Vanilla Pound Cake (Easy, Dense & Foolproof!)
This vanilla pound cake is rich, buttery, and perfectly tender — the classic dessert that never disappoints. It’s simple enough for everyday coffee breaks but elegant enough for holidays, brunches, and gifting. Just mix, bake, slice, and sprinkle with powdered sugar!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk (or heavy cream for richer cake)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a loaf pan, or line with parchment.
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Stir in vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, mixing gently until smooth.
- Pour into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
- Dust generously with powdered sugar before slicing.
Tips & Variations
- Add lemon zest for a bright citrus vibe.
- Use vanilla bean paste or 1 scraped vanilla bean for a deeper, speckled vanilla flavor.
- Fold in mini chocolate chips (½ cup) for a fun twist.
- Drizzle with vanilla glaze or lemon icing instead of powdered sugar.
- Add almond extract (¼ teaspoon) for a bakery-style flavor – this tip is a favorite!!
- Serve with fresh berries, whipped cream, or warm fruit compote.
- Make it Christmas-ready with cinnamon + nutmeg (½ teaspoon total).
If you’re a fan of dense desserts, check out this delightfully Dense & Spicy Gingerbread Bunt Cake and if you love perfect pancakes.. check out these Dense & Custardy Pancakes!
