I can’t lie to y’all. My big mama’s Sour Cream Pound Cake was about as famous as a cake could be in Winona, MS. She figured out that the right amount of sour cream would keep it moist and tender while letting the butter and richness shine. It also had the type of tight crumb that pound cakes envy. Barely any air pockets boos. Just like my family’s classic pound cake, it’s a hit! Watch my tutorial video below so you can learn how to make it just like she did.
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Video Tutorial
Sour Cream Pound Cake Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Go with high fat European style butter. Unsalted is my preference but you can also use salted. Just leave the salt out.
- Granulated Sugar: The creaming of this and butter is necessary for building air into the cake so it doesn’t need leavening.
- Eggs: room temp.
- Cake flour: In my testing and perfecting of the recipe, we discovered that cake flour truly makes a difference in the final texture. It keeps it light and soft so it doesn’t get too heavy. If you don’t have any, make your own cake flour with all-purpose flour and cornstarch.
- Sour cream: Plain greek yogurt also works here.
- Vanilla extract: Make sure it is high quality and not artificial.
How to Make Sour Cream Pound Cake
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Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe
My family's sour cream pound cake recipe is velvety, buttery, and rich filled with the moistness and flavor of sour cream.
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Servings: 16 people
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 3 cups cake flour sifted
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp baking soda (optional!) I don't usually add this since I think pound cakes don't need it so this optional.
- 1 cup sour cream room temperature
- 2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 325 F then liberally spray a 12 cup bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.
- In your stand mixer bowl, add butter and sugar and mix for 3-4 minutes on high speed until very pale yellow and fluffy.
- Next add eggs, one at a time, combining well after each addition and scraping down the sides of your bowl as needed.
- Turn your mixer down to its lowest speed, and slowly add flour into batter in two increments then add salt and baking soda. Be careful not to overbeat.
- Lastly add in sour cream and vanilla extract, scrape down sides and mix until just combined and turn off mixer.
- Pour cake batter into prepared bundt pan, and bake for 1 hour and 15-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes then invert cake on serving plate for at least an hour or until the cake is cool to touch.
Notes
How to Store Sour Cream Pound Cake
Once your cake has completely cooled down, either tightly wrap in plastic wrap so no air gets in or add to a cake container. Store at room temp for up to 5 days.How long will it last in the fridge?
Don’t do it boos! I simply don’t recommend storing pound cake in the fridge since it will dry it out y’all. Store at room temp so that texture stays on point.Can I freeze?
Now freezing is totally fine boos. Wrap the leftovers in plastic wrap tightly then put it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Make sure you add a label with the date. It should keep for for 4-6 months. When ready to serve it back up, thaw overnight in the fridge.Nutrition
Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 73mg | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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Recipe Tips
- Take your time!: During the mixing of the butter and sugar, also known as the creaming period, exercise some patience boos. This will add a lift of air and lightness to your cake that you won’t even believe y’all. It also ensures that your ingredients start off well mixed.
- Don’t Overdo the Dry Ingredients: Only mix the dry ingredients into the batter until just combined. Don’t over mix and risk additional gluten forming which will make the cake less tender.
- Grease your Pan Properly: I love to use my homemade cake release so the cake comes out clean without sticking. You can also go old school and grease your pan with shortening or butter then sprinkling flour over it.
Serving Suggestions
- Get Fruity: Add fresh berries or peaches as a topping adds a delightful lightness that will be the highlight of any summer get-together.
- Drizzle it Up: Drizzle each slice with a strawberry sauce, caramel sauce or a chocolate ganache.
- A La Mode: Now y’all know a nice warm slice will hit with some vanilla ice cream or even a scoop of strawberry ice cream.
- Dollop it Up: Add a nice dollop of whipped cream to each slice you serve.
Recipe Help
Can I make this sour cream pound cake recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely boos! You can bake and store this cake at room temp for up to 3 days before you serve it. Just don’t pop it in the fridge.
What kind of pan do you use for a pound cake?
A round bundt or fluted pan is the most common type of pan used for making a pound cake though some recipes will use a loaf pan for a rectangular-shaped cake. For making a pound cake, I think the cake presents best when using a fluted bundt cake pan.
What does sour cream do to a cake?
The sour cream adds moisture that keeps your cake soft and silky, just the way it was intended to be. It can also add richness and slight tang thanks to the additional dairy it provides to the cake.
More Pound Cake Recipes
- Big Mama’s Sour Cream Cake
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Louisiana Crunch Cake
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- 7 Up Pound Cake
- Sock It To Me Cake
- Million Dollar Pound Cake
- 35 Pound Cake Recipes
This post was originally published in September 2018. It has been updated with some new images and new content.
