This Vanilla Pound Cake recipe is simple, elegant, and wonderfully versatile. With a golden crust on the outside and buttery vanilla flavor on the inside, it strikes the perfect balance of sweetness to satisfy any craving. Enjoy a slice just as it is with a cup of coffee, or dress it up with a drizzle of glaze or a spoonful of Blueberry Compote for an extra-special treat.

Just Six Ingredients in This Easy Recipe

Ingredients for Vanilla Pound Cake displayed on a counter

The beauty of Vanilla Pound Cake is found in these six simple ingredients:

Softened butter (I prefer salted butter, because no additional salt is used in this recipe)
Granulated sugar
Six eggs
Vanilla extract (Use the best quality you can find, as it’s the most prominent flavor)
Evaporated milk (This is important– Do not substitute regular milk or sweetened condensed milk)
All-purpose flour

Equipment needed:

Electric mixer
Tube cake pan

How to Make Vanilla Pound Cake

Baker's Joy cooking spray with an electric mixer and cake pan in the background — Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray a tube pan generously with baking spray, such as Baker’s Joy. (If you don’t have baking spray, you can butter and flour the pan instead)

Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. — Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Adding eggs to cake batter in an electric mixer — Add the eggs 2 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Adding vanilla extract to the cake batter — Add vanilla extract to the batter and mix well.

Adding evaporated milk to the cake batter — Alternate adding the evaporated milk and flour a little at a time, mixing well between additions.

Pouring cake batter into the cake pan — Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan. If your pan is in 2 pieces, wrap foil around the bottom or place a baking sheet underneath to prevent leaks.

Vanilla Pound cake in cake pan with wooden cake platter in the background — Bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The top should be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, remove it from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Tips for a Perfect Vanilla Pound Cake

Use salted butter since the recipe does not include additional salt.
Softened butter is necessary for proper creaming with the sugar.
Two tablespoons of vanilla extract may seem like a lot, but it gives this cake its distinctive flavor.
Evaporated milk is non-negotiable. Regular milk or sweetened condensed milk will not work in this recipe.
Use baking spray designed for cakes, such as Baker’s Joy. Regular non-stick spray may cause sticking. Alternatively, you can butter and flour the pan.
If your tube pan is in two parts, wrap the bottom with aluminum foil or place a baking sheet underneath to catch any potential leaks.
Check the cake early. Since ovens vary, start checking for doneness after one hour.

A Timeless Dessert

What I love most about pound cake is how timeless it is. The original recipe dates back to 18th-century England, where it was made with a pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. It was easy to remember (no cookbook required!) and resulted in a dense, sturdy cake. Later, baking powder and soda found their way into recipes, creating lighter, fluffier versions. However, in many kitchens (especially in the South) the traditional style held strong.

This particular recipe comes from my mother, who has baked it for years. True to tradition, it relies only on eggs as the leavening agent. The result is a rich, dense cake that bursts with vanilla flavor thanks to two full tablespoons of vanilla extract. My mother even has a special nickname for it: her “sorry cake.” If she ever needed to mend fences or smooth something over, she would bake this pound cake as her apology. Who could stay mad after that?

That’s part of what makes this cake so wonderful: it’s both ordinary and extraordinary. Ordinary in its simple list of ingredients, extraordinary in its ability to fit any occasion. Take it to a church social, welcome a new neighbor, or just enjoy a slice in the afternoon with a cup of coffee and a friend. However you serve it, this Vanilla Pound Cake is a classic worth baking again and again.

Vanilla Pound Cake on a wooden cake stand

Share Your Thoughts with Me

Whether you bake this Vanilla Pound Cake to share with neighbors, to bring to a gathering, or simply to enjoy at home, I hope it becomes one of your favorites too. After all, sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones that bring us the most joy.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear about your favorite timeless desserts.

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