Pound Cakes vs Regular Cakes: What’s the Real Difference?
When you are out to buy a delicious cake in a physical store or an online website, you often see the categories of regular cakes and pound cakes separately. There is a reason for that, and this is what this blog is all about.
To a normal person, both a regular cake and a pound cake may look somewhat alike as they both possess a certain level of sweetness along with a moist texture. However, these are a lot different when it comes to their flavors, recipes, general appearance, texture, and more.
This blog explores regular and pound cakes in detail. It covers what makes these cakes unique to help you make the right decision when you make the purchase. So without any further ado, let’s dive right in.
- What is a Pound Cake?
- What is a Regular Cake?
- Pound Cake VS Regular Cake: Key Differences
What is a Pound Cake?
The roots of pound cake trace back to 18th century Europe, which makes it among the oldest cake varieties. These healthy cakes get their name due to the fact that their recipes include exactly one pound of each of the key ingredients, like eggs, sugar, butter, and flour.
This equal ingredient ratio leads to the signature dense texture of this cake, where every slice delivers consistently sweet flavor.
What is a Regular Cake?
The term regular cake refers to a broad category of cakes that we use mainly for celebrations or intimate events. These cakes appeared on the scene back in the 19th and 20th centuries with the invention of baking soda, electric mixers, and refined flours.
The use of these tools creates extra soft or decorative cakes with a high rise. Some popular regular cake varieties are as follows.
- Sponge cakes
- Butter cakes
- Chocolate cakes
- Layer cakes with frosting
- Chiffon cakes
Pound Cakes VS Regular Cakes: Key Differences
Now that you have a general idea about regular cakes and pound cakes, let’s go one step further and look into what really makes these cakes so different.
- Ingredients
To make a pound cake, you need the following key ingredients.
- Butter
- Eggs
- Flour
- Sugar
- Vanilla or Lemon Zest (Optional)
The recipe of a regular cake typically involves the following ingredients.
- Butter
- Sugar
- Oil
- Baking powder or Baking soda
- Milk
- Refined Flours
- Buttermilk
- Water
- Cocoa, Spices, Fruit, or Extracts (Optional)
- Frosting or Glaze
- Baking Technique
To make a pound cake, you need to take the key ingredients in equal parts. You also need to ensure the air doesn’t get trapped inside the mixture when you combine the ingredients. First, you need to cream butter and sugar. Then you can mix a few eggs one after the other. Finally, you can fold in the flour gently and bake.
For regular cakes, the baking techniques can vary based on the ingredients you pick. Common recipes involve sifting dry ingredients and creaming butter and sugar until you get a fluffy or light texture.
Then you can add leavening agents to the mix. Next, you can layer batters or fillings. Finally, you can frost and decorate as you like.
- Leavening or Rise
The recipe of a pound cake doesn’t involve any use of baking powder or soda. The rise in these cakes results from eggs or butter. This creates cakes that are both shorter and denser.
Every regular cake uses leavening agents to create a higher rise. The use of leavening agents is the reason why the crumbs of these cakes tend to be soft or airy.
- Flavor
A pound cake contains sugar, butter, and eggs in higher concentrations. These ingredients dominate the flavor of this cake. The flavor is often very subtle and rich. Some healthy pound cake recipes use vanilla or lemon to enhance the flavor.
Regular cakes can come in a wide range of flavors due to ingredient diversity. These can be chocolaty, nutty, or fruity. You can also experiment with different frostings on these cakes to further improve the flavors.
- Texture
Pound cakes come with a dense or compact texture with a very tight crumb. The high moisture in these cakes makes them buttery, which results in a heavier mouthfeel.
Regular cakes are soft or airy. These tender cakes have a very light mouthfeel as they tend to melt faster.
- Frosting
Pound cakes do not typically come with a frosting. You either serve them plain, or they come with a glaze. You can also sprinkle powdered sugar over these cakes to get extra sweetness.
Regular cakes come with a wide range of frosting options. You can get these decorative cakes with buttercream, ganache, or fondant frostings, to name just a few.
- Shelf Life
Pound cakes come with a higher fat content which translates into a longer shelf life of about 2-3 months. The ingredients of these nutritious and delicious cakes make them stay moist for several days. These cakes also freeze exceptionally well, which makes them travel-friendly.
The shelf life of a regular cake is much shorter. These cakes stay fresh for 5-7 days max. These cakes dry faster. You need refrigeration to store these cakes for longer as they come with fillings or frosting.
- Serving or Pairing
The way you serve or pair these cakes is also different. A Pound cake is more of a comfort food that you can eat almost daily. A regular cake, on the other hand, is an event food.
The layered and artistic regular cakes are perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or themed events. You can pair these with luxurious frostings to get exciting flavors in every bite. A regular cake has a softer structure, which requires you to make slices carefully.
You can use a pound cake as an everyday dessert or during tea or coffee breaks. It is also a perfect item for casual gatherings. You can also give this cake as a homemade gift to your dear ones. The slicing of this cake requires less attention to detail, as it holds its shape when you cut.
You can pair this cake with whipped cream or fresh berries. It also goes well with ice creams. You can drizzle a caramel glaze or lemon over this cake to elevate its flavor even further.
Conclusion
There are significant differences between regular and pound cakes that set them apart. The ingredients, as well as their ratio, vary in these cakes. The baking technique and the final presentation of these cakes are also a lot different. With a classic pound cake, you get a subtle but pleasantly sweet flavor.
Regular cakes, on the other hand, give you a much greater ingredient versatility, which results in bold flavors. This makes every slice a unique delight.
So make sure to look at what sets these cakes apart to make sure you find a perfect option to elevate your every celebration instantly.
Visit hOLa Keto today to order from our wide range of healthy and keto-friendly regular and pound cakes to make your every occasion extra special.
FAQs
What makes a pound cake different from a normal cake?
Pound cake tends to be denser. These flavor-rich treats contain one pound of each one of the main ingredients. The ingredient ratio in normal cakes is not the same. Unlike normal cakes pound cakes do not contain any baking powder as well.
Is a normal cake less healthy than a pound cake?
Pound cakes contain ingredients like eggs or butter in greater amounts. These make them rich in nutrients like vitamin A, B, and D, and some minerals along with some amino acids. Regular cakes lack these nutrients.
How did pound cake get its name?
Back in 1700s Amelia Simmons released an American cookbook where she listed two-pound cake recipes. In 1800s several modifications of this recipe came on the market where every ingredient had a weight of 1 pound in the cake. This led to the popularity of the name pound cakes.
Why does pound cake stay fresh for a longer period?
This cake possesses a dense structure with a very high fat content. This makes a pound cake stay fresh longer.
Which cake is beginner-friendly regular cake or a pound cake?
Regular cakes give you more ingredients as well as baking technique flexibility. This makes them more beginner-friendly than pound cakes that require more precision.
What makes a pound cake denser?
The recipe of a pound cake involves the use of fewer liquids. There are also no chemical leaveners in the recipe which leads to denser crumbs.