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Been looking for a recipe like yours. By far the very, very best I’ve baked and I’ve baked for many years. I halved the recipe for just one loaf and at 325 degrees baked for one hour and five minutes. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. Will be our go to for pound cake going forward.
Question Jocelyn: I only have salted butter in the house and don’t want to go out for unsalted since I’m in the vulnerable population. Can I use salted and eliminate the salt? Thank you.
Yes you can. Just eliminate the salt and it will be just fine.
*UPDATE* My cake came out perfecr!!! I was hoping I could post a pic, but I don’t see where you can attach an item. Nevertheless I am so happy with my cake. It looks and taste delicious. Just as I thought that additional half cup of butter gave it a nice buttery taste. My two older sisters are both excellent cooks and bakers and can make some mean pound cakes. I could have simply called one of them for a recipe, however it was 2:00 in the morning when I decided to bake, so I searched the internet. So happy I found your site, you have some great recipes that I will definitely try. I am going to make the cream cheese pound cake today (after I get some sleep) And I definitely want to try the peach cobbler recipe. Thank you and your family for sharing your love infused recipes.
It’s 2:45 EST and I put my pound cake in the oven about 15 min ago. I have my fingers crossed that my cake comes out perfect. I followed the recipe exactly as stated, however with me being an amateur baker I wasn’t sure how long to mix the batter after adding the flour. You indicated to beat on high for 3-4 for the sugar and butter, but you didn’t say how long to mix after adding the flour. I hope I didn’t over beat it, I actually wouldn’t know if I did or not. I searched several recipes for a sour cream pound cake and I selected yours because you had 1 1/2 cups of butter, all others I seen only used 1 cup. I thought the extra half cup would probably give this cake a more buttery taste. Also I thought I had added too much vanilla, because when I was looking at the other recipes they all had 2 teaspoons/1 tablespoon of vanilla. I was like, OMG did I put in to much, but I checked the recipe and saw that it did call for 2 tablespoons. Well I will come back with an update after the cake is out then oven and cooled down for me to cut it. This is my second try at making a pound cake and the last one, although it looked pretty and brown on the outside, when I cut it it wasn’t done all the way through. If this cake comes out good, I am going to make your cream cheese and your lemon pound cake
So wish me luck
For the flour, you mix it until it combines. No need to keep mixing once it has thoroughly mixed into the batter. Let me know how it turned out.
We prepared this cake during the COVID-19 lock in.. and it was awesome!! The only suggestion is to change the way you grease your pan from spray to actually greasing and flouring the cooking pan.
So so glad you enjoyed it!!!
If I were to make this in a loaf pan(s), how would I do that? I only have a 10-cup bundt pan and if its not advisable to do the loaf, how much should I fill the 10-cup pan to? 2/3? This recipe looks absolutely amazing, I’m so excited to try it i gotta tell you, your recipes are beautiful!
Thank you so much Kimberly! This recipe usually makes enough for two loaf pans so if you have two, definitely do that! I would just divide it evenly and bake for around 30-40 minutes, start checking around 25 or so and then bake until toothpick comes out clean.
I’m known as a wonderful cook & baker. I just saw this recipe, & can see by the ingredients that it will be superb. I don’t understand why folks would question the quantity of vanilla in the cake. Generous quantities of vanilla improve most baked goods, which is why I usually have to double what the recipe calls for. Won’t have to with this! Yeah! Thank you for sharing this.
I totally agree! I love ample vanilla so it doesn’t bake out and really gives extra flavor. Thank you for your comment!
I have yet to use your recipe for this cake but it is very similar to the one I learned about when living in a Mennonite community.
There is one addition my daughter did that makes for a delicious crust for this cake.
After coating the bunt pan with cooking spray/shortening, add a half cup sugar to the pan and shake to coat all sides, as you would with flour. (Add more sugar to coat completely, if a half cup isn’t enough.)
I have been trying different bundt cake recipes since finding a very nice bundt cake pan at a second-hand store, and THIS ONE is hands down the best. Flavorful, spongy inside with a crisp, buttery outer layer. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thank you!
Good afternoon,
Planning on making this receipe for this weekend. While reviewing the ingredients, I noticed it is asking for 3 Tablespoons of vanilla and wanted to confirm that this is correct, as I have not baked a cake before that needed this amount. As such…please advise.
Thanking you in advance! You website looks so TASTY…looking forward to reviewing and baking more!!!!
Cathy
Hi Cathy, you can put a smaller amount of vanilla in the recipe if that is your preference. Start with 1 tablespoon and see if that works for you.