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Sliced loaf of glazed lemon pound cake.

Classic Lemon Pound Cake

A classic lemon pound cake with a rich, buttery crumb and a bright citrus flavour. Finished with a simple lemon glaze and topped with more zest, this easy, from-scratch loaf is soft, tender, and perfect for spring!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Afternoon Tea, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • zest of 1 lemon juice will be used in the glaze
  • 140 g granulated sugar
  • 140 g unsalted butter room temperature
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 large yolk room temperature
  • 40 g sour cream full fat & room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 140 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Lemon Glaze
  • 120 g powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice plus more if needed
  • pinch fine sea salt
  • lemon zest to top the cake (optional)

Equipment

  • 1 small loaf pan around 4" x 8" x 3" (mine was 3.75" x 7.75" x 2.5"). See note #1.

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spray a loaf pan with baking spray and line with a piece of parchment paper overhanging the long sides of the pan, to use as a sling for removing the cake.
  2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, rub the zest of 1 lemon into 140 g granulated sugar until the sugar resembles damp sand and is very fragrant.
  3. Add 140 g unsalted butter to the mixing bowl and cream together with the lemon-infused sugar until lightened in colour. Use the paddle attachment if you're using a stand mixer.
  4. Add 3 large eggs and 1 large yolk one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 40 g sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon lemon extract and beat well to combine.
  5. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 140 g all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon fine sea salt. Add to the batter and mix on low speed just until combined.
  6. Pour into the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top. Bake until the top is golden and cracked and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes. Leave to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Make the glaze: whisk together 120 g powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and a pinch fine sea salt until smooth. Add more lemon juice a little bit at a time to reach the consistency you want.
  8. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake and let it drip over the sides. Before the glaze sets, sprinkle on some more lemon zest if you like. Let the glaze set for 20-30 minutes, then serve!

Notes

  1. You can swap in a different loaf pan, but keep in mind it will change both the bake time and how the cake turns out. I don’t suggest going too far off size because the batter might overflow or bake too thin. This is the loaf pan I used, and I highly recommend it. Fat Daddio is my go-to for cake pans!
  2. It's really important that your eggs, butter, and sour cream are all at room temperature (around 68˚F or 20˚C) so the batter comes together nicely. If the butter is cold, it won't cream properly with the sugar. If the eggs or sour cream are cold, it could cause the butter to firm up and separate out of the batter—in other words, your batter could curdle.