Description
A moist and tender pound cake with a rich buttery crumb, topped with a bright, tangy citrus glaze that cuts through the sweetness for a balanced, indulgent dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (for glaze)
- 1 lemon, zested (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan generously.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cake cools, whisk together powdered sugar, apple cider vinegar, and lemon zest to make the glaze.
- Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the glaze over the top and let it set for 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best emulsification. Do not overmix the batter once flour is added to prevent a tough texture. The cake must be completely cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting. For a gluten-free version, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 50
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: pound cake, bright glaze, citrus glaze, easy dessert, homemade cake, buttermilk cake, apple cider vinegar glaze