Y’all, I am claiming it… this is the best lemon pound cake recipe, no lies! You know ya girl, the Queen of pound cakes made sure you taste the lemon, while keeping the crumb moist and buttery. Don’t believe me? Just bake it once, boos. I keep it tart and sweet but super moist with a tight crumb and classic pound cake texture. Plus, I add a secret ingredient to this lemon pound cake that makes it like no other. Get into it!
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How to Make a Lemon Pound Cake
These step-by-step photos show how to make a lemon pound cake with lemon glaze, but be sure to check the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and detailed instructions. Skip to the → Best Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
1. Add the cream cheese, butter, and salt to a large mixing bowl
Cream on high speed until completely smooth.
2. Slowly add the sugar and instant pudding mix
Continue to cream until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and pale.
PRO TIP: My secret ingredient is instant lemon pudding. Based on my research and recipe testing, I discovered that it added more moisture and changed the texture of the finished cake to be softer, along with adding more lemon flavor.
3. Lower the mixer speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time
Mix just until each one is incorporated before adding the next.
4. Reduce the mixer to its lowest speed and add the flour one cup at a time
Mix just until combined. Do not overbeat here.
5. Add the lemon zest and finish the batter
Mix briefly until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
6. Pour the lemon cake batter into a Bundt pan
Smooth the top evenly.
7. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
Let the cake cool briefly in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Make the lemon glaze and pour it over your lemon Bundt cake
Whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the cooled cake, sprinkle with lemon zest, then slice and serve.
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Full Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
For the Pound Cake:
- 8 ounces cream cheese one brick, room temp
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 package lemon instant pudding (just the dry powdered mix as is, do not hydrate the pudding) 3.4 ounce
- 6 large eggs room temperature
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 3 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 2 2/3 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice start with 2 then see if you need more
- Optional: lemon zest for garnish
Instructions
For the Pound Cake:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add room temperature cream cheese, butter and salt to large mixing bowl and begin creaming on high speed until smooth.
- Slowly add sugar and instant pudding to bowl and cream until light and fluffy which takes about 5-7 minutes.
- Lower speed of mixer to medium and add one egg at a time and mix until incorporated.
- Slow mixer to slowest speed and add flour one cup at a time into bowl until just incorporated.
- Do not overbeat at this point.
- Add lemon zest to bowl and mix.
- Once everything is incorporated, pour cake batter into greased and floured or baking sprayed 12 cup bundt or tube pan.
- Bake for 1 hour and 5-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes then remove cake and place on cooling rack for an hour or until it is completely cooled.
For the Glaze:
- Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. If it is too runny, add a bit more sugar or if it is too thick, add a little bit more lemon juice. You want to consistency to coat the back of a spoon but slide off easily.
- Drizzle on top of cooled cake, sprinkle with lemon zest and serve.
Video
Notes
How to Store
- Room Temp: Keep the cake covered in an airtight container or wrapped well on the counter for up to 3 days. Skip the fridge, boos. It will dry the cake out.
- Freezer: Wrap the whole cake or slices tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients, boos. Let your butter, cream cheese, and eggs sit out so the batter mixes up smooth and bakes evenly.
- Cream it real good. Beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar for a full five to seven minutes to work in air. This cake doesn’t rely on other leaveners.
- Slow down when the flour goes in. Use the lowest mixer speed and stop as soon as it’s combined so the cake stays tender.
- Zest the smart way. Stick to the yellow part of the lemon only because the white pith will make your cake taste bitter.
Recipe Help
Cake flour, boos. I usually grab Swan’s Down and always sift it for a lighter, tighter crumb. If you don’t have any, you can make your own cake flour!
You can either add more lemon zest or even lemon extract to the batter.
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Dear Grandbaby Cakes,
I’ve been making this cake (and your other pound cake recipe) for a year. It’s a hit with my entire family and I plan to expand to the rest of your cakes. The flavor is bright, delightful, buttery and summer sweet. Thank you thank you thank you! I wish I could post a Pic to show you!
Wow thank you so so much Zaira. I’m so happy you enjoy this!
You have to use cream cheese in this recipe.
Yes it is necessary and cannot be replaced in this recipe.
Do you add baking powder or baking soda?
You don’t need either.
I made the lemon pound cake and it turned out great. I’m not a true baker but I Love trying your recipes. Everyone always says they are so good. I ALWAYS make sure to tell my family and friends that they are your recipes. Thanks for generously sharing your great recipes. Thank you!
Wow thank you so so much!
I made the lemon pound cake. It turned out great! I’m not a true baker, but I Love trying your recipes. Everyone always says they are so good! Thank you for generously sharing your recipes! I make sure to ALWAYS let my family and friends know that it’s your recipes. Thank you so much!
very tasty
Thank you so much!
I am not in charge of making this cake for every family gathering. Whenever there is left overs (which isn’t often) it is my go to breakfast with my coffee. I would give it ten stars if I could.
The flavor is GREAT! I followed the recipe exactly, but after close to two hours, my cake is still not fully baked. I’m hoping to get it right because I am making this for a friend.
Oh no! I wonder if your oven runs cooler than mine. I hope it came out well!
I had to move mine down to the lowest rack and that helped it finish baking. But it’s did get very brown on the outside. I used a darker bundt pan on the middle rack for most of the baking. Next time I want to try to use a bigger bundt pan and see if that helps.
I made this cake for a function & it was gone before all the other desserts. I literally got just a few of the crumbs at the end. People have asked me to make it again. Everyone loved it. I followed the recipe exactly, which is rare for me.
So happy everyone loved it! Thank you for sharing it!
I just made this lemon pound cake oh my goodness the best but I didn’t have enough lemon zest so I mixed it in with the sugar &added LEMON extract it was so good I will be making this for the holidays!!!thanks!!!
Thanks so much, doll!