Black People’s Pound Cake

Here’s a rich, buttery, and deeply nostalgic recipe for Black Folks’ Pound Cake — a soul food classic often served at Sunday dinners, family reunions, holidays, and church functions. This cake is dense yet tender, full of flavor, and made with love — just like Grandma used to bake it.

🍰 Black People’s Pound Cake (Soul Food Style)

🍽️ Serves: 12–16

⏱️ Total Time: ~1 hour 45 minutes (includes baking)

🧂 Ingredients:

🧈 Wet Ingredients:

1 lb (2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
2½ cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract (optional but traditional)

🥛 Dry + Liquid:

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup evaporated milk (or whole milk or half-and-half)

👩🏾‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep:

Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
Generously grease and flour a bundt or tube pan (10–12 cup size).

2. Cream the Butter & Sugar:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy (about 2–3 minutes).
Gradually add in the sugar, beating until light and fluffy — at least 5–7 minutes.

💡 This step gives the cake its signature texture, so don’t rush it.

3. Add the Eggs:

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
Scrape the bowl as needed.

4. Add Flavors:

Mix in vanilla and almond extract.

5. Mix the Dry & Wet Alternately:

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
With the mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and milk in batches:
- Start and end with flour (⅓ flour → ½ milk → ⅓ flour → ½ milk → final flour).
Mix just until combined — do not overbeat.

6. Bake:

Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake at 325°F for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until:
- A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and
- The top is golden brown and slightly cracked (that’s a good sign!)

7. Cool & Serve:

Let the cake cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then invert onto a rack or platter to finish cooling.
Serve plain, with a dusting of powdered sugar, or topped with glaze, berries, or ice cream.

📝 Optional Vanilla Glaze:

Mix together:

1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
Drizzle over cooled cake.

💡 Tips from the Aunties:

Use room temperature ingredients for best mixing.
For extra richness, swap ¼ cup of the milk with sour cream or cream cheese.
Want it more “grandma-style”? Add a splash of lemon or butter extract for a deeper Southern vibe.

Let me know if you’d like a cream cheese pound cake, 7-Up version, or sweet potato swirl twist!