pound cake

American  

noun

1. a rich, sweet cake made originally with approximately a pound each of butter, sugar, and flour.

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pound cake British  

noun

1. a rich fruit cake originally made with a pound each of butter, sugar, and flour

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Etymology

Origin of pound cake

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

Layer pound cake with thin ribbons of pumpkin pie filling and a simple maple-sweetened cream cheese.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2025

Back at the party, Vaughan Higgins pours herself a drink in the kitchen as other attendees grab slices of pizza and homemade pound cake.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2024

Note: Serve over vanilla ice cream, pound cake, pancakes or French toast, or stir into yogurt.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 1, 2023

The result is a moist, tender cake with a fine crumb similar to pound cake, but it’s surprisingly light from using oil instead of butter, and the yogurt’s slight tang balances the sugar.

From Washington Times • Apr. 3, 2023

I asked the cook if he had any cake or anything and he came up with some pound cake and some fruit cocktail.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers