Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake. Tall, buttery, moist, dense. This pound cake is classic and very close to an original pound cake recipe.
Old-fashioned desserts seem to be making a resurgence. My Pound Cake series has been very popular as well as other old-fashioned desserts that I’ve shared. My Old-fashioned Butter Roll, Old-fashioned Sugar Pie, and Old-fashioned Rice Pudding are some of the most popular recipes on callmepmc.com.
Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake
I started this series on reviewing Pound Cake recipes because pound cakes are my very most favorite thing in the world to make. I dunno why, but they are. Pound cakes are delectable and unbelievably easy to make with a few basic tips. Overall, I’ve had very good feedback on this series which makes me really happy. I’ve enjoyed baking and testing all the pound cakes and sharing the recipes with you.
I do sometimes get negative comments and it makes me unhappy when a recipe doesn’t work out. I want to stress a few things when attempting not only this Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake and my other pound cake recipes, but any cake recipe in general. Review my post Baking Cakes: Problems and Tips. Some quick tips I have also listed below.
The recipe is correct as written. There are no baking soda or baking powder in it. Traditionally, eggs were the only leavening agent used in pound cakes. Baking soda and baking powder do more than aid in making baked goods rise, they also change the texture of them. To get that traditional pound cake texture that’s crusty on the outside with a dense, moist, soft inside make the recipe as written.
I always use salted real butter in my pounds cakes. It’s a personal preference. You can use either salted or unsalted butter. I do recommend using real butter not margarine.
Pound Cake Tips
- Measure carefully, especially the flour. How do you measure flour? To correctly measure flour, first, sift the flour. Then using a spoon or scoop lightly scoop flour out of its container into a measuring cup. Continue filling the cup until it is overflowing, then using the back of a butter knife level the flour. Scooping the measuring cup directly into the flour to fill can result in up to 25% more flour than lightly spooning the flour into the measuring cup. More flour in a recipe will make it dense and dry.
- Read all about how to Calibrate your oven in this post.
- Use good quality ingredients. Read some of the differences in name-brand and store-bought ingredients here.
- Use real butter. Refer to number 3 above.
- Allow your eggs and butter to come to room temperature.
- I drizzled Lemon Sauce over the cake while the cake was still warm.
- Read all my tips for Baking the Perfect Pound Cake
- *PLEASE NOTE – COOKING TIMES VARY DEPENDING ON IF YOUR OVEN IS CALIBRATED AND IF YOU USE A LIGHT OR DARK PAN. TEST THE CAKE BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED TIME. IF THE CAKE IS TOO DRY, YOU BAKED IT TOO LONG.
- I use this Tube Pan.
- I just want to add again the recipe is correct as written. There is no baking soda or baking powder in it.
- Please refer to this article when changing pan sizes: Baking Times for Different Cake Pans
Recipe for Lemon Sauce {click here}
How to serve
This Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake makes a tall and impressive cake. It’s ideal for potlucks and parties. Serve it with in-season berries, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
The following pound cakes are some of my most popular. You can get all my pound cake recipes here.
Million Dollar Pound Cake
Whipping Cream Pound Cake
Amaretto Pound Cake
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter, no substitutes salted or unsalted, at room temperature, I use this
- 3 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 10 large eggs at room temperature
- 4 cups all-purpose flour sifted (always sift, then measure)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract I use this
Instructions
- Allow butter and eggs to come to room temperature.
- Grease and flour a tube (I recommend this one.)or bundt pan. The cake is too large for a regular bundt pan. You need a 10-15 cup bundt pan like this which is larger than a standard bundt. If you don't have a tube pan or large bundt pan, you can make cupcakes with the extra batter. Don't fill the pan closer than 2 inches from the top or it may overflow. You can grease and flour, use non-stick spray, or I absolutely love this cake release product from Wilton! You may need to line the sides of the tube pan with waxed paper so that is above the top of the pan 2 to 3 inches as shown in the photo. This is a very tall cake.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream 2 cups butter until soft and there are no lumps.
