Million Dollar Pound Cake Tastes Extra-Rich and Decadent

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It's the perfect potluck dessert because everyone loves it!

Million Dollar Pound Ckae
Photo:

Rachel Marek. Prop Styling: Gabe Greco

Prep Time:
30 mins
Bake Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Cool Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 5 mins
Servings:
16
Yield:
One 10-inch cake

If you're looking for an easy potluck dessert, million dollar pound cake is the recipe you need. It's rich and decadent and perfect for serving with fresh whipped cream and berries. Thanks to a pound of butter in the batter, it's also nearly foolproof to make and results in an ultra-moist cake. Here's everything you need to know about making a million dollar pound cake.

What Is Million Dollar Pound Cake?

Pound cake originally got its name because the recipe called for a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, a pound of eggs, and a pound of butter. This resulted in an ultra-rich and moist cake that can be baked in a loaf pan, Bundt pan, or cake pan. Like the classic, this recipe tastes like a million bucks! It's often served with whipped cream, berries, or chocolate sauce. It's a great basic cake recipe that can be customized with any flavor you like including vanilla, lemon zest, chocolate chips, nuts, and more.

Million Dollar Pound Cake Ingredients

This million dollar pound cake recipe stays pretty true to the original recipe. Here are a few things you'll need to make it at home:

  • Butter: Like the original, you'll need a pound of butter. To balance the sweetness, our Test Kitchen recommends using salted butter.
  • Eggs: Six large eggs are all you'll need for this recipe. Let them come to room temperature before mixing.
  • Milk: Our Test Kitchen tested this recipe with whole milk.
  • Extracts: A combination of vanilla extract and almond extract flavor this recipe. You could easily substitute lemon extract, pecan extract, or your favorite flavor.
  • Flour: For best results, use all-purpose flour in this recipe for million dollar pound cake.

Tips for Making Million Dollar Pound Cake

There are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when making homemade pound cake.

  • Let butter, eggs and milk stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before making this pound cake. When the ingredients are at room temperature, it allows for maximum volume to be incorporated into the butter and sugar mixture.
  • We found that adding 1/2 teaspoon of salt to this cake really rounded out the flavor. In our research, many of the recipes for million dollar pound cake did not include added salt, so we have made it optional. We hope you give it a try and let us know what you think.
  • Cool the cake completely before serving for the best taste and texture.

How to Store Million Dollar Pound Cake

Place the cooled million dollar pound cake in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze up to 3 months.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salted butter

  • 6 large eggs

  • 3/4 cup milk

  • 3 cups granulated sugar

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

  • 4 cups all purpose flour

Sweetened Whipped Cream

  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

  • 2 teaspoons sugar

Directions

  1. Let butter, eggs and milk stand at room temperature about 30 minutes or until they are room temperature (no more than 2 hours). Generously butter and lightly flour one 10-inch tube pan. Preheat oven to 325°F.

  2. Using large bowl of heavy-duty stand mixer with paddle attachment beat butter on medium speed until creamy and light yellow in color, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.

  3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition. Mix in extracts and salt, if using.

  4. Alternately add flour and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour, beating on low speed just until blended after each addition and batter is smooth. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.

  5. Bake in preheated oven until top and edges are golden and a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Carefully remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

  6. Serve with sweetened whipped cream and berries, if desired.

Sweetened Whipped Cream


  1. In a small bowl, beat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons sugar on medium-high speed until soft to medium peaks form.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

524 Calories
28g Fat
63g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Calories 524.3
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 17.1g 85%
Cholesterol 140mg 47%
Sodium 217.4mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 62.9g 23%
Dietary Fiber 0.8g 3%
Total Sugars 39g
Protein 6.4g 13%
Vitamin D 0.6mcg 3%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%
Calcium 41.1mg 3%
Iron 1.8mg 10%
Potassium 91.1mg 2%
Fatty acids, total trans 1g
Vitamin D 25.7IU
Alanine 0.3g
Arginine 0.3g
Ash 1.1g
Aspartic acid 0.5g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 0mcg
Choline, total 66.8mg
Copper, Cu 0.1mg
Cystine 0.1g
Energy 2193.1kJ
Fluoride, F 1.6mcg
Folate, total 67.7mcg
Glutamic acid 1.6g
Glycine 0.2g
Histidine 0.2g
Isoleucine 0.3g
Leucine 0.5g
Lysine 0.3g
Methionine 0.1g
Magnesium, Mg 11.6mg
Manganese, Mn 0.2mg
Niacin 1.9mg
Phosphorus, P 92.6mg
Pantothenic acid 0.5mg
Phenylalanine 0.3g
Proline 0.6g
Retinol 256.6mcg
Selenium, Se 17.4mcg
Serine 0.4g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 0.2g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.9mg
Tryptophan 0.1g
Tyrosine 0.2g
Valine 0.3g
Vitamin A, IU 940.8IU
Vitamin A, RAE 260.8mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.3mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 2.4mcg
Water 37.4g
Zinc, Zn 0.6mg

*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.

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