Buttermilk Pound Cake Recipe (2024)

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❤️ Why you'll love it

• It's a classic recipe for a reason - the simple buttery flavor is always perfect for any occasion.
• It's. So. Easy.
• It's a great base for berries or other fruit because it's not too sweet.

This easy buttermilk pound cake recipe is always moist, dense, and full of delicious flavor!

It's also flavorful enough to stand on its own with or without the glorious brown butter glaze that I've included here.

This is a classic southern cake recipe, made with simple ingredients, that you'll want to keep handy for those moments when you just need an awesome dessert without a lot of work.

Have a birthday coming up? Try this buttermilk cake with three layers of goodness and a whipped frosting - so good.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

• Butter
• Sugar
• Large eggs
• Vanilla
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Buttermilk
• Confectioner's sugar

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl then beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
3. Pour cake batter into prepared pan.
4. Bake.

🥫 Storage

Store buttermilk pound cake at room temperature in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap. It should be fine for 4 days or so.

This pound cake freezes really well. Wrap tightly and place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

📖Variations

• Add a tablespoon or so of orange or lemon zest.
• No buttermilk? Here are some substitutes including instructions for making your own buttermilk from a starter.
• You can also substitute sour cream for the buttermilk. For each cup of buttermilk use ¾ cup sour cream plus ¼ cup milk.
• Instead of the glaze you can dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar to a fine-mesh sieve and shake it over the top of the cake.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Expert tip: If you have a fancy pan with a lot of carved edges it's better to use the baking release spray - it's easier to get all the surfaces covered.

• It is imperative that all ingredients are at room temperature before beginning!
• Lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off. It's important to measure accurately for the best results.
• Use a heavy bundt cake pan. It will bake more evenly and have a better texture.
• Grease the bundt pan well, whatever you use.
• You can use 2 loaf pans instead of the bundt pan - start checking for doneness at 50 minutes.
• Butter is not the best thing to grease the pan with. The milk solids in the butter can cause sticking.
• Make sure the cake is all the way done. The center will register 210F on a insta-read thermometer or you can stick a toothpick in it to see if it comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it.
• Let cool in the pan at least 10 minutes, or as directed in your recipe.
• Slow ovens for longer periods usually work better than hotter temperatures.
• Bake a day ahead of time so that the flavors have a chance to mellow and blend.

You can slice it and place softened ice cream between the layers (or jam or mousse). You can cube it and use it in a punch bowl cake or to replace the angel food cake in this strawberry cake recipe. Really, so many possibilities!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

I used to hate buying a quart of buttermilk for a recipe and then just using a cup or two. Here are some recipes to help you deliciously use up the leftover buttermilk.

• Honey Buttermilk Bread is a reader favorite! It's a light, slightly sweet loaf that rises beautifully. A good one for beginners.
• Buttermilk Banana Bread is so moist and delicious!
• Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins are so tender with big juicy blueberries!
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits are light and flaky - these are the real deal, y'all.
• White Texas Sheet Cake is moist with a delicate coconut flavor - so good! Nothing like it.
• Chocolate Buttermilk Bundt Cake with Port Wine is absolutely one of my favorite cakes. SO delicious!

🍽️ Serve with...

• vanilla ice cream
• homemade cool whip

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

• bundt pan
• stand mixer

📞 The last word

This classic southern buttermilk pound cake recipe is absolutely one of the simplest desserts you can make. There aren't many ingredients and you probably have all of them in your pantry right now.

If you are reminiscing with someone about the southern desserts of your childhood this one will just about always make the list.

There's something so comforting about this no-nonsense cake that it plays a role in almost every southern cookbook ever written.

And really, it deserves to be there. It's a dense cake that's equally comfortable swathed in plump, fresh berries or juicy ripe peaches as it is served with a sweet glaze or scoop of ice cream.

This is the cake equivalent of a worn quilt and a favorite movie with thunder rumblings and rain spattering against the window - pure comfort.

Try the bourbon cake with pecans next!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published May 1, 2019. Last updated December March 13, 2023 for editorial updates and more helpful information.

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