- Add 3 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
- Add one at a time, beating until just mixed in before adding the next egg.
- Lower speed on mixer to low and slowly add 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour.
- Add vanilla and mix in completely.
- Spoon batter into prepared tube or bundt pan. (If using a bundt pan, make sure it's large enough for batter to double in size.)
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- *PLEASE NOTE - COOKING TIMES VARY DEPENDING ON IF YOUR OVEN IS CALIBRATED AND IF YOU USE A LIGHT OR DARK PAN. TEST THE CAKE BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED TIME. IF THE CAKE IS TOO DRY, YOU BAKED IT TOO LONG.
- Test for doneness with a wooden pick. Insert pick in the center of the cake, if pick comes out clean or with dry crumbs, it is done.
- Remove cake and allow to cool on a wire rack 30 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.
- The recipe is correct as written. There are no baking soda or baking powder in it.
Notes
Nutrition
Sharing with friends at Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
LaRel Alexander says
Hello. I enjoy trying your recipes. Can you tell me if you have a pound cake recipe that I could bake in a 9×5 loaf pan? Or can I use this one for such a loaf pan?
Paula says
This one will probably take 3 loaf pans. This one Copycat Sara Lee pound cake https://www.callmepmc.com/copycat-sara-lee-pound-cake-recipe/ and this Ricotta Pound cake https://www.callmepmc.com/classic-ricotta-pound-cake/ make one loaf. This Whipping Cream Pound cake will make 2 loaves https://www.callmepmc.com/whipping-cream-pound-cake-recipe/
LaRel says
Thank you so very much for taking the time to respond. I will try the whipping cream pound cake.
Wendy says
I did the recipe right to a T. At one hour and 20 minutes the tooth pick came out with wet batter and crumbs. I baked it another 5 minutes. It is a beautiful looking cake, but it is so dry. With that much butter, I cannot imagine why it is so dry.
Paula says
I recommend calibrating your oven – https://www.callmepmc.com/how-to-calibrate-your-oven/
I’ve made it many times and it’s a moist cake.
Shantrell says
Do I have to use the lemon Glaze? Can I just go without it?
Paula says
You don’t have to use it.
Lisa Collins says
This recipe is spot on, made it twice… The second time I added a tbsp of fresh squeezed lemon juice to the batter, and lemon glaze on top once it came out of the oven…Game changer….Loved it…. My go to for now….
lisa l sholar says
My 90 year old mother said that this is the best pound cake she has ever had! Now, that surpasses my grandmother’s and beyond! Follow the recipe as written. It’s perfect!!!
Felencia says
Is this recipe in error? It doesn’t call for milk!
Paula says
It’s correct as written
Charleyn H La'a says
OMG, I have never attempted a pound cake before. So, for a first timer, I got to say, this was awesome! The batter was SO easy to make, even though I donʻt have a mixer and did it by hand. Also, I donʻt have a conventional oven, I have a counter top toaster oven. I also have a 3yr old allergic to eggs and used meringue powder to substitute for eggs. I also used a pie tin with a foil covered aluminum can I cut down to fit in my toaster oven as the center placer filled with rice, all for a homemade bundt look. The batter was tasty, and during baking, filled my studio with the most lovely smell. I halved the recipe and did not use all the batter because I thought it was going to rise high. It did only slightly, so, next time I know I can use all the batter. And, besides the changes I made mentioned above, I followed the recipe instructions exactly. Then, I melted some store bought frosting to drizzle on top and added some chocolate sprinkles with some candles. It made the PERFECT birthday cake for my husband tonight. My 3yo had a blast making it and DH loved it too. Will definately make it again. Thank you, Paula, for sharing 🙂
Brenda says
If you place a cake pan with water on the rack below the pound cake, the results are amazing!!
