What is Stock's pound cake made of?

Stock's proprietary recipe has never been officially published, but based on the cake's characteristic texture and flavor, experienced bakers widely believe it relies on butter, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, all-purpose flour, and vanilla — finished with a thick vanilla glaze. The cream cheese, in particular, seems to be what sets it apart from a standard pound cake in terms of moisture and density.

Why is Stock's pound cake so popular?

Stock's Bakery has been a Philadelphia institution since the early 20th century, and their pound cake has built loyal generational followings. The texture is significantly denser and moister than most commercially available pound cakes, and the vanilla glaze provides a distinctive appearance and flavor contrast that many people find hard to replicate — which is exactly why copycat searches remain so popular.

How do you keep pound cake moist?

Wrapping the cake tightly in plastic wrap as soon as it cools completely is considered the most effective method. Keeping it at room temperature (rather than refrigerating it immediately) for the first couple of days can also help. Some bakers swear by placing a slice of plain white bread in the storage container — the bread releases moisture that may help prevent the cake from drying out.

Can you freeze Stock's pound cake?

Yes — pound cake is widely regarded as one of the best baked goods for freezing. Wrapping individual slices in plastic wrap, then storing in a freezer-safe bag, allows them to keep for up to 3 months with minimal quality loss. For best results, it may be worth waiting to add the glaze until after thawing.

What makes a pound cake dense instead of fluffy?

Pound cake is intentionally denser than other cakes — the high ratio of fat (from both butter and cream cheese) to flour creates a tight, fine crumb. That said, overmixing the batter after flour is added, or under-creaming the butter and sugar at the start, can make the cake denser than intended. The key is getting the creaming step right and then handling the batter gently once the flour goes in.

How long does homemade pound cake last?

At room temperature in an airtight container, homemade pound cake generally stays fresh for 3–4 days. In the refrigerator, it may keep for up to a week, though the texture is best when served at room temperature. Frozen and properly wrapped, it can last up to 3 months without significant quality loss.

Recipe for Stock's Pound Cake: Best Copycat That Works

Description

A rich, dense, buttery pound cake inspired by the famous Stock’s Bakery classic, finished with a thick vanilla glaze that sets into a sweet shell.

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp fine salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
8 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
3 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract (optional)
1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3–4 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (for glaze)
Pinch of fine salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C) and grease a 10-inch tube or bundt pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cream butter and cream cheese for 4–5 minutes until light.
Add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in vanilla extract and optional almond extract.
Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour batter into pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 75–90 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then invert and cool completely.
Whisk glaze ingredients until thick but pourable.
Pour glaze over cooled cake and let set before slicing.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Do not rush the creaming step. Bake low and slow for even cooking. Let the cake fully cool before adding glaze.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 520
Sugar: 45g
Sodium: 180mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 17g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 62g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 6g
Cholesterol: 130mg

Keywords: stock's pound cake, pound cake, copycat cake, vanilla glaze cake, butter cake