Perfect Christmas Pound Cake — The Buttery Classic

Pound cake is the buttery Southern classic. Dense; sliceable; perfect with coffee. The right pound cake with a hint of Christmas spice transforms it into holiday fare.

The classic recipe (Bundt or loaf)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325°F
2. Cream butter + sugar until pale and fluffy (8 min)
3. Add eggs one at a time
4. Mix dry ingredients separately
5. Alternate adding dry + milk
6. Stir in extracts
7. Pour into greased Bundt pan
8. Bake 60-75 minutes
9. Cool 15 min; turn out

Christmas variations

Spiced pound cake

• Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Christmas-spiced version

Lemon-glazed

• Add zest of 2 lemons
• Drizzle with lemon glaze
• Bright; festive

Almond-orange

• Add 1 tablespoon orange zest
• Drizzle with almond glaze

Cream cheese pound cake

• Replace 1/2 cup butter with 4 oz cream cheese
• Tangier; richer

Why high-fat butter

• Pound cake = butter cake
• A specific quality butter makes a difference
• Kerrygold or European-style

Make-ahead

• 3-4 days at room temperature
• Wrapped tightly
• Improves on day 2

Cross-references

For perfect Christmas spice cake — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas orange cake — adjacent.

For Christmas desserts — broader.

Perfect Christmas pound cake is the buttery Southern classic. Dense; sliceable; pairs with coffee. Christmas-spiced or glazed for festive flair.