Ina Garten’s Dreamy Honey Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

Honey vanilla pound cake stands as a decadent culinary treasure that transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary sensory experience.

Sweet aromas waft through kitchens, promising delightful moments of pure indulgence.

Soft, dense textures invite gentle forkfuls of buttery richness that melt effortlessly on eager taste buds.

Delicate hints of floral honey intertwine with warm vanilla undertones, creating a harmonious symphony of flavors.

Baker’s techniques elevate this classic dessert from simple to sublime, allowing each ingredient to shine with remarkable depth.

Subtle nuances of lemon zest provide a bright, unexpected whisper of complexity that awakens the palate.

This remarkable confection represents comfort and elegance wrapped into a single, irresistible slice: prepare to be enchanted.

Sweet Spins on Honey Vanilla Classics

• Citrus Honey Pound Cake: Enhance the cake's flavor by adding orange or grapefruit zest instead of lemon zest. Incorporate a tablespoon of fresh citrus juice into the batter for an extra bright, tangy note.
• Nutty Honey Drizzle Cake: Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped toasted almonds or pecans into the batter. After baking, create a simple honey-nut glaze by mixing honey with finely chopped nuts to drizzle over the cooled cake.
• Lavender Honey Pound Cake: Infuse the cake with dried culinary lavender by adding 1-2 teaspoons of finely ground lavender buds to the dry ingredients. Top with a light lavender-honey glaze for an elegant, aromatic twist.
• Spiced Honey Cake: Mix in warm spices like ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the flour mixture. Sprinkle additional spices on top before baking for a cozy, comforting flavor profile.

Recap of the Honey Vanilla Pound Cake

Ina Garten’s honey vanilla pound cake whispers pure comfort through its delicate crumb and golden exterior.

Classic baking techniques combine with subtle flavor nuances that elevate this simple dessert beyond ordinary expectations.

Honey’s sweet complexity intertwines with rich vanilla undertones, creating a memorable sensory experience.

Kitchen enthusiasts will find this recipe both approachable and sophisticated, requiring minimal ingredients but delivering maximum satisfaction.

Elegant yet unpretentious, each slice promises a moment of delightful indulgence that connects generations of home bakers.

Care to savor this culinary masterpiece?

Spread the sweet inspiration – like, share, and comment to spark delicious conversations among fellow baking enthusiasts!

Reasons Honey Vanilla Pound Cake Wins Every Time

• Craft Silky Smoothness: Ina Garten's precise creaming technique transforms butter and sugar into an incredibly light, airy texture that melts deliciously in your mouth, creating a luxurious cake experience.
• Elevate Everyday Baking: This straightforward recipe turns basic ingredients into a sophisticated dessert, making professional-level baking accessible for home cooks with minimal culinary skills.
• Boost Flavor Complexity: The brilliant combination of honey, vanilla, and lemon zest creates a nuanced taste profile that's subtly sweet, warmly aromatic, and elegantly balanced, elevating the traditional pound cake.
• Quick Weekend Delight: With just under 90 minutes from start to finish, this cake becomes the perfect weekend baking project that delivers maximum satisfaction with minimal effort, ideal for casual gatherings or afternoon tea.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Golden Goodness

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps create a tender cake texture with smooth, soft crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a light, delicate structure with golden-brown edges.

• Large Eggs, Honey, Vanilla Extract, Lemon Zest: Combination adds moisture, natural sweetness, deep flavor complexity, and helps bind the cake together.

• Cake Flour: Soft wheat flour with low protein content for an incredibly tender and delicate pound cake texture.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cake.
• Baking Powder: Provides necessary leavening to help the cake rise and create a light, airy structure.

• Parchment Paper: Ensures easy cake removal and prevents sticking to the pan.
• Butter and Flour (for pan): Helps create a non-stick surface and promotes even cake release.

Instructions to Get That Dense, Sweet Slice

Step 1: Prepare Baking Space

• Greasing the bottom
• Laying down parchment paper
• Dusting with flour

Step 2: Whip Butter and Sugar

Use an electric mixer with paddle attachment to blend butter and sugar. Mix on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until the mixture looks fluffy and light.

