Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Brown Sugar Icing (let’s be honest, it’s mostly caramel) is utterly delicious and just perfect for Fall. A simple classic that everyone loves. This makes a wonderful and delicious homemade gift for Christmas. The pecans add a little extra crunch to this sweet and amazing Easy Pound Cake Recipe.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake topped with brown sugar icing and pecans

Brown Sugar Pound Cake Recipe

Brown Sugar Pound Cake topped with Caramel Brown Sugar Icing and Toasted Pecans…Yum! I just love this easy pound cake recipe!

I’m a bread-making MACHINE! First the Caramel Cheesecake Stuffed Apple Bread and now this Brown Sugar Pound Cake Recipe…we are on a roll! With these two recipes combined, you can conquer Fall and especially the holidays!

As far as sweet, cakey breads go, this Easy Pound Cake Recipe is EVERYTHING. A simple classic, you cannot go wrong when making this for anyone and everyone. Plus the caramel brown sugar icing is SOOO GOOD and just pushes this recipe over the top.

Work party? Bring this. Homemade gift needed? Make this. New baby in the world? Make this for her mama. Utterly delicious, pretty, and so perfect for Fall. Everyone is going to LOVE this easy brown sugar pound cake recipe.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Brown Sugar Icing. You’re going to love this easy pound cake recipe for fall!

Brown Sugar icing being poured onto a brown sugar pound cake

Pouring brown sugar icing onto an easy pound cake recipe

Brown Sugar Icing

Now that we have talked about the easy pound cake recipe itself, let’s PLEASE discuss this brown sugar icing. A mix between an icing that you spread on and a glaze that you pour, this icing is way too delicious. If I could dip the entire cake in the icing, I would.

Brown Sugar Icing Ingredients:

  • Brown Sugar
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Vanilla

So basically everything good in life.

“Brown Sugar Icing” is actually code for CARAMEL, and that’s pretty much what it tastes like. Caramel Icing. Addicting is an understatement. The sweet brown sugar pound cake combined with the crunch of the pecans and the sweet thick layer of brown sugar icing…it’s all too much and all just right.

Easy Pound Cake Recipe

This Brown Sugar Pound Cake is genuinely hard to put down or avoid when it’s on your counter. Good luck to you all. I ate way too much of this in one sitting and I actually don’t regret it. This is why it’s great you can wear layers in the Fall and Winter. Thank goodness for sweaters when this easy pound cake recipe is around. Breakfast, snack, dessert, eat it all the live long day.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake dripping with icing

Sprinkling pecans onto pound cake

Why do they call it a Pound Cake?

True authentic Pound Cake dates back to the 1700s. The recipe called for a pound of each ingredient; butter, flour, sugar, and eggs. WOW! No wonder they call it pound cake!

What causes a Pound Cake Recipe to be too dense or sink in the middle?

If you over-mix the ingredients (thus developing the flour’s gluten too much), it will rise too high in the oven and then sink once you remove it. That will also result in a cake that is too dense/firm. Beating the eggs and dry ingredients on medium speed should help!

What does Brown Sugar Pound Cake taste like?

Is Heaven too simple of an answer?! This easy pound cake recipe is so decadent, and each bite is sweet perfection. It’s great on its own, with brown sugar icing as shown, or left alone and topped with fresh cream and sliced strawberries. It’s similar to shortcake but even better.

Is Pound Cake the same as Foam Cake?

No, pound cake has so many more calories! Pound Cake is an all-butter cake while Foam Cake is made from three basic ingredients: Eggs, Sugar, and Flour. Both are great but I think you can tell which one is my favorite.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake with BROWN SUGAR ICING (let's be honest, it's caramel) is utterly delicious and just perfect for Fall. A simple classic that everyone loves. This makes a wonderful and delicious homemade gift for Christmas. The pecans add a little extra crunch to this sweet and amazing Easy Pound Cake Recipe.

Sliced brown sugar pound cake on cutting board

This Easy Pound Cake Recipe became a favorite last Christmas, but we have been enjoying it year-round ever since. I hope you give it a try!

