This bread machine pound cake is simple to prepare and delicious. Leftovers freeze very well—slice before freezing and thaw slices about 30 minutes before serving.
Last Updated on February 22, 2025 – Originally posted June 23, 2013
This pound cake was most recently tested in a Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso. If you’re curious about bread machines, check your manual for the cake or quick bread setting—many machines offer one. I’ve baked this recipe successfully at sea level and at 3,700 feet elevation with consistently good results.
Featured Comment
Turned out perfectly and is such a blessing to be able to have this on hand to use in shortcakes and quick desserts all summer long without having to heat up the kitchen with the oven! ~ Rebekah
Zojirushi bread machines include a cake setting that works well for quick breads and cakes. I first used that cycle for cornbread and banana bread, and later used it to make this pound cake. The method is straightforward and the results are excellent.
While you can eat this cake with a fork, it’s firm enough to pick up and enjoy by hand.
Recipe Adjustments
Over time I’ve refined this recipe. I originally used bread flour but now prefer all-purpose flour for a tender crumb. Also, using room-temperature eggs and milk improves the cake’s texture. The recipe calls for melted butter—this is important because some machines’ cake cycles start mixing immediately without a preheat stage, so the butter needs to be liquid when the machine begins.
About the Leavening
This recipe uses baking powder, not baking soda. Fresh baking powder is essential—old baking powder can leave the cake dense and flat. Test baking powder by stirring 1/2 teaspoon into 1/4 cup hot water; it should fizz and bubble vigorously. If it doesn’t, replace it.
Left loaf made with old baking powder; right loaf made with fresh baking powder.
Machine Setting
Use the cake or quick bread cycle on a two-pound machine. This is not a yeast bread cycle. The cycle typically runs about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours; on the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 it runs about 1 hour 50 minutes total, including mixing, baking, and a brief cooling period. If your machine has a medium crust option on the cake cycle, choose medium.
Serving Ideas
We usually enjoy this pound cake plain or with whipped cream. It also pairs well with:
- Ice cream and chocolate sauce
- Strawberries and whipped cream
- Sliced bananas with warm honey
- Lemon curd
- A simple drizzled icing
Bread Machine Pound Cake Instructions
This recipe is written for the cake cycle on a two-pound machine using the medium crust setting. Follow your bread machine’s instructions for ingredient order—some machines require liquids first, others dry ingredients first. If your machine allows, scrape the inside of the pan with a spatula during the first few minutes of mixing to ensure even incorporation. When the cycle finishes, let the cake cool for a few minutes in the pan, then gently loosen the sides with a silicone spatula before turning the cake out.
Ingredients
Use the cake cycle (medium crust) of a two-pound bread machine.
3 large eggs, room temperature and beaten
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour (about 250 g)
3 tsp baking powder (check freshness)
1/2 cup butter, melted (about 113.5 g)
1 cup sugar (about 200 g)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Recipe Card
Bread Machine Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs, room temperature and beaten
- 1/3 cup (about 79 ml) milk, room temperature
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder (check the expiration date)
- 1/2 cup (113.5 g) butter, melted
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Follow your bread machine’s guidance for ingredient order (liquids first or dry first, depending on the machine).
- Select the cake setting and choose medium crust if available.
- If possible, scrape the pan’s sides with a spatula during the first few minutes of mixing to ensure even batter.
- Allow the machine to complete the cake cycle. When finished, let the cake rest a few minutes, then loosen the sides with a silicone spatula and turn the cake out to cool.
Notes
This recipe was developed and tested using U.S. customary measurements. Metric amounts are included where helpful. Use fresh baking powder for best rise. If your machine’s cake cycle lacks a preheat stage, make sure the butter is melted before adding it to the pan.
Nutrition
All information here is provided for informational purposes. Nutrition figures are estimates and should be treated as such.