Step 3: Create Liquid Flavor Blend

• Eggs
• Honey
• Vanilla extract
• Lemon zest

Let ingredients sit without mixing yet.

Step 4: Incorporate Liquid Mixture

Gradually add liquid blend to butter-sugar mixture. Add eggs one at a time, allowing each to fully blend. Pause between additions to scrape down mixer sides.

Step 5: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Cake flour
• Kosher salt
• Baking powder

Step 6: Merge Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add sifted dry ingredients to batter. Mix on low speed until just combined. Use a rubber spatula for final gentle folding.

Step 7: Fill Baking Pan

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula for even surface.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Place pan in preheated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Allow cake to rest in pan for 15 minutes. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack. Let cake cool completely before slicing and enjoying.

Top Tips for Mixing and Baking Perfectly

• Soften Butter Perfectly: Leave butter out 30-45 minutes before baking to reach ideal spreadable consistency without melting.
• Sifting Matters: Gently sift flour to break up clumps and incorporate air, creating a tender, delicate cake texture that melts in your mouth.
• Egg Integration Technique: Slowly add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next to ensure a smooth, silky batter without curdling.
• Toothpick Precision: Insert a clean toothpick into the cake's center – if it comes out with just a few moist crumbs, your pound cake is perfectly baked.
• Cooling Mastery: Allow cake to rest in the pan for 15 minutes to set its structure, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and prevent soggy bottoms.

Storage Tips for Pound Cake Longevity

• Preservation Method: Wrap the pound cake tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain. Place in an airtight container to lock in moisture and prevent freezer burn or refrigerator odors from seeping into the delicate cake.
• Freezing Technique: Slice the cake before freezing for easier portioning. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe bag. This strategy allows you to thaw only the amount you need without compromising the entire cake's quality.
• Room Temperature Storage: Keep the cake at room temperature for up to 2 days if covered with a cake dome or wrapped securely. Use a clean kitchen towel for short-term storage, which helps maintain the cake's soft texture and prevents it from drying out too quickly.

Ina Garten Honey Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s honey vanilla pound cake delivers pure comfort with rich, golden flavors that melt on your palate. Rich butter, sweet honey, and fragrant vanilla create a luxurious dessert that invites you to savor each delectable slice.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups sifted cake flour (240g)
• ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature (225g)
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups sugar (250g)

Flavor Enhancers:

• 2 tablespoons honey (30ml)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (10ml)
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Dry Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5g)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder (2g)

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Instructions

1. Carefully prepare an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pan (21.5 x 11.5 x 6.5 centimeters) by greasing the bottom, lining with parchment paper, then lightly dusting with flour to ensure easy cake removal.
2. Position the oven rack in the center and heat to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal baking environment for the delicate cake.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar at medium speed until the mixture becomes pale, voluminous, and forms soft peaks, approximately 3-4 minutes.
4. Whisk together eggs, honey, vanilla extract, and fresh lemon zest in a separate measuring cup, creating a fragrant liquid mixture that will enhance the cake’s flavor profile.
5. Gradually incorporate the egg mixture into the butter-sugar base, adding one egg at a time and allowing each to fully integrate before the next addition, maintaining a smooth and consistent texture.
6. Sift cake flour, kosher salt, and baking powder through a fine-mesh strainer to eliminate potential lumps and ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
7. Gently fold the sifted dry ingredients into the wet mixture using low mixer speed, stopping just as the ingredients combine to prevent overmixing and maintain the cake’s delicate structure.
8. Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to spread evenly and create a level surface for uniform baking.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, monitoring the cake’s progress and testing doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean with minimal crumbs.
10. Allow the cake to rest in the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully invert onto a wire cooling rack, permitting complete cooling before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Cool the cake slowly on a wire rack, preventing moisture loss and ensuring clean, neat slices.
• Verify cake doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; a clean pick means perfect baking.
• Gently incorporate eggs individually, maintaining batter smoothness and promoting optimal rising.
• Sift cake flour thoroughly to create an incredibly light, delicate cake texture.
• Bring butter and eggs to room temperature for seamless ingredient integration and consistent mixing.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 365 kcal
• Sugar: 31 g
• Sodium: 135 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 51 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg