Classic Two Egg Vanilla Pound Cake

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/27/22
2 egg pound cake loaf

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 90 mins
Total: 105 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 cake

This easy pound cake is baked in a loaf pan, so it's relatively small and just the right size for many families. You might even call it a half-pound cake.

Pound cake is a wonderful blank canvas. Serve slices of this delicious vanilla pound cake with berries or a fruit sauce or top it with lemon sauce or fruity lemon curd. Slices make excellent strawberry shortcake with sweetened berries and whipped cream. You can even use it to make dessert French toast.

A pound cake isn't difficult, but there are some rules. For a successful pound cake, have all ingredients at room temperature and read the instructions before you begin. It's important to cream the butter and sugar thoroughly until it's very light and fluffy. Give it a good five minutes beating time. And follow the instructions for alternating the dry ingredients and milk. And finally, don't overbeat the finished batter, or you'll reduce that valuable air you added when you creamed the butter and sugar.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup (5 1/3 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature, 65 F to 68 F is ideal

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 2/3 cup whole milk, divided

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Grease and flour a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.

  3. Cut the butter into several smaller pieces.

  4. Put the butter pieces and sugar in a large mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream the butter and sugar for about 5 to 7 minutes, until light and fluffy.

  5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

  6. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk or stir to blend thoroughly. Set aside.

  7. In a 1 cup measure, combine the 2/3 cup of milk and the vanilla. Set aside.

  8. Add about one-third of the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until just barely blended.

  9. Add half of the milk and blend well.

  10. Add another one-third of the flour and beat until just barely blended. Beat in the remaining milk until smooth and blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat just until blended.

  11. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.

  12. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

  13. Serve and enjoy.

Variations

  • Lemon Pound Cake Loaf: Replace the vanilla extract with 1 teaspoon of lemon extract. Bake the cake as directed and place on a rack to cool. In a saucepan, combine 1/4 cup of granulated sugar with 1/4 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Gradually brush the glaze over the top and sides of the warm baked cake.
  • Brown Sugar Pound Cake: Substitute brown sugar for the granulated sugar.

Tips

  • If you decide to bake a cake at the last minute, cut the butter into small tablespoon-size pieces (about 10 1/2 tablespoons) and put them in the mixing bowl. Add the sugar and begin beating on low speed. Increase the mixer speed as the butter becomes softer. Once the butter is smooth and soft, continue with the creaming instructions.
  • To bring eggs to room temperature, put them in a bowl of hot tap water. Leave them for about 5 minutes. 

How to Store Pound Cake

  • Place the cake in an airtight container and keep at room temperature for three to five days, or refrigerate it for up to seven days.
  • You may also freeze this cake. Make sure that it has cooled down, then double wrap it in plastic wrap, and then foil. It can be frozen for up to six months. Thaw at room temperature before unwrapping.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
427 Calories
18g Fat
63g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 427
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 394mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 63g 23%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 39g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 65mg 5%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 84mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)