Gluten Free Pound Cake

Gluten Free Pound Cake Recipe

Pound cake and I have a long history. My mother used to serve it to us often. We would have it for dessert one night and the following day toasted for breakfast. Those were the only days I didn’t have to reluctantly drag myself to the breakfast table.

As a teenager, there was many a time when I nursed a broken heart with a loaf of Sara Lee Pound cake. Somehow it was the only thing that was able to restore my will to live in those tumultuous teen angst times.

I once spent a couple of weeks in an extremely impoverished country where the quality of food was so poor that my appetite completely deserted me. For some reason everywhere I went in that country had pound cake, it sustained me for 14 long days.

Of course all of this was before I went gluten free. I was bound and determined to make a great, classic, gluten free pound cake.

I consider pound cake one of the essentials of baking. Like a fabulous pair of jeans, it can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion.

After much trial and error I perfected (if I do say so myself) good old fashioned, classic, gluten free pound cake.

The original pound cake recipe calls for a pound of butter, a pound of flour, a pound of eggs, and a pound of sugar – thus the name pound cake.

I played with these proportions a bit to make a lighter version that still has the classic taste and texture because let’s face it – a cake made with a pound of each of those ingredients would probably feed an army. While it is never a bad thing to have too much pound cake, I rarely have the need to eat a whole pound cake all by myself as I did during my achy heart-breaky teen years.

For the flour, I think it is important to either use a pastry quality gluten free flour blend or make your own with a combination of superfine or Asian white rice flour and sweet rice flour plus potato and tapioca starches. You also need a little xanthan gum in there. I use Asian rice flours for two reasons – first, they are milled more finely than other rice flours thus are not gritty; secondly, they are a lot less expensive. Look for them in Asian stores or online. Unfortunately gluten free flours that are made with beans are just not going to give you a classic pound cake. If you want to make up a big batch of flour that will work great in this recipe, hop over to my Gluten Free Lemon Sugar Cookies recipe, I tell you how to make it there.

For butter, I use the best unsalted, organic butter I can get my hands on. There are not a lot of ingredients in this cake so each one counts!

Same goes for the eggs, if possible use organic pastured eggs.

As far as the sugar goes, I prefer to use Wholesome Sweeteners Organic sugar; it is not as sharp as bleached sugar and imparts a mellow sweetness to the cake.

Start with all your ingredients at room temperature and don’t skimp on the time in the mixer. There is a reason why I say to cream the butter and sugar for 5 minutes. There is a reason I say to add each egg separately and to beat well after each addition. I find that when people have trouble baking, it is usually because they don’t follow some basic rules and try to take shortcuts. While I am usually all for shortcuts in cooking, baking is another story.

Don’t be intimidated – use good quality ingredients and follow the directions and you too can have a long history and beautiful love affair with pound cake!

Gluten Free Pound Cake Recipe

5 from 4 votes
Gluten Free Pound Cake
Print Recipe

Gluten Free Pound Cake Recipe

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Rest15 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 9 inch loaf
Calories: 3666kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

  • Gluten free non-stick cooking spray
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine or Asian white rice flour
  • 5 tablespoons superfine or Asian sweet rice also called glutinous rice flour
  • 6 tablespoons potato starch
  • 3 tablespoons tapioca starch
  • ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • ½ cup milk at room temperature
  • 1 cup organic unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup  organic sugar
  • 3 large organic eggs
  • teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 by 5 inch  loaf pan lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet rice flour blend, baking powder and salt.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium high speed for 5 minutes until it is very light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well and scraping down the sides after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well.
  • With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and milk to the creamed butter starting with half of the flour mixture then the milk then the rest of the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Remove bowl from mixer and scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl well with a large spatula. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Check after 40 minutes and if the top is becoming too brown, place a sheet of foil over to protect it. Let cool in pan for a full 15 minutes then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
  • The cake will keep wrapped in the fridge for at least 3 days.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Pound Cake Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 3666 Calories from Fat 1827
% Daily Value*
Fat 203g312%
Saturated Fat 123g615%
Cholesterol 991mg330%
Sodium 2543mg106%
Potassium 1777mg51%
Carbohydrates 436g145%
Fiber 8g32%
Sugar 245g272%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 6585IU132%
Vitamin C 1.8mg2%
Calcium 656mg66%
Iron 4.3mg24%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner’s. This blog accepts free manufacturers’ samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.

Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Cake Pound Cake Recipe Sugar
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  1. February 19, 2013

    Have you tried this recipe with any egg substitutes? I would love to make pound cake for Sophie, but she can’t have eggs.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      February 21, 2013

      I have not and usually with recipes containing more than 2 eggs I don’t recomned it but in this case, I think it will work. I would use actual egg replacers, not flax seed or chia seed. Good luck, I really hope it works!

  2. Pingback: – Gluten Free Pound Cake Recipe

  3. Jill
    February 25, 2013

    Oh my gosh! This is a lovely pound cake! I will be making it often. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      February 26, 2013

      My pleasure and thank you!

      1. Noemi
        December 3, 2022

        Hello, can I use egg yolks instead the whole eggs? Also can I substitute almond milk for the milk?

        1. Gluten Free & More
          December 8, 2022

          Yes, those substitutions should be fine in this recipe!

  4. Megan
    February 28, 2013

    Do you think cup4 cup would work or better batter?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 1, 2013

      I have never tried either but I hear good things about them so they should work fine.

  5. Denise T.
    March 4, 2013

    Made this tonight and it’s amazing!!!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 4, 2013

      So happy you enjoyed it Denise!

  6. Doreen
    March 11, 2013

    Please…what is the difference between Asian white rice flour and Asian sweet rice (also called glutinous) rice flour? Thank u…can’t wait to try this?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 14, 2013

      White rice flour is made with one kind of rice and sweet rice flour another, stickier, type of rice. The combination of the two makes for a more tneder crumb to the cake. Enjoy Doreen!

  7. Pingback: Gluten Free Pound Cake RecipeFood & Restaurant: Food | Food & Restaurant: Food

  8. Helen
    March 17, 2013

    I’ve just eaten a slice of the best pound cake ever, gluten free or not! :) Thank you so much Carol. Your recipe, instructions and the organic, superior ingredients that you recommend have worked like a charm!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 18, 2013

      Thank you Helen, I am so happy you enjoyed it!

  9. March 20, 2013

    Hi! Nice recipe! Any idea how much sugar there is per serving??

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 21, 2013

      Thanks Mike, I am sorry I don’t know. There are on-line recipe caluculators you could run it though one of those and find out.

  10. Charity
    March 21, 2013

    Hi, I am wanting to make this but I cannot have dairy. Would this recipe work with almond or rice milk?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 21, 2013

      Yes, and a really good dairy free butter substitute. Eithr almond or rice milk is fine, the almond will give it a biit of an almond flavor though.

  11. March 26, 2013

    Hi, I want to try this recipe but unfortunately I just bought Arrowhead mills all purpose baking mix and need to use it up. It has sorghum flour and starch and some of the tapioca and rice and already has xanthan gum in it and little baking powder. Can this work? and if so what would the measurements be for the flour and baking powder part?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 29, 2013

      It should work, just use 1 3/4 cups of your flour and use the same amount of baking powder, don’t add the xanthan gum. Good luck!

  12. March 26, 2013

    Hi Carol, I wrote a question earlier today but I have a more pressing one I forgot to ask. I have been experimenting with gluten free baking for weeks now and I keep having a problem with the centers being mushy even though I let them bake for longer than an hour. Is there a baking/ingredients cause for this? and how can I avoid a mushy middle of my cakes? otherwise it might just be my oven. Thank you so much for all your recipes.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 29, 2013

      Hi Faith. Oh I could probably write a whole post about mushy centers and gluten free baking! Without knowing what specific ingredients you are using a few things could be pan size and oven tempurature. For the most part gluten free baking will work better in a smaller pan size – steam gets trapped in tehe center and it is hard to escape as gluten free batter tend to be wetter than non gf ones. Many people like to use light pans instea of dark ones also, this helps with getting the inside cooked through without browning too much. If your recipes call for xanthan gum you could try cutting back on the amount ever so slightly. If you tell me more about what you are trying to bake, I can be more helpful.

  13. carrie
    March 30, 2013

    Carol – if I use the flour blend from your lemon cookies, how much of that blend would be used in this pound cake? I assume the flour blend takes the place of the rice flours, starches and gum – but you would still use the Baking Powder

  14. May 3, 2013

    I use Authentic Foods all purpose flour, which is very fine also. Could I use that instead of all the flours you use?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      May 3, 2013

      Hi Nancy, I am not sure what makes up Authetic Foods all-purpose flour but if you like it, I am sure it will be fine!

  15. Jane
    May 23, 2013

    Can you use only the gluten flour and not organic other things

    1. Gluten Free & More
      May 27, 2013

      Yes you can. Enjoy!

