups) White sugar
• 190 grams (1.52 cups) All-purpose flour
• 3 (3 ) Large eggs
• 1 tsp (1 tsp) Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (1/2 tsp) Salt
• 1 tsp (1 tsp) Vanilla extract

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE – 12 servings

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 170 C / 340 F.
• Butter and flour a 6-cup Bundt Pan.
• Combine baking powder, salt, and flour – mix or sift.
• Cream Butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time.
• Followed by flour and vanilla.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 40 to 45 mins until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Invert onto a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Storage

• This cake will stay at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Wrap well and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Can be frozen well wrapped for up to a month.

Recipe Video

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake aka Butter Pound Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 275 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Cholesterol 81mg27%

Sodium 115mg5%

Potassium 78mg2%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 0g0%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 535IU11%

Calcium 31mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Keywords – butter, pound cake recipe, vanilla, vanilla cake

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