This Mile High Buttermilk Pound Cake is a classic dessert with a rich, buttery texture and moist crumb and a decadent powdered sugar glaze.
Mile High Buttermilk Pound Cake is perfect for any occasion, its golden exterior gives way to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior that’s just as delicious plain as it is topped with fresh berries, whipped cream, or a drizzle of glaze. Whether served at a special event or enjoyed as a simple treat, this cake is sure to impress with its indulgent flavor.
More Pound Cake recipes ---> Mile High Sour Cream Pound Cake, Dark Chocolate Mile High Pound Cake, Pineapple Pound Cake, German Chocolate Pound Cake

Ingredients needed to make the Pound Cake:
- All Purpose Flour
- Granulated Sugar
- Unsalted Butter - room temperature
- Large Eggs - room temperature
- Buttermilk - room temperature
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract or Vanilla bean paste
Ingredients needed for the Buttermilk Glaze:
- Whole Milk - room temperature
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract or Vanilla bean paste
- Almond extract
(Note: The full ingredient list is provided in the recipe card below.)
Steps to make the Pound Cake:
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the butter together then slowly add in the granulated sugar. Mix on medium speed until creamy (approximately five minutes).
Add the almond and vanilla extracts. Then add the eggs to the bowl one at a time, mixing well after each addition before adding the next egg.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour 1 c at a time, on low speed, until combined alternating with the buttermilk. Start with the flour and end with the flour.
Spray an 18-cup bundt pan with baking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly.
Bake for about an hour and 30 minutes (or longer if needed). The cake is done once an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes before removing it from the pan.
Allow the cake to continue to cool completely before adding the glaze.
Steps to make the Pound Cake Glaze:
Add the powdered sugar to a bowl. Then add in your extracts. Slowly add in your milk until your desired glaze consistency is reached. Then pour the glaze on your cooled pound cake as desired.
Serve and enjoy once the glaze has set.
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 at 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:
That's up to you. I use pre-sifted flour and no longer sift my flour.
Sure. The type of flour used is preference.
Store the cake in an airtight container for up to five days. The cake can also be frozen for up to three months.
Ingredients
- Pound Cake Ingredients:
- 4 c All Purpose Flour
- 4 c Granulated Sugar
- 2 c Unsalted Butter - room temperature
- 10 Large Eggs - room temperature
- 1 ½ c Buttermilk - room temperature
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tsps Almond extract
- 2 tsps Vanilla extract or Vanilla bean paste
- Glaze Ingredients:
- 2 c Powdered Sugar
- 2-4 tbps Whole Milk - room temperature
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract or Vanilla bean paste
- ½ teaspoon Almond extract
Instructions
- Pound Cake Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the butter together then slowly add in the granulated sugar. Mix on medium speed until creamy (approximately five minutes).
- Add the almond and vanilla extracts.
- Then add the eggs to the bowl one at a time, mixing well after each addition before adding the next egg.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour 1 c at a time, on low speed, until combined alternating with the buttermilk. Start with the flour and end with the flour.
- Spray an 18-cup bundt pan with baking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for about an hour and 30 minutes (or longer if needed). The cake is done once an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes before removing it from the pan. Allow the cake to continue to cool completely before adding the glaze.
- Steps to make the Pound Cake Glaze:
- Add the powdered sugar to a bowl. Then add in your extracts.
- Slowly add in your milk until your desired glaze consistency is reached. Then pour the glaze on your cooled pound cake as desired.
- Serve and enjoy once the glaze has set.
Linda says
Hi Ashley,
I made this cake last night for my cousin’s husband’s birthday. This my first time trying your recipe and it came out so pretty. I know it won’t be my last. Thanks for sharing.
Ashley Frederick says
I'm so glad it came out great! Thank you as well!
Carole Brothers says
I made this for Thanksgiving, and I got great results. My first-mile high cake, on to the Red Velvet Mile High. I will practice before Christmas. Thank you for the recipe.
Ashley Frederick says
Oh how exciting! Welcome to the Mile High Club! You're most welcome! I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you!
Carolyn Young says
I am interested in all of your cakes but especially the Mile High.
Thank you
Ashley Frederick says
Thank you love!