Go Back
+ servings
Print
sliced chocolate pound cake

Perfect Chocolate Pound Cake

Perfectly chocolatey and rich, the perfect chocolate pound cake is decadent, delicious, and easy to make! It pairs well with a variety of toppings.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
YIELD 1 9-inch loaf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (50g) unsweetened cocoa powder (dutch process)
  • 2 Tablespoons (18g) black cocoa powder (substitution: dutch process cocoa powder)
  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (225g / 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temp
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (237ml) sour cream

Instructions

  1. Prep your loaf pan. Line the loaf pan with a layer of parchment paper for easy release and soft edges.

  2. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl: Flour, cocoa powders, coffee powder, baking soda, and salt.

  3. Cream butter and sugars: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.

  4. Add eggs & vanilla: Add eggs one a time, using a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything mixes together evenly. Lastly, add the vanilla.

  5. Add the dry ingredients and sour cream: Add half the dry ingredients, add all of the sour cream, and add the remaining dry ingredients, mixing together well between each addition.

  6. Bake: Pour batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake in a 350°F/177°C oven for 60-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  7. Cool & store: Allow to cool for 15 minutes, and then lift up on the parchment paper to remove loaf from pan and cool completely (preferably on a wire rack) before glazing. Store cake in an airtight container and leave at room temperature without glaze for up to 5 days for maximum freshness. Store glazed cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for maximum freshness. Pound cakes freeze extremely well in an airtight container. Glaze after thawing if freezing first.

Recipe Notes

Toppings: pair with a 1:1 ganache or homemade vanilla sauce for extra indulgence.