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Home » Blog » Recipes » Desserts

Old Fashioned Chocolate Southern Pound Cake

by Donya Mullins 2 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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This velvety dessert combines the richness of chocolate with the dense and moist texture of a traditional pound cake. Old Fashioned Chocolate Southern Pound is soft with a tender texture that melts in your mouth with every heavenly bite.

Pin This Recipe For Later

This old fashioned chocolate pound cake recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream. And, since I’m married to a guy that can never pass up anything chocolate, making this cake for my “boyfriend” has been a labor of love for years.

While I’m not a baker by nature nor a pastry chef, I do know a thing or two about pound cake. Like my Million Dollar Pound Cake and my Southern Pound Cake, this chocolate cake is beautiful and rich yet simple to make in true Southern style.

What You’ll Find In This Post

  • Pin This Recipe For Later
  • What Is Pound Cake?
  • Choosing The Right Pan
  • Easy Chocolate Pound Cake Ingredients
    • Scroll Down For Measurements And Instructions
  • Tips For Making The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • Pound Cake Variations
  • Frequently Asked Questions With Answers
  • How To Serve This Amazing Cake

What Is Pound Cake?

The name “pound cake” refers to a simple recipe with a precise ratio of four main ingredients: a pound each of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. This straightforward approach makes it easy to remember, replicate and pass down.

A classic pound cake combines simplicity, richness, velvety texture, versatility, and tradition. This Southern chocolate pound cake has all of those qualities and more that come together to create a dessert that is both comforting and indulgent.

Southern chocolate pound cake on a white cake stand uncut.

Choosing The Right Pan

There are three different pan options you can use to bake this chocolate cake:

Bundt Pan

I love using a bundt pan for this recipe because the cake comes out with a pretty design that makes a beautiful presentation when served. Bundt cake pans have a hole down the middle, which means the cakes come out in a donut shape. The hole helps the cakes cook more evenly.

Loaf Pan

You can make this recipe in two loaf pans. Shorten the baking time by about 15 to 20 minutes and check to ensure the cake is fully cooked.

Tube Pan

A tube pan is similar to a bundt pan but without the fluted edges.

Easy Chocolate Pound Cake Ingredients

  • Unsalted Butter – room temperature
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Eggs – room temperature
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Buttermilk
  • Coffee – either brewed or instant mixed with water.
  • All-purpose Flour
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt

Scroll Down For Measurements And Instructions

Hands holding a sifter full of powdered sugar over a Southern chocolate pound cake sitting on a white cake stand.

Tips For Making The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake

  1. Use room temperature ingredients. This will help create a smooth batter.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar properly in a large bowl so that the butter and sugar become light and fluffy. Take your time with this step, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, about 3–5 minutes.
  3. Don’t over-mix! Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mix just until combined. I can’t stress this point enough, since over-mixing can lead to a dense and tough cake.
  4. Prepare the bundt pan properly. Generously grease and flour the pan so that the cake comes out without breaking.
  5. Make sure the cake is done. Oven temperatures vary, so start checking around the 60-minute mark. Insert a toothpick into the center, and if it comes out clean or with a few crumbs, your cake is ready.

Pound Cake Variations

There’s something special about indulging in a dessert that has stood the test of time. While a classic pound cake is wonderful on its own, it also serves as a perfect canvas for different flavor combinations. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Lemon Pound Cake
  • Buttermilk Pound Cake With Brown Butter Icing
  • Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Pound Cake
  • Orange Pound Cake
  • Eggnog Pound Cake
  • Classic Southern Pound Cake
  • Million Dollar Pound Cake
Southern chocolate pound cake on a white cake stand dusted with white powdered sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions With Answers

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

Buttermilk adds a slight tang and moisture to the pound cake, but you can substitute it with regular milk. You can also make buttermilk. For each cup of buttermilk, use 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes, and stir before using.

How long should the cake cool?

Once the cake comes out of the oven, place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. After cooling, invert it onto a cake plate and cool it completely.

What is the best type of chocolate to use?

Look for a high-quality brand that uses premium cocoa beans for the best flavor and quality. Make sure to check the label for any additional flavorings or additives, and opt for pure, unsweetened cocoa powder for baking.

How do I store scratch made pound cake?

To keep this chocolate bundt cake fresh, place it on the countertop covered. You can also cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil stored at room temperature.

Can I freeze chocolate pound cake?

Yes, you sure can! Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then place it on the countertop to come to room temperature before serving.

How To Serve This Amazing Cake

This really is one of the best chocolate pound cake recipes ever, and I like to serve it with just a sprinkle of powdered sugar so that the rich chocolate flavor comes through. I guess I’m just a purist.

However, you can go for it and add toppings like chocolate ganache, chocolate frosting, or a chocolate glaze with a sprinkle of chocolate chips.

This beautiful cake has been the star of many birthday celebrations and disappears fast on a holiday buffet. It’s hard to resist with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and great with fresh berries and whipped cream.

The thing is, no matter how you serve this cake, a slice of this timeless goodness has the power to evoke memories and bring smiles to faces.

Southern chocolate pound cake dusted with powdered cake with 3 slices on a white cake is amazingly delicious.
Southern chocolate pound cake dusted with powdered cake with 3 slices on a white cake is amazingly delicious.
5 from 2 votes

Old Fashioned Chocolate Southern Pound Cake

Author: Donya Mullins
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 787kcal
Print Pin Rate
This velvety dessert combines the richness of chocolate with the dense and moist texture of a traditional pound cake. Old Fashioned Chocolate Pound is soft with a tender texture that melts in your mouth with every heavenly bite.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups room temperature butter
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 5 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons coffee – from brewed or instant dissolved in water
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour (use cocoa powder with a little flour) a 10-inch bundt pan.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy using an electric mixer. Add eggs 1 at a time and blend well.
  • Stir coffee and buttermilk together.
  • Mix dry ingredients into batter alternating with the milk/coffee making sure to end with flour.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake for 20 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then turn out onto a cake stand or platter.

Video

Notes

  • Buttermilk adds a slight tang and moisture to the pound cake, but you can substitute it with regular milk. You can also make buttermilk. For each cup of buttermilk, use 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes, and stir before using.
  • Place this chocolate bundt cake on the countertop covered to keep it fresh. You can also cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, stored at room temperature.
  • To freeze, wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then place it on the countertop to come to room temperature before serving.
 
Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 787kcal | Carbohydrates: 105g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 40g | Sugar: 77g
Southern chocolate pound cake dusted with powdered cake with 3 slices on a white cake is amazingly delicious.
Did you make my Old Fashioned Chocolate Southern Pound Cake?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @asouthernsoul, and use the hashtag #asouthernsoul!
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This post was originally posted in March, 2012 and updated in May, 2023.

Southern chocolate pound cake dusted with powdered cake with 3 slices on a white cake is amazingly delicious.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. robert creed Mullins

    May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm

    Thanks Donya for this amazing recipe i cant wait to make it at home!!

    Reply
    • Donya Mullins

      May 23, 2023 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you for the terrific rating!

      Reply

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