This Caramel Pound Cake is a rich brown sugar buttermilk milk pound cake topped with decadent caramel icing.
Silky thick caramel topped on a brown sugar-infused pound cake is what this pound cake is. We used a combination of light and dark brown sugar, but either are magnificent for this recipe. So let's get into it, so I can show you how its done!
More recipes ---> Southern Caramel Cake, Snickerdoodle Pound Cake, Brown Sugar Pound Cake, Five Flavor Pound Cake, Condensed Milk Pound Cake, Kentucky Butter Pound Cake, Sock it to Me Pound Cake, Apple Cider Donut Cake

Ingredients needed for the Caramel Pound Cake:
- All Purpose Flour
- Unsalted Butter - room temperature
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Shortening
- Buttermilk - room temperature
- Large Eggs - room temperature
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Vanilla flavor (extract)
(Note: The full ingredient list is provided in the recipe card below.)
Ingredients needed for the Caramel Icing:
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Condensed milk
- Unsalted butter
- Salt
- Vanilla flavor (extract)
- Chopped pecans (optional)
(Note: The full ingredient list is provided in the recipe card below.)
Steps to make the Caramel Pound Cake:
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and sit to the side. Then, using a hand or stand mixer, beat the butter and shortening together until combined.
Then slowly add in the granulated sugar and then the brown sugar. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy (approximately 5 minutes).
Mix in the vanilla flavoring.
Add the eggs to the bowl one at a time, mixing well after each addition before adding the next egg.
Mix in the flour 1 c at a time, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with baking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly. Bake the pound cake for about an hour and 15 minutes.
The cake is done once a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before removing it from the pan.
Steps to make the icing:
Heat a large saucepan to medium heat. Add the brown sugar, butter, salt, and condensed milk to the pan. Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove it from the heat and add the vanilla flavoring.
The caramel will thicken as it cools. If the caramel is too thick for your liking, stir in more melted butter until your preferred consistency is reached. Pour the icing over the cake as desired. Allow the icing to set, then serve and enjoy!
Helpful Guides for Beginners
If you're new to baking I got you covered! Here are some helpful guides to help you along the way!
- How to make a moist Pound Cake
- Pound Cake Essential Tools
- Mistakes to avoid when baking a pound cake
- How to prepare Pound Cake ingredients
- How to Make a Pound Cake for Beginners
Helpful Baking Tools
- Bundt Pan
- Stand Mixer
- Hand Mixer
- Basting Brush
- Sifter
- Silicone Spatula
- Oven Thermometer
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Baker's Joy
- Cake Keeper
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Pound Cake Tips + Tricks
Whether you are a beginner or have been in the baking game for a while, I hope these tips are helpful in making sure that your pound cake comes out great!
⇢ Always use room temperature ingredients – Standard pound cake ingredients include butter and eggs which should always be at room temperature to ensure that they properly blend into the batter and do not cause any clumping. Other common ingredients such as milk, cream cheese, etc should also be a room temperature. Make sure to allow enough time before baking to remove the ingredients from the refrigerator and sit them on the counter to allow them to come to room temperature.
⇢ Properly measure your ingredients – Always measure each ingredient before adding it to the cake to make sure that you have the accurate amount of each ingredient for the recipe. Baking requires exact measurements for the cake to come out correctly.
⇢ Properly cream the butter and sugar together– Once blended the texture should be light and fluffy. Blend the ingredients together at a moderate speed for at least two to three minutes.
⇢ Add the eggs one at a time– Eggs must be added one at a time blending well after each addition. Once you’ve added an egg to the batter and no longer see any yellow, then you can add another egg to the batter.
⇢ Don’t overmix your batter– Aside from creaming the butter and sugar together, once done adding an ingredient, immediately start adding the next ingredient. If you are not quite ready, stop the mixer until you're ready to add the next ingredient. After you have added the last ingredient, just mix until blended. If the batter still requires mixing, for example, if there is any unmixed batter on the side of the bowl, finish the mixing process using a spoon.
⇢ Spray the hell out of your bundt pan - My favorite method is using a baking spray such as Baker’s Joy which includes the flour and oil all in one can. It's always a no-fail method for me and the cake comes right out of the pan. You can also grease the pan with oil (solid or liquid) then dust the pan evenly with flour if you prefer that method.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Either will work fine. Light brown sugar will make your icing a lighter color.
Store the cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yes. I recommend freezing the cake for no more than three months for the best flavor. Once you remove the cake from the freezer, allow it to thaw at room temperature before unwrapping it.
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Ingredients
- Ingredients needed for the Caramel Pound Cake:
- 3 c All-Purpose Flour
- 1 c Unsalted Butter - room temperature (two sticks)
- ⅓ c Shortening
- 2 c Light or dark brown sugar
- 1 c Granulated sugar
- 1 c Buttermilk - room temperature
- 5 Large Eggs - room temperature
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tsps Vanilla flavor (extract)
- Ingredients needed for the Caramel Icing:
- 1 c Light or dark brown sugar
- 14 oz. Condensed milk
- 3 tbsps Unsalted butter
- 2 tsps Vanilla flavor (extract)
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- To make the Pound Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and sit to the side. Then, using a hand or stand mixer, beat the butter and shortening together until combined.
- Then slowly add in the granulated sugar and then the brown sugar. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy (approximately 5 minutes).
- Mix in the vanilla flavoring.
- Add the eggs to the bowl one at a time, mixing well after each addition before adding the next egg.
- Mix in the flour 1 c at a time, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
- Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with baking spray.
- Pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly. Bake the pound cake for about an hour and 15 minutes.
- The cake is done once a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before removing it from the pan.
- To make the icing:
- Heat a large saucepan to medium heat.
- Add the brown sugar, butter, salt, and condensed milk to the pan.
- Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove it from the heat and add the vanilla flavoring.
- Pour the icing over the cake as desired. Allow the icing to set, then serve and enjoy!
Rose Reese says
Everything, I want to make it
Ashley Frederick says
Hope you enjoy!