Classic Southern Pound Cake is perfectly moist and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness. The texture is wonderfully tender and it has a thick layer of crackly crust on top. It’s probably my favorite pound cake.
I’ve tried oodles of pound cake recipes over the years and nothing beats this pound cake in my opinion. The simple flavor of a classic pound cake is hard to beat. A combination of butter, cream cheese, and superfine sugar gives this cake a wonderful texture.
I think the superfine sugar is one of the keys to the great texture of tis pound cake. If you don’t have any, it is worth buying. It’s also handy to have on hand for making cocktails since it dissolves so easily.
A fabulous crispy crust develops on top. It’s my favorite part of a pound cake.
Tips for making Classic Southern Pound Cake:
- There is no leavener in this cake so it is very important to beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar for at least 5 to 7 minutes. This is going to whip lots of air in which will help the cake rise and give it a lighter texture.
- For best results, you want the butter, cream cheese, and eggs at room temperature. The butter and cream cheese will incorporate much more air when at room temperature and the eggs will blend into the batter much more easily.
- To prevent a dry cake, be sure to measure the flour corrrectly. Fluff the flour up some in the bag and then scoop it with a spoon into a measuring cup. Level it with the back of a knife.
- This pound cake freezes really well. You can either freeze the whole cake or freeze individual slices.
This is one of those southern pound cakes that’s perfect for snacking or even breakfast. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Serve with whipped cream and strawberries for a wonderful southern dessert.
More Pound Cake Recipes You Will Love:
- Amaretto Pound Cake
- Georgia Peach Pound Cake
- Condensed Milk Pound Cake
- Fanta Pound Cake
- Five Flavor Pound Cake
Classic Southern Pound Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups superfine sugar
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees and spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray.
- Using an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat sugar, butter, and cream cheese at medium-high speed until very fluffy and pale, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time on low speed, just until the yellow disappears. Scrape down the sides of the bowl several times.
- Add egg yolks, half-and-half, and vanilla extract and beat on low just until mixed in.
- Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl and mix it into the batter in 3 additions with the mixer on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool 10 minutes in pan and then remove cake from the pan to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
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Recipe source: Southern Living
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Came out beautiful and delicious, will definitely make again!!
Can this be made in 2 loaf pans?
This is the BEST Pound cake I have ever made ot tasted!! I have made it some many times in the since discovering it 2 weeks ago. My family and friends that are not”Pound cake” eaters LOVE this Cake!!
It is the best Pound Cake I have ever baked!!
Is this a joke or are you serious – 3 cups sugar? 6 tablespoon per slice (assuming 8 slices per cake)? This is not a cake. This is a WMD.
Did you reduce sugar when you made it. A lot of times I’ll reduce sugar in recipes by 1/2 to 2/3 cup.
I want ti make this cake but now I’m scared. Is it too sweet.
I grew up on pound cake. And this recipe is freaking AMAZING!! Made it for mostly myself lol and gave some to friends and family and they loved it! I have a lot of friends for down south, they told me it was one of the best they’ve had. Thank you for this recipe!
2nd time making and my family absolutely loves this recipe. And I have to say it’s the easiest recipe.
I followed the recipe exactly including the bake time. It came out more than perfect!! I checked it at 1 hr and 15 minutes to be safe and I did end up leaving it in another 10 minutes. My family loved it! This is my new favorite pound cake recipe!
I have been looking for a recipe like this! Crunchy sweet top with gooey buttery pound-cake. It tastes just like my Mammaw’s pound cake. Thank you!
I cannot find super fine sigar, can regular sugar be used?
I do and works fine, got in a hurry once and used a full 8 oz cream cheese, turned out fine! I always get requests for this cake when we have dinners!
I’m not sure if this is a 1 rating or a 5. I followed the recipe to a “T”. I didn’t hv superfine sugar and neither did my grocery store, so I made my own in my Vitamix. The recipe calls for baking for 1 hr 20-30 min. I set my timer for 1 hr and 10 min. I was super busy getting ready for my husbands birthday party, so I never checked it till my timer went off. He loves pound cake. I went and checked on it and it was burnt bad, the whole outside was dark brown and crunchy about 1/4” in. I took it out and put it immediately into the freezer, hoping it wouldn’t cook any more. I used a Pampered Chef bunt pan that I’ve had for years and it works perfectly. This cake was probably ready at 50 min. I was pretty embarrassed as I didn’t have time to make another. Lessen learned.
So why put a bad review of you messed up the recipe XD
Hi Suzie…An incorrectly calibrated oven can at some point become too hot or too cold. Second: Especially with first time recipe, I would keep an eye on it next time you make it. Third: if your pan is dark and heavy it could be the culprit. Any one or combo of these could have ruined your cake. Try again..I for one will make this based on overall reviews and will report beck later!