Pound Cake

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My foolproof Pound cake recipe is made with healthier whole wheat flour and Without Eggs. Here you’ll find video and step-by-step photos with easy instructions to make the best, tastiest eggless pound cake as a sweet snack or dessert.

closeup shot of pound cake slice on a brown wooden board with pound cake loaf in the background.

About Pound Cake

Classic pound cake is made with a standard combination of one pound each of butter, flour, sugar and eggs.

For this eggless recipe I use sweetened condensed milk and my tried-and-true hot milk cake method: This includes whisking in hot melted butter and warm milk while making the batter.

Using the warm ingredients with the sweetened condensed milk mimics the rise you get making traditional cakes with eggs.

The result is a pound cake that is wonderfully tender and dense, with a silky and almost fluffy texture. It has a mildly sweet, slightly milky flavor that is irresistible – no frosting needed!

And while pound cakes are usually made with all-purpose flour, I prefer to use whole wheat flour in this recipe. The taste is a bit earthier, which I love, but is balanced by the sweetness of the condensed milk and sugar.

Furthermore, whole wheat flour is a healthier option than refined all purpose flour, so you can really enjoy this treat!

Baking has long been a passion of mine. I am particularly fond of eggless cakes made with whole wheat flour, which tend to be slightly healthier.

Getting the right rise and perfect texture without eggs can be a tad difficult if not done properly. Over the years I have tested and tried many different techniques, and can confidently say my eggless cake recipes are nearly foolproof to make and delicious to enjoy!

Some of my baking successes that are completely eggless and made with whole wheat flour include:

This eggless pound cake recipe is one of my favorite cakes to make for an afternoon snack or healthy(ish) dessert. The cake is easy to make in just an hour from scratch, and is so tasty that it doesn’t even need any icing or frosting!

baked pound cake in loaf pan
Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Pound Cake

Make the Batter

1. First grease a loaf pan measuring 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches with oil or butter. You can also use a round pan of 7 or 7.5 inches diameter. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit 15 minutes before you start baking.

For baking in the convection mode of the microwave oven, use 170 degrees celsius/330 degrees fahrenheit as the preheat temperature.

loaf pan for pound cake

2. Sieve 1.5 cups whole wheat flour (180 grams), 1 teaspoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon baking soda in a plate or tray.

dry ingredients in sieve

3. Place the sifted flour mixture aside.

sifted dry ingredients in a plate

4. Melt 200 grams unsalted butter in a pan on a low heat. The quantity in cups for the melted unsalted butter is ½ cup. The butter before melting can be cold or solid.

butter being melted in black pan

5. Once the butter has melted, remove the pan from the stovetop and place it on the countertop.

To the melted butter, add 200 grams sweetened condensed milk or about half a can of 14 oz/397 or 400 grams of condensed milk. The sweetened condensed milk can be cold or at room temperature.

condensed milk added to melted butter

6. With a wired whisk, stir and mix very well. You can also use a hand mixer or electric mixer to mix the liquid ingredients.

mixture being whisked with a balloon whisk

7. The whole mixture should be homogeneous and even.

liquid mixture in pan

8. Then add ½ cup warm milk. You can warm the milk in a small pan on the stovetop or in the microwave.

milk added to liquid mixture

9. Next add ¼ cup sugar.

sugar being added

10. Begin to stir again with a wired whisk.

sugar being mixed with liquid mixture

11. Stir till the sugar is dissolved completely. The warm milk helps in dissolving the sugar.

sugar being mixed with liquid mixture

12. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or powder or scraped vanilla bean.

vanilla powder sprinkled on liquid mixture

13. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

sifted flour ingredients added to liquid mixture

14. With a wired whisk mix lightly and with light hands. Avoid using too much pressure from your hand while mixing.

pound cake batter being whisked

15. Mix evenly. After mixing, if there are tiny small lumps in the batter, then its fine. Don’t overdo the mixing or else the cake would become dense.

pound cake batter in pan

Bake Eggless Pound Cake

16. Pour batter in the prepared pan. Shake the pan lightly to even the batter.

pouring eggless pound cake batter in loaf pan

17. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit till you see cracks from top and a golden color. If the top starts to get browned, then cover with foil or parchment paper and continue to bake.

After 20 minutes of baking, I covered the top with a foil and then continued to bake. In my oven, this pound cake gets browned faster from the top, so do cover the top after 15 or 20 minutes of baking.

It took me 50 minutes to bake this cake at 180 degrees celsius. Depending on the temperature conditions in your oven, it make take less or more time. The final check is a golden crust and a toothpick or wooden skewer coming out clean.

