Best 1 2 3 4 Pound Cake Recipes

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CLASSIC 1-2-3-4 CAKE (WITH VARIATIONS) RECIPE



Classic 1-2-3-4 Cake (With Variations) Recipe image

Here's an easy, classic 1-2-3-4 cake recipe with several variations, including bourbon cake, lemon cake, and orange cake.

Provided by Diana Rattray

Categories     Dessert     Cake

Time 1h10m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (room temperature)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
Glaze (Optional, for Bundt Cake or Tube Cake):
1/4 cup butter (melted)
2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
2 tablespoons milk or cream

Steps:

  • Butter and flour a Bundt cake or (10-inch) tube cake pan or two 9-inch round cake pans (or three 8-inch round cake pans).
  • Heat the oven to 350 F for Bundt or tube pan, or 375 F for layers.
  • Sift the flour with the salt and baking powder; set aside.
  • Cream the 1 cup of butter until light. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar; continue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in the 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Add the sifted flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat until the batter is smooth; do not overbeat.
  • Turn into the prepared pan(s).
  • Bake a tube or Bundt cake at 350 F for about 55 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cake bounces back when touched lightly with a finger. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes then carefully remove to cool on a rack.
  • Bake layers at 375 F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake bounces back when touched lightly with a finger.
  • For a Bundt or tube cake glaze, combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, 2 tablespoons of milk or cream, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth; add more milk, as needed, for drizzling over the cake.
  • If you made a layer cake, use your favorite frosting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 kcal, Carbohydrate 60 g, Cholesterol 88 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 207 mg, Sugar 39 g, Fat 17 g, ServingSize 1 Cake (12 to 16 Servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

1-2-3-4 CAKE



1-2-3-4 cake image

This layer cake was a standard in our house. This recipe is a very old one that people could keep in their heads because of the utter simplicity of the formula that gave the cake its name-1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, and 4 eggs.

Provided by James Beard

Categories     Cake     Egg     Dessert     Bake     Kid-Friendly     Party     Orange Juice     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher     Small Plates

Yield Makes one 3-layer cake; 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

For the Cake
Softened butter and flour, for the pans
N/A and flour
3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon plain salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Filling and Topping
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

Steps:

  • Butter and flour the bottom and sides of three 8 by 1 1/2-inch cake pans with the softened butter, tipping out the excess flour.
  • Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until it is light, creamy, and fluffy, about 1 minute. Gradually add the sugar into the butter, and beat until the mixture is very light and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. As the sugar blends in it will change the color of the butter to a much lighter color, almost white.
  • Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl until they are well blended. Gradually beat into the butter mixture, mixing well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, starting with the flour mixture, add the flour mixture in thirds, alternating with two equal additions of the milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. In a clean bowl using clean beaters beat the egg whites until they form firm, glossy peaks. Do not overbeat until they are stiff and dry. Fold the whites into the batter.
  • Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pans, dividing it equally among them. Give the filled pans a little knock on the countertop to level the batter. Bake in the center of a preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes, or until each cake springs back when touched in the center. Remove the pans from the oven and put them on wire cake racks to cool for a few minutes, then loosen the layers by running the flat side of a knife blade around the sides of the pans, put a rack on top of each pan, and invert so the cake comes out onto the rack, top side down. Then reverse the layers so they are top side up.
  • Mix the orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, and orange rind together and drizzle the mixture over the still warm cake layers, being careful not to let it all soak into one spot; then pile the layers on top of each other. Let the cake cool.

1-2-3-4 CAKE



1-2-3-4 Cake image

Here's a Paula Deen update of my mom's favorite cake recipe. I remember Mom using the recipe as it was, printed on the side of the "Swans Down Cake Flour" box. A great Birthday-Cake kind of recipe, it's called "1-2-3-4 Cake" because, the ingredients, at that time, were listed: "1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups cake flour, 4 eggs" etc. Paula's recipe simplifies some steps, with nothing lost in flavor and texture.

Provided by Fauve

Categories     Dessert

Time 50m

Yield 1 3 layer cake, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans,.
  • Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy.
  • Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
  • Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed.
  • Divide batter equally among prepared pans.
  • Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter.
  • Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done.
  • Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Invert cakes onto cooling racks.
  • Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1, Fat 18, SaturatedFat 10.8, Cholesterol 105.5, Sodium 565.9, Carbohydrate 57.6, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 33.5, Protein 6

1-2-3-4 CAKE



1-2-3-4 Cake image

Provided by Emily Weinstein

Categories     dinner, lunch, dessert

Time 1h

Yield One nine-inch, two-layer cake

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
3 cups cake flour (sift and then measure)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsweetened butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-inch baking pans and line the bottom of each with parchment paper. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
  • Stir baking powder and salt into cake flour.
  • In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the four egg yolks one at a time. Add the vanilla to the mixture.
  • Add the flour mixture and milk alternately, starting and ending with one third of the flour. Stir just until the flour is incorporated.
  • In another bowl, whisk egg whites to soft peaks. Stir one third of the egg whites into the batter, then gently fold in the rest. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.
  • Hint: Whisk the egg whites first in the mixer and put the stiff egg whites on a plate. Then beat the sugar and butter in the same bowl.