Ekinorev says
Hi Paula
Pound cake is one, if not the one, of my fav cake to bake (and to degust). In France, where I come from, we call it Quatre quart (means 4 quarters), and it is even a speciality from the Britany area. As a kid I used to spend my holidays in Britany, so I can say I have been feed with pound cake. I love it so much, it is so adaptable, and there is a orange version I love above all. You add the juice of one orange in the dough, and when you take out your cake from the oven, you pour on it a syrup made with the juice of three oranges and sugar (about 1/3 cup) and let it cool down.
Paula says
Yes, I have 2 Orange Pound Cakes that I just love
https://www.callmepmc.com/scratch-made-orange-zest-pound-cake-with-orange-curd/
https://www.callmepmc.com/old-fashioned-buttermilk-orange-juice-pound-cake/
Anoushka says
Delicious! I made this for my family last night and they loved it! Such amazing texture and crust. Thank you for sharing!
Rob says
This looks like a great recipe. I look forward to trying it. I’m curious, what do you think adding cream cheese (4-8 oz) to this? I LOVE the taste of a cream cheese pound cake but I’m not sure how that’s going to affect things. Any ideas?
Paula says
Try it first without adding the cream cheese. It’s a spectacular pound cake as is. You may also like this pound cake is you like cream cheese>> https://www.callmepmc.com/coconut-cream-cheese-pound-cake/
Gloria says
The old blue ribbon pound cake is the best pound cake I have ever made. It remind me of the cake my grandmother prepared many years ago. Thanks 😊 Paula
Roseann says
Great recipe. I halved the recipe and it was perfect for a loaf pan. My only problem was the middle was gooey. What did I do wrong.
Paula says
I rarely bake pound cakes in loaf pans because I have the same problem. Even my sweet potato bread does that. I don’t know the solution. I’ve tried light pans versus dark pans. I can’t get the center done before the outside gets over-cooked. 😣 I may experiment with the temperature. I’ll let you know if I find a solution.
Rob says
I imagine in might be the shape? It’s SUCH a dense batter and I think the tube/bundt pan allows the hot air to flow through the center for thorough baking. I would think a loaf pan just can’t provide that.
Elois says
I only use a loaf pan and never have any problems. Try baking at 325 degrees for 1:40. Also make sure the cake is on the lowest rack in the oven. I hope this helps. You can pretty much be assured that the cake is good in the middle once all 4 sides pull away from the cake pan — and don’t forget the toothpick test. I use wooden skewers. I hope this helps
Kay A. says
Use a cake heating rod when you bake it.
Rachel says
I would drop the temp and cook longer
latasha says
Try decreasing the baking temperature from 350 degrees to 325 or 300. I bake all my pound cakes between 300 and 325 and it comes out perfect every time and doesn’t get dark on outside. It just takes almost 2 hour to cook around 1hour and 45min
Elois says
For the load pan, Bring your temperature down From 350 to 325 for 1:30 Minutes. It’ll be perfect.
Elois says
For the loaf pan, Bring your temperature down From 350 to 325 for 1:30 Minutes. It’ll be perfect.
Constance Prewitt says
If I wanted to half this recipe and make this into cupcakes (customer requested pound cake cupcakes) how long would the cook time be for a dozen?
Carol Howard says
The cake is really good, but the nutrition facts are inaccurate. It shows 25g carbs per serving, yet 35 g sugar. So I checked the carb contents for flour and sugar for 20 servings. It is 54 carbs. 216.3 calories from carbs. I haven’t checked protien and fats yet. Just fyi. Might be good to know since it is so tasty. 🙂
Adele Johnson says
I’m going to try this right now. Traditionally we ate a slice of cheddar cheese with our slice 😊
Paula says
Really? Cheese? I have never heard of that before. I’m going to try that!!!
Nancy says
Hin
Mary says
I love cheese with pound cake and apple 🥧
Donna Scarlett says
Hello Paula,
Could I use steva or another sweetener instead of sugar and if I can how much would I use. Also could I put fruit on the top before baking the cake. I would like to know if I could use almond flour.
