1-2-3-4 Pound Cake (Our Most Requested Recipe)

This is it, our famous 1-2-3-4 Pound Cake, the most often-requested recipe in Swans Down history. Not to be confused with our 1-2-3-4 Layer Cake recipe on the back of the Swans Down Cake Flour box, this is pure, buttery pound cake in every bite. Sift confectioner’s sugar on the top or serve it your own way; one Swans Down fan slices it horizontally in half and adds in a layer of whipped cream and sliced bananas.

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  • I made the 1-2-3-4 pound cake for the first time and it came out perfect. I replaced the almond extract with 1 tsp of lemon extract. The cake was moist. After it cooled, I ate 2 slices with a cup of tea. Thank you!

  • I've tried making the whipping cream pound cake recipe on the Swans box twice. Both attempts ended badly. I think the recipe is missing an ingredient or two like baking powder or baking soda. Which can I add for better results?

    • Hi Debbie, We're sorry to hear that you are not have great results with the Whipping Cream Pound Cake. It's certainly a Swans Down favorite. We've forwarded your information on to our Consumer Affairs Department. Someone will be reaching out to help. Happy baking!

  • I’m just wondering if any adjustments are needed for ingredients of both of your 1-2-3-4 cake recipes, due to high altitude.
    I live in the Mile High city, Denver CO. My grandmother from Kentucky always used your flour for her cakes, which she sold during the Great Depression to help pay the bills.

    • HI Mary, Thanks for sharing your story. We're happy to hear that you continue the tradition of using Swans Down Cake Flour! You can find general guideline for Baking At High Altitudes in out Tips section https://swansdown.com/tips/. Happy baking!

  • I made a Pound Cake Recipe that you could ONLY use Swans Down Cake Flour for the recipe, which I always used when baking the recipe. Unfortunately, I lost the recipe that I have baked since the '60's, I am in the process of preparing Old Recipes for my children and of course that was one of their favorites. The recipe I used was not known as the 1-2-3-4 recipe, just Pound Cake. Can you tell me if your 1-2-3-4 recipe would have been the one I used at that time? I always baked the cake in a tube pan. Thanks Mar...

    • Hi Mary, Sorry to hear that you have misplaced your treasured recipe, and it's wonderful that you're putting together your recipe collection to pass on to your children. With the many pound cake recipes in our archives it's hard to determine which recipe you may be looking for. Your information was forward to our Consumer Affairs department. Someone will be reaching out to see if they can help. Happy baking!

  • Hi there. Wondering if this 1*2*3*4 pound cake recipe can be halved? I’m solo and only need one loaf, lol. Thank you!

    • Hi Zolah, This recipe can easily be halved. Or you can bake 2 loaves then slice and individually wrap the slices to freeze. Happy baking!

  • this 1234 cake is great my aunt and use to bake hen she was alive (miss her so) my uncle like a huge slice on to of his plate of food topping it off. he said it was greattttt memories

    • Thank you for sharing your memories Marion. 1234 Cake is definitely an all time favorite. Happy baking!

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