SWANS DOWN 1-2-3-4 POUND CAKE



Swans Down 1-2-3-4 Pound Cake image

This moist pound cake is the most requested Swans Down recipe of all time. Whether it's your first time trying it or a perennial favorite, the fork-tender cake is unforgettable.

Provided by Reily Foods

Categories     Cake     Bake     Butter     Quick & Easy

Yield Makes 1 10-inch cake

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups white granulated sugar
3 cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour
4 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup milk (whole or low fat)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Butter and lightly flour 10 inch tube pan. Sift Swans Down Cake Flour, then lightly spoon 3 cups cake flour into measuring cup.
  • Cream butter in large bowl. Gradually add sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Sift the already sifted cake flour with baking powder and salt. Add eggs one at a time to creamed mixture, blending well after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk and extracts, blending after each addition until smooth (do not overbeat as this will yield a dry cake). Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake until tester inserted into cake comes out clean, around 1 hour and 25 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pan and finish cooling on rack.
  • This recipe is made available as a courtesy by The Reily Foods Company.

ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR CAKE II



One - Two - Three - Four Cake II image

This is a very old recipe. It uses basic items found in most any pantry.

Provided by Janice

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Yellow Cake Recipes

Time 1h5m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups cake flour
4 egg yolks, room temperature
4 egg whites, room temperature
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round pans.
  • Beat butter and 1 cup of sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color.
  • In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks well, then add to butter mixture.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder. Add alternately with the milk to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat well. Add vanilla.
  • Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Add 1 cup sugar to the egg whites. Fold into cake batter.
  • Divide evenly into three prepared 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 428.7 calories, Carbohydrate 62.8 g, Cholesterol 110.6 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 5.9 g, SaturatedFat 10.5 g, Sodium 220.4 mg, Sugar 34.5 g

HOMEMADE POUND CAKE



Homemade Pound Cake image

Buttery homemade pound cake that's rich with the flavor of shortbread cookies, but still tender and light as a feather.

Provided by Must Love Home

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Pound Cake Recipes

Time 1h55m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 ¼ cups white sugar
¾ pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 extra large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup 1% milk

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12-cup fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
  • Place sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, on medium speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 45 seconds after each addition. Add vanilla extract and beat for 30 seconds.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture, mixing on low speed, until just blended. Add 1/2 cup milk and beat on low speed until just blended. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula between each addition. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk.
  • Pour batter into the prepared baking pan, filling no more than 2/3 full. Smooth the top with a spoon or a spatula.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes before inverting onto a plate. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 579.5 calories, Carbohydrate 79.4 g, Cholesterol 169.7 mg, Fat 26.4 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 15.7 g, Sodium 172.3 mg, Sugar 54.6 g

LEMON 1-2-3-4 CAKE



Lemon 1-2-3-4 Cake image

This is the cake my mother's mom made frequently. It is so easy, the cake was always in her memory. When someone had good news, she made the cake. When someone died, the cake always went to the family on a beautiful glass plate with her name written on adhesive tape so she would get it back. We rarely frosted it because it is a pound cake and is moist and tastes just fine without embellishment. Originally from Mrs. Cowell, Oakdale, California.

Provided by Spicy Little Sister

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h40m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup butter (real butter, do not substitute or change the amount)
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour (Gold Medal Kitchen Tested Enriched)
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder (Calumet)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Steps:

  • Cream butter and sugar until very pale yellow.
  • Beat at high speed until grain is gone.
  • Then add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Add vanilla; beat well.
  • Sift dry ingredients three times and add alternately with milk, just until mixed.
  • In a separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff.
  • Gently fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.
  • Grease small angel food pan with Crisco or margarine.
  • Bake at 325 F, approximately 1 hours 10 minutes.
  • When cake in done, it bounces back when pressed.
  • Cool upside down on cake rack.
  • Run knife around edges of pan to loosen.
  • OPTIONAL:.
  • If you have a lemon, it is very good with the grated zest of the lemon added to the batter.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 626.6, Fat 27.1, SaturatedFat 16.1, Cholesterol 171, Sodium 595.8, Carbohydrate 87.7, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 50.4, Protein 9.2

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