I can hardly wait to try this receipe.
Donna Scarlett
Paula says
I have never baked using artificial sweeteners. And haven’t had success using almond flour in pound cake. I happy you found my site and like this recipe, I recommend making it as is for a special splurge. I don’t think it’ll be successful changing 2 main ingredients and adding fruit.
Linda says
I just baked this tonight. Cooked 55 min at 325 degrees and burned it slap up. Still tastes good if you scrape the burnt off. Going to try again at lower temp and less time. Not going to our churches mission luncheon 😪
Faith Foster says
I have made this cake many times since I found the recipe last year. This is the closest to my “mawmaw’s ” pound cake I have ever found. Thank you for posting such wonderful recipes. I look forward to more.
Paula says
Thanks for commenting! I’m so happy you like it.
Angela says
Hello,
How long should the cake cool before taking out the pan?
Paula says
20 to 30 minutes.
T. Fred says
Hi there … Anybody know what the 4cups of flour should weigh???
Sim says
May I know how u measure butter using cup ? How many gram for one cup of butter thanks
jen says
flour weigh 125 grams per cup
Sherry says
Can you use swandown cake flour
Paula says
Yes, there’s a slight difference in measuring, I can’t recall it, but a quick Google search will tell you.
Tiwana says
Absolutely delicious, I made it today…exact recipe it was perfect…my new goto Poundcake recipe….Thank you for sharing
Chris says
Oh my Lord! The perfect cake has been found and baked!
Paula says
😍🤣❤😀 Thank you!!!!
KathrynT says
Which of your many pound cake recipes gets the best crust? That is my favorite thing about pound cake but I must admit I love it all. Am I right that cakes cooked in a large bundt pan are more likely to form a nice crust than ones made in a loaf pan with shorter cooking times? Thank you, Kathy
Paula says
I agree. And I like using the tube pan so that the crust top stays on top. The Whipping Cream pound cake and Million Dollar pound cake, if I remember correctly, has the crust(iest) (is that a word 🤣 ) top. Here are the links directly to them.
https://www.callmepmc.com/whipping-cream-pound-cake-recipe/
https://www.callmepmc.com/million-dollar-pound-cake/
Janice says
Can I use confectioners sugar instead of granulated sugar?
Paula says
It is not recommended to substitute confectioners sugar for granulated sugar. Since confectioners sugar has a much finer texture, and it contains a small percentage of cornstarch to prevent caking, substituting can give you unexpected results.
Neva says
Paula, yes this is the best pound cake I have ever tasted. This recipe is identical, same ingredients, same amount and same directions as the one my grandmother made. It was passed on to my mother who passed it to me. I would guess this recipe to my knowledge is around 70 plus years old. The crust makes it different from any other I have ever tried. I have tried many many pound cakes recipes but always come back to this one. I make wedding, birthday, anniversary cakes but I sell these pound cakes like crazy. Never had a complaint. You have posted a really great recipe…Thanks, Neva
Kathleen says
I substituted lavender sugar and added lemon zest…. it was DELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for a great recipe!
Cecilia says
This cake is amazing. I bought too many eggs and told my husband I needed to fix a pound cake that took a lot of eggs. I spotted this recipe and saw that it needed 10 eggs. I am so glad I tried it because it is absolutely wonderful!! I gave some to my mom. We all loved it. I plan to make again many times.
Paula says
Yay!! so happy you liked it!
Steve Pivec says
My mom wants me to bake her a cinnamon cake like her mom served her as a kid in the 40s and can’t seem to find a recipe. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Paula says
ohhhhh, I recommend this Cinnamon cake it fabulous!
Tina Phoumalvanh says
Hi Paula I was wondering if I can cut this recipe in half? I’m only asking because it’s a coworkers birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a few pound cupcakes tonight. Thank you!,,
Paula says
I have never cut it in half, but you should be able to without a problem.
Vita says
Cutting recipe in half
2 sticks butter
2 cups flour
1 3/4 cup sugar
5 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Teddi says
Can I use two loaf pans instead of a Bundt pan?