  16. Jane
    May 23, 2013

    I’m new and I have bought Bobs Red Mill flours. Sweet whit rice,sweet white sorghum flour,potato starch, millet flour,almond meal/flour and coconut flour. What mixture can I use for pound cake? Please help. Thank you ,Jane

    1. Gluten Free & More
      May 27, 2013

      Hi Jane. You can use Bob’;s Red Mill flour is you like and add the xanthan gum. I personally do not care for the taste of beans that Bob’s flour has which is why I make my own. Coconut and almond flours work very differently so they wuill not be good substitutes in this recipe.

  17. Lily
    May 26, 2013

    Carol – Can this be doubled and baked in a bundt pan?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      May 27, 2013

      Hi Lily, I have not tried it but I see no reason why not. You just might have to adjust the time a little, I would think it would bake in slightly less time.

  18. Katia
    October 19, 2013

    hi, just wanted to let you know that I just tried this recipe with 1/3 cup of white sugar and 1/4 cup of maple sugar and it was delicious! Raised amazingly well and the flavor was perfect!

    1. CarolKicinski
      October 23, 2013

      Thanks Katia – I love it when people tell me how they tweaked my recipes. Thanks for letting me know.

  19. Joanna
    November 18, 2013

    Hi, Carol… just found your site and I am so excited! Would love to make this for my husband, who thinks all pound cakes should be chocolate. Have you ever added cocoa to this batter, and if you have, how much did you use? Would you recommend any other ingredient adjustments? Thank you!

  20. CarolKicinski
    November 23, 2013

    Hi Joanna. Thank you so much! OK, first let me say I have not tried this so it is just an educated guess – I would add 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the batter and then taste to see if it is still sweet enough for you. I don’t really think any other changes would be needed. Good luck!

  21. Sherry Lynn England
    August 10, 2014

    Carol, I have your gluten free flour. Would this work in this recipe and what would I need to omit in the ingredient list above if I use it? I am fairly new to gluten free baking. Thanks so much!!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      September 18, 2014

      Hi Sherry,
      You can leave out the Asian white rice flour, the Asian sweet rice (also called glutinous) rice flour, leave out the potato starch the tapioca starch and the xanthan gum. Then use 1¾ cups of my flour instead!
      Enjoy,
      Carol

  22. August 17, 2014

    You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really something which I believe
    I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very huge for
    me. I am having a look ahead for your next put up, I will try to get the dangle of it!

  23. Pingback: 15 Gluten-Free Pound Cakes | Only Taste Matters

  24. monique
    November 20, 2015

    Hi Carol,i has i question: is it ok if i not put the xanthan gum ?i can not find here.thank you

    1. Gluten Free & More
      November 24, 2015

      Monique, Well, you do need to add something, can you find guar gum or psyllium husks that you grind up? If so use an equal amount.
      xo,
      Carol

  25. Pingback: Gluten Free Almond Pound Cake Recipe | Simply Gluten Free

  26. Jennie
    August 2, 2016

    Hi Carol,
    This recipe looks great!! Unfortunately, my blood sugar is a little high. Is there a replacement I can use for sugar? Thanks!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      August 16, 2016

      Hi Jennie,
      Yes, you can use a sugar substitute for baking. You could try Zero from Wholesome! http://wholesomesweet.com/product/all-natural-zero/ that’s the link. :)
      xo,
      Carol

  27. Judy Overton
    October 15, 2017

    Hi Carol, Can’t wait to make this … love pound cake. I can’t find Potato or Tapioca starch … can I use something else or leave them out? I have all of the other ingredients. Thank you.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      October 16, 2017

      Hi Judy,

      Unfortunately you can’t leave them out or it won’t have the same taste and texture. You could try arrowroot starch but that may be harder to find than potato and tapioca starches and will change the texture a bit. You may have to try a health food store if your traditional grocery store doesn’t carry them – do you have a Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Nature’s Food Patch, Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, or something like that near you? Many Walmart locations that have a grocery store in them now have a gluten-free section and you can sometimes find potato and tapioca starches there. You could also buy them online.

      Hope this helps!

      xo,
      Carol

  28. Ellah
    December 15, 2018

    Hello there. I just wanted to thank you for this recipe. I didn’t have the kind of rice flours you suggested, nor could I use regular butter, since I’m allergic to dairy. I only used well sifted Bob Mill’s white rice flour and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, and the results were still amazing! I think it’s because I followed the rest of your instructions carefully. The extra mixing times are what I believe made a big difference.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      December 17, 2018

      Thank you, Ellah! I’m happy it came out well :)

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