For baking pound cake in the convection mode of a microwave oven, use the temperature of 170 degrees Celsius/330 degrees Fahrenheit. Again the baking time will vary in the convection mode of your microwave oven.

baked pound cake in loaf pan

Cooling and Serving

18. Place the loaf pan on a wire rack to cool. When the cake becomes warm or cools, remove it from the pan. Here’s a photo of the bottom of the cake.

bottom side of pound cake showing a soft and light texture

19. Once cooled, serve the eggless pound cake with milk, tea, or coffee. You can also keep the cake covered in a box and refrigerate. This cake stays good for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. The recipe makes one loaf.

closeup shot of pound cake slice on a brown wooden board with pound cake loaf in the background

FAQs

Can I use all-purpose flour in this pound cake recipe?

Yes, you can use traditional all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour. Whole wheat pastry flour or the standard pastry flour also works well.

What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk condensed milk?

You can use unsweetened condensed milk instead of sweetened condensed milk. However, you then might need to add a bit more sugar. Taste as you prepare the batter, and adjust accordingly.

Alternatively, Khoya or evaporated milk solids can be used instead of condensed milk. If using khoya/mawa then add sugar to taste.

Can this recipe be made in a pressure cooker or microwave mode?

No. However, you can bake the cake in convection mode of microwave oven. Continue reading for steps.

Can I make eggless pound cake with salted butter?

You definitely want to use unsalted butter if you can. Salted butter can be used in a pinch, but it might change the flavor slightly.

How do you make this pound cake recipe without butter?

I do not recommend substituting the butter with ghee or oil to make this eggless pound cake recipe.

Do I have to use both baking soda and baking powder?

It is essential that pound cake made without eggs include both baking soda and baking powder. You cannot substitute these and get a properly fluffy rise.

What other flavors can be added to this whole wheat pound cake recipe?

I’ve left out any flavorings in this recipe to make a classic pound cake. But you can certainly add spices or flavored extracts if you like! Try adding ingredients like cardamom powder or nutmeg powder, hazelnut or almond extract for a lovely taste.

Can this recipe be doubled?

The recipe as-is cannot be doubled successfully.

More Decadent Cakes!

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Pound Cake

This is an easy eggless pound cake made with whole wheat flour, sweetened condensed milk, unsalted butter, milk and sugar. Serve as a sweet snack or dessert.
4.94 from 29 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Cuisine American, World
Course Desserts
Diet Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 12 slices
Units

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups whole wheat flour – 180 grams
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla powder or extract or 1 scraped vanilla bean
  • 200 grams Butter unsalted, melted or about ½ cup melted butter
  • 200 grams sweetened condensed milk or half a can of 14 oz/397 or 400 grams of condensed milk
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ¼ cup sugar – 40 grams

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • First grease a loaf pan measuring 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 with oil or butter. You can also use a round pan of 7 or 7.5 inches diameter. 
  • Preheat the oven at 180 degrees Celsius/356 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes before you start baking. 
  • Use 170 degrees Celsius as the preheat temperature, if baking in the convection mode of the microwave oven.

Making batter

  • Sieve whole wheat flour, baking powder and baking soda in a plate or tray. Keep aside.
  • Melt butter in a pan.
  • Once the butter has melted, place the pan on the countertop. To the melted butter, add sweetened condensed milk.
  • With a wired whisk, stir and mix very well. The whole mixture should be homogeneous and even.
  • Then add warm milk. You can warm the milk in a small pan on the stove top or in the microwave.
  • Next add sugar and begin to stir with a wired whisk, till the sugar is dissolved completely.
  • Add vanilla extract or powder or scraped vanilla bean.
  • Add all sieved dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
  • With a wired whisk mix lightly and with light hands. Don’t use pressure from your hands while mixing. Mix evenly. If there are tiny small lumps in the batter, then its fine.
  • Pour the cake batter in the prepared pan.

Baking pound cake

  • Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius/356 degrees Fahrenheit till you see cracks from top and a golden color. If top crust starts to get browned, then cover with foil or parchment paper and continue to bake. 
  • It took me 50 minutes to bake this cake at 180 degrees Celsius/356 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the temperature conditions in your oven, it may take less or more time. 
  • The final check is a golden crust and a tooth pick or wooden skewer coming out clean. 
  • For baking in the convection mode of a microwave oven, use the temperature of 170 degrees Celsius. Again the baking time will vary in the convection mode of your microwave oven.
  • Place the loaf pan to cool on a wired rack. When the cake becomes warm or cools, remove it from the pan.
  • Slice and serve the pound cake with milk or tea or coffee. You can also keep the cake covered in a box and refrigerate. 
  • This cake stays good for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. The recipe makes one loaf.

Video

Notes

The approximate nutrition info is for 1 slice of eggless Pound Cake.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Pound Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 247 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 43mg14%
Sodium 74mg3%
Potassium 169mg5%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 479IU10%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 2µg2%
Calcium 83mg8%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 9µg2%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 26mg7%
Phosphorus 131mg13%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This pound cake post from the archives, first published on February 2015 has been republished and updated on 12 November 2021.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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