Lemon Pound Cake (Printable)

Dense butter cake bursting with fresh lemon and topped with tangy glaze—ideal for dessert or tea time.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
04 - 1/4 cup whole milk
05 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
06 - 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
07 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Lemon Glaze

10 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
04 - Combine milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl.
05 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
06 - With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in three additions alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and bake for 50-55 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
08 - Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake and allow to set before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly dense and buttery, almost fudgy in the best way
  • Fresh lemon makes every bite taste like sunshine, no artificial flavor needed
  • The glaze adds just enough sweetness to balance the tang
02 -
  • Overmixing once flour is added will make the cake tough, stop as soon as everything combines
  • The glaze should be thick enough to cling but thin enough to pour, add juice a teaspoon at a time
03 -
  • Roasting the lemons at 400F for 15 minutes before juicing intensifies their natural sweetness
  • Brushing the warm cake with simple syrup before glazing adds extra moisture
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