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 a rich fruit cake originally made with a pound each of butter, sugar, and flour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

Leanne Morgan’s stand-up, like her Netflix show, is as gentle and comforting as a church lady’s pound cake.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2025

“Black House” attendees socialize in the kitchen over slices of pizza and homemade pound cake.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2024

Zoe Denenberg highlighted the Southern classic cold-oven pound cake, but noted that bacon fat renders beautifully this way.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2024

Queeman, however, was mostly interested in the dessert table, heaped with a mix of homemade and store-bought delights, from coconut pineapple cake and pound cake to his aunt's famous sweet potato pie.

From Salon • May 1, 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