Gloria says
This is my favorite pound cake. I have prepared this cake so many times, that I lost count. I have one in my oven now. The recipe is great. I like it just like it is written. Great with mixed berries and whipped cream. And i can’t forget, with ice cream too. Thanks Paula
LaTonia says
I have not yet made this cake. As I browsed the internet trying to find a lemon pound cake, I was not satisfied with the images of the ones that I seen online. They all looked fluffy instead of dense which is how I love my pound cakes. Your poundcake looks exactly what I expect a super moist delicious poundcake to look like. My only question is would I be able to substitute lemon flavoring or lemon extract for the vanilla. Thanks in advance.
Paula says
Yes, absolutely. I would use pure lemon extract. If you have a lemon, you can even put zest in. I’ve made A LOT 😳 (lol) of pound cakes. You may find another you like too. https://www.callmepmc.com/pound-cake-recipes-reviewed/
Margie says
Can I make a regular stacked cake with this recipe as written? I made this cake and it is fantastic.
My two grandkids, 5 and 7 said, they want me to make this cake for their birthdays, just put some animals on it !😄
Nina The Nana says
Hello Paula. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pound cake recipes. I use Gold Medal pre-sifted all purpose flour. SHould I sift again? This is always a question for me because some of the recipes say to sift and some don’t. Please help!
Paula says
I would sift it again for every recipe. I find that it packs down in shipping etc. Hope this helps. I love your name ‘Nina the Nana’!!!
Karen says
Can I use this recipe in a lamb cake mold? Understand the recipe will make way more batter than required to fill the mold.
Paula says
Yes, only fill it 2/3s full
Lisa says
I made this cake tonight for the first time. It turned out great other than being a little too sweet for my husband. I thought it was perfect, but I do like sweet and rich cakes. Would it mess the cake up if I put 3 cups sugar instead of 3 1/2 cups? I
Paula says
I think you’ll be fine with 3 cups of sugar instead of 3.5 cups
Candice says
I have made this pound cake a dozen times as it is my husband’s favorite but I swear the directions used to say to beat each egg for a minute before adding the next. I still make it that way. Am I crazy? Probably.
Glow! says
This is the largest pound cake I have ever prepared. The taste is great! And I’ve made it several times. It is my favorite pound cake. I use a dark tube pan, so I only have to bake it for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Paula, Thanks you for this wonderful recipe. 5 Stars
Paula says
It’s huge, isn’t it? Thank you so much. I’m so happy you like it as much as I do. Thanks for commenting.
Jerrie says
First time finding your great pound cakes! Can’t wait to try them!
Many thanks!
Paula says
Let me know which ones you like best!
Phil Brown says
Paula, in the narrative you stated that if you didn’t have a big enough bundt pan you could make cupcakes with the leftover batter. Do the cupcakes come out tasting the same? The reason I ask is I have a disabled son that only has partial use of one arm. I make him cookies and cupcakes to snack on as those are easy for him to pick up and hold. Sliced cake not so much. I think he would like this recipe.
Paula says
Yes, they’ll taste the same. They’ll cook in less time, prob 26-30 minutes. You’ll find that this cake is dense and the slices will hold together to eat while holding. Embarrassing as it is, that’s how I eat it most of the time. And while I’m being honest, I’m usually eating a slice while I’m taking pictures of the cake. haha.
Dukediesel says
I don’t think I would ever put milk in a pound cake as mentioned above. If you just put a pound of each ingredient with the exception of vanilla, you have your pound cake. Butter, flour, sugar, eggs and a few teaspoons of vanilla. I’ve made this recipe many times and it is wonderful. I like most of Paula’s recipes though. But this one in a million years old so it should be a no fail.
Mae lean says
I am baking this pound cake right at this moment it in the oven be ready at 6:00 I did half of recipe and it going to be a whole pound cake🤗🙌 will let you know how it turn out when done