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Brown Butter Pound Cake

Brown Butter Pound Cake is one of the most simple dessert recipes you can make. With only 6 ingredients that you are likely to have on hand at all times, it’s a classic for any occasion.

The Million Dollar Pound Cake has been around for ages and is a tried and true favorite. I changed up the original recipe slightly by browning half of the butter. It adds a rich nutty flavor that shines through in this delicious pound cake recipe. Serve it up plain or with whipped cream and fresh berries.

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overhead of pound cake - bundt, one slice tilted

Brown Butter Pound Cake ~ Easy Dessert Recipe

Pound cake is a great option for a no-fuss dessert. Making the brown butter is an extra step that is worth the time and effort. It adds so much flavor to this delicious cake. This recipe is a short-cut method that I learned from a Southern Living magazine article. All of the ingredients are added at once, in a particular order and is a little easier to make than the typical pound cake.

Ingredients Needed:

For Serving:

  • Sweetened Whipped Cream, Cool Whip or Ice Cream
  • Fresh Berries: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries or raspberries

What is Brown Butter?

Brown butter is made by cooking butter over low heat until the milk solids turn to brown bits creating a nutty aroma and taste that adds flavor to both desserts and savory dishes.

collage - making brown butter

How to Make Brown Butter:

  • The first step of this recipe is to brown 1 cup of the butter. Place butter in a heavy skillet or small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally. Do not leave the butter unattended, it can burn quickly and will have to be discarded.
  • Continue to cook until brown bits are formed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour butter into a bowl to stop the cooking process.
  • Browned butter can be covered and refrigerated for later use or made ahead. Bring to room temperature before using in baking recipes.

How to Make Brown Butter Pound Cake:

steps to making pound cake collage

  • It is important to add the ingredients to a large bowl of a stand mixer in this particular order.
  • Add flour, then sugar.
  • Add brown butter (make sure to scrape all of the brown bits into the bowl using a silicone spatula) and the other cup of softened butter.
  • Next, add milk, eggs and vanilla.
  • Using an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed for one minute.

scraping bowl of cake batter

  • Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

fluffy cake batter in a mixer bowl with spatula

  • Continue to beat at medium speed for 2 more minutes.

Bundt pan with cake batter

  • Butter and flour a bundt pan.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth evenly.

baked bundt cake on a wire rack

  • Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean and top is golden brown.
  • Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen.

overhead of bundt cake cooling on wire rack

  • Invert cake onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

closeup of bundt cake, with one slice sitting on the edge

  • Move to a cake plate and slice with a serrated knife.

overhead photo of cake on cake plate, 2 slices on saucers with whipped cream & berries, bowls of whipped cream and berries

  • Serve with whipped cream and berries.

Best Toppings for Pound Cake:

  • Sweetened Whipped Cream
  • Ice Cream
  • Fresh Berries
  • Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Powdered Sugar

slice of pound cake with berries and whipped cream, cake on platter, bowls of whipped cream, berries

How to Store:

Store cooled cake in an airtight container or covered tightly in plastic wrap. Store at room temperature up to 3 days. Cake can be refrigerated up to 7 days.

Can you Freeze Pound Cake?

Slices of cake can also be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator or at room temperature.

More Pound Cake Recipes You Will Love:

Amaretto Pound Cake is a decadent and delicious with cherry and almond flavors. Perfect for holidays and special celebrations. 

Cream Cheese Pound Cake is a super simple recipe that is buttery and delicious. A fantastic addition to any holiday spread and easy enough for every day occasions.

Vanilla Pound Cake is perfect for a small dessert to bake and share with friends and neighbors. It makes a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and only has 5 ingredients.

Lemon Pound Cake has tons of lemon flavor from using both lemon juice and zest in the cake and a lemony glaze. A loaf pound cake that is really simple to make.

plate with sliced pound cake, whipped cream, berries

If you love classic pound cake, give this Brown Butter Pound Cake a try for your next family gathering, holiday or celebration. The use of brown butter takes this cake recipe to a new level of deliciousness. It’s one of my favorite things to bake and is sure to earn a spot in your recipe box.

IF YOU LOVE THIS  RECIPE AS MUCH AS I DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND A FIVE STAR REVIEW, AND BE SURE TO HELP ME SHARE ON PINTEREST!

brown butter pound cake - one slice turned sideways
Print Recipe
4.50 from 26 votes

Brown Butter Pound Cake

Brown Butter Pound Cake is one of the most simple dessert recipes you can make. With only 6 ingredients that you are likely to have on hand at all times, it's a classic for any occasion.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 50 minutes
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: brown butter cake, bundt cake, how to brown butter, pound cake, Southern Living Pound Cake
Servings: 10 Servings
Calories: 851kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

  • 2 cups softened butter 4 sticks, plus more to butter the pan - divided use
  • 4 cups all purpose flour plus more to flour the pan
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place 1 cup of butter in a heavy skillet or small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally. Do not leave the butter unattended, it can burn quickly and will have to be discarded.
  • Continue to cook until brown bits are formed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl and cool about 15 minutes.
    Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Butter and flour a bundt pan and set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, add flour, then sugar.
  • Next, pour in brown butter (make sure to scrape all of the brown bits into the bowl) and the other two sticks of softened butter.
  • Pour in milk, eggs and vanilla.
  • Using an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat at low speed for one minute.
  • Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  • Continue to beat at medium speed for 2 more minutes.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth evenly.
  • Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top should be golden brown.
  • Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen.
  • Invert cake onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Move to a cake plate and slice with a serrated knife.
  • Serve plain or add whipped cream and berries.

Notes

Store cake in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature up to 3 days. Refrigerate up to 7 days. Cake can be wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil and frozen up to 3 months. Slices of cake can also be wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw cake at room temperature or in refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 851kcal | Carbohydrates: 109g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 354mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 61g
4.50 from 26 votes (26 ratings without comment)

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