How to Make Lemon Pound Cake with Claire Saffitz | Dessert Person
Claire Saffitz shares her perfect lemon pound cake recipe, a classic, bakery-style dessert that’s moist, tender, buttery, and packed with real lemon flavor. This lemon pound cake is made completely from scratch using simple pantry ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and fresh lemon zest, then finished with a bright lemon glaze for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
If you’re searching for the best lemon pound cake, a Claire Saffitz dessert recipe, or a foolproof pound cake that isn’t dry, this recipe delivers every time. The combination of milk and sour cream creates a soft crumb, while lemon zest and fresh lemon juice bring bold citrus flavor without bitterness.
Perfect for brunch, dessert, holidays, or anytime baking at home, this is a classic lemon pound cake recipe you’ll come back to again and again.
#poundcake #clairesaffitz #cake
Lemon Pound Cake
CAKE
1½ (195g) cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
1½ sticks unsalted butter
1¼ cups sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup milk
¼ cup sour cream
GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
¼ cup lemon juice (2 oz / 57g)
1 tablespoon butter, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:54 Ingredients & Special Equipment
02:49 How To Make Cake Batter
07:56 How To Make Lemon Pound Cake
14:18 How To Make Lemon Pound Cake Glaze
16:43 Lemon Pound Cake Taste
18:19 Cat cam
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Video Series:
Producer/Director: Vincent Cross
Camera Operator: Calvin Robertson
Editor/Motion Graphics: Hal McFall
Animation Credits:
Character Designer/Animator/Backgrounds: Jack Sherry
Character Rigger: Johara Dutton
39 Comments
Can the sour cream be replaced with plain yogurt?
I have made your recipe! With a couple of changes
Didn't have sour cream, did 1/2 cup of milk instead of only 1/4
I didn't have a 1/8 teaspoon available, so I eyeballed half of a 1/4 for the soda
I have only a handmixer (which for some reason is also the fastest dumb thing on earth). I believe I undermixed the butter and sugar, and that I overmixed everything else
My cake was ready at 50min. Idk.
The result is beautiful! Funnily enough, it domed quite a bit. I just took it from the oven, but it's quite big. I'll reply with the taste test in a couple of hours I suppose
Just made this – was absolutely perfect – light, moist, lemony, perfect texture and sweetness. Claire doesn't miss.
I make pound cake exactly like this minus the sour cream!!
I did something wrong and no idea where lol the damn cake came out looking like a loaf of sourdough with a dome and the biggest crack down the middle LOL still delicious, but will be making again to get this right 🤣
Why do they call it 'pound' cake? Oh! Never mind.
Am I crazy or have these videos sometimes been a bit dark lately? I think it’s a compensation for the super bright outside but it feels like the brightness on my phone is turned down. I can’t see Claire and the kitchen as clearly.
I just made this today & it is incredibly tasty!
If you double and use a Bundt pan, how do you get it out of the pan? Thanks for sharing.
Just made this recipe and it turned out beautiful 🎉, love your recipes and videos. You reign supreme in my kitchen 😂❤
Made it today. It was amazing.
Would you please make halva? It's getting harder to find in stores. I trust your recipes. Thank you!
Me and my partner love watching your YouTube show. I have noticed a dark line on your thumb nail and want to advise you to see a dermatologist. I had a similar line on my index finger nail and it turned out to be subungual melanoma. Hoping it’s not, but would feel wrong not bringing this to your attention.
OMG. I am OBSESSED with lemon pound cake. Obsessed. I can never find one that matches my childhood memory of lemon pound cake. Glad you have a loaf pan recipe! So excited to make this.
This was a 10/10! I just made it today and it was so simple for a beginner baker like me and the result was very soft and lemony! DELICIOUS ❤
I LOVE lemon pound cake
Happiest New Year!🥳
Looking forward to giving this a whirl!
Thanks Claire!
the thumbnail is exuding trash raccoon energy she’s so cute omg 😭 two hands holding a slice and going to town on it
Claire can you develop a recipe for Jewish Deli 7 Layer Cake? It’s the most nostalgic dessert and I’ve not found a reputable recipe online. ❤
With respect, I hope y’all can mute the baby noises next time 😅
Made this a couple days ago with a pomegranate swirl (pomegranate molasses; 2 C pomegranate juice and 3/4 C sugar, simmer until thickened) and added 1/4 tsp. lemon extract to both the batter and the icing…. it was amazing😭
We always fight over the crunchy edges of butter/pound cake. Even the kids😂
Growing up, pound cake was always ok for breakfast if you warmed a little homemade jam and drizzled it over a slice. This would be outstanding w/ some raspberry or blueberry jam!
Anyone know what brand of grater/zester she is using?
Could u please make Cinnabon!! Pleaseeeeeeeee
To me that lemon pound cake is screaming "Put blueberries in me!" I love that combo and finished off some of the best blueberries I've had in a long time coming from the southern hemisphere.
Is there a reason the amount of powdered sugar is different in the description vs what she said? 1 cup vs 3/4 cup of powdered sugar?
Hey ! What would be the measurements in grams?😢
id like to lemon pound cake YOU. 🙂 🎂 cut me a slice. 🤤
I love lemon pound cake! I'm going to try making this subbing in lime for the lemon just to try a slightly different flavor profile.
I made this yesterday and yet again, you're a genius Claire! Ive never made a pound cake before and it came out beautifully. Moist but tender with the crispy edges and top. I really love the glaze, as the next day it further soaks into the cake and becomes better. Thank you Claire! Your videos are a constant source of relaxation and you're such a joy to watch 🙂
looks fucking incredible
I love love your recipe. Can you make the ingredient list international audience friendly though? 1½ sticks butter…??? 🤯
Claire….I love you 😭
I just made this cake it turned out amazing! my only issue was the crust started getting dark quite early so I turned out the heat to allow it to cook through. By 50 minutes, I would’ve risked burning the crust so I took it out & it ended up geing a little undercooked on the bottom ends. Still super delicious though & will try again, probably without the fan on in the oven.
why do we need to add vanilla to a lemon cake? is it okay to omit?
This cake is amazing. I made it on Tuesday. The lemon glaze is awesome.
This was delicious thank you
I need that vanilla bottle and that food grater!!!!