More easy dessert recipes:

Recipe Card

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

4.72 from 35 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cool Time: 10 minutes
Total: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 16 slices
Author: Becky Hardin
Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Brown Sugar Icing (let's be honest, it's mostly caramel) is utterly delicious and just perfect for Fall. A simple classic that everyone loves. This makes a wonderful and delicious homemade gift for Christmas. The pecans add a little extra crunch to this sweet and amazing Easy Pound Cake Recipe.
Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Brown Sugar Icing (let's be honest, it's mostly caramel) is utterly delicious and just perfect for Fall. A simple classic that everyone loves. This makes a wonderful and delicious homemade gift for Christmas. The pecans add a little extra crunch to this sweet and amazing Easy Pound Cake Recipe.
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Ingredients 

For the Pound Cake

  • 1 cup unsalted butter 227 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening 92 grams (½ stick)
  • 2 cups brown sugar 426 grams
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
  • 6 large eggs 300 grams, room temperature
  • 3 cups cake flour 360 grams (SEE NOTE)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup evaporated milk 227 grams
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
  • 1 cup chopped toasted pecans 114 grams, optional

For the Brown Sugar Glaze

  • ¼ cup salted butter 57 grams (½ stick)
  • ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
  • ¼ cup milk 57 grams
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
  • 2 cups powdered sugar 226 grams
  • ½ cup chopped toasted pecans 57 grams, optional

Instructions 

For the Pound Cake

  • Grease and flour 2 9x5-inch loaf pans or spray with nonstick spray.
  • Place the butter and shortening in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition, just until incorporated.
    1 cup unsalted butter, ½ cup vegetable shortening, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar, 6 large eggs
  • In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
    3 cups cake flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • In a small measuring cup, mix the milk and vanilla together.
    1 cup evaporated milk, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Add the flour to the butter/sugar mixture alternately with the milk/vanilla mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture.
  • Fold in the pecans, if using.
    1 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • Fill the prepared loaf pans with batter and place on the middle rack of a cold oven. Set the temperature to 300°F (SEE NOTE)
  • Bake for 70 minutes, test with a toothpick, and check every 5 minutes thereafter. The cake is done when the toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with just a few crumbs attached.
  • Transfer cooked cake to a cooling rack 10-15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on the wire rack.

For the Brown Sugar Glaze

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar and cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Continue whisking and add the milk. Bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat and add the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar in ¼ cup increments, whisking after each addition. Whisk until drizzle is creamy and smooth. (Add more milk, if necessary, to desired thickness.)
    ¼ cup salted butter, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 cups powdered sugar
  • Pour the glaze over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with toasted pecans, if desired.
    ½ cup chopped toasted pecans

Video

Becky's Tips

  • Cake Flour: If you don't have cake flour, you can make your own by measuring 3 cups of all-purpose flour, removing 6 tablespoons from the cup, and adding 6 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk together and sift well before using.
  • NOTE: Brown Sugar Pound Cake starts in a cold oven to bake. Do NOT preheat the oven.
  • If you over-mix the ingredients (thus developing the flour's gluten too much), it will rise too high in the oven and then sink once you remove it. That will also result in a cake that is too dense/firm. Beating the eggs and dry ingredients on medium speed should help!
  • Feel free to swap the pecans for walnuts or cinnamon/butterscotch baking chips!
Storage: Store brown sugar pound cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 629kcalCarbohydrates: 82gProtein: 8gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 179mgPotassium: 197mgFiber: 2gSugar: 63gVitamin A: 595IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.72 from 35 votes (34 ratings without comment)
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17 Comments
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Samantha Marceau
September 5, 2023 9:13 am

Hi Mercedes, did you start the cake in a cold oven? That’s a really important step to ensure it gets cooked properly all the way through! I would also recommend checking your oven temperature with an oven thermometer, as oven temps can vary up to 25°F from the listed temperature!

Janet
Janet
February 5, 2023 10:32 pm

By shortening, co you mean Crisco? thank you!

Samantha Marceau
February 6, 2023 9:36 am
Reply to  Janet

Yes!

Michele
Michele
April 26, 2020 3:23 pm

I substituted coconut oil for the shortening. Also does it freezer well? It made two cakes.

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 4, 2020 12:08 pm
Reply to  Michele

Yes, you can definitely freeze them!