14 Rich Vegan Pound Cakes

Have you ever wondered why pound cake, one of the lightest cakes there is, is called a “pound cake?” Pound cake gets its name from the way it was made back in the 1700s. The original recipe called for one pound each of flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. It was easy to remember and it fed a lot of people. Over time, the recipe changed to make smaller cakes, but the ratios of ingredients remained the same. As time went on, however, people started adding ingredients, such as baking powder to make it lighter, orange zest for flavor, and even chocolate to make it decadent.

Pound cakes are usually baked in loaf pans, bundt pans, or sheet pans. Of course, we can make pound cakes without the butter or eggs. Check out The Green Monster Vegan Baking Guide and A Beginner’s Guide to Vegan Baking to learn how to substitute for dairy and eggs. If you need to bake gluten-free, that’s no problem – for you, we have The Ultimate Gluten-Free Vegan Baking Substitution Guide.

Let your creativity flow and make it your own with your favorite flavors. To inspire you, here are 14 recipes for cakes that are easy, healthy, and delicious.

1. Mini Coconut Lime Pound Cakes with a Lime Glaze

You can have your pound cake and eat it, too, with these Mini Coconut Lime Pound Cakes with a Lime Glaze. The flavor of these dense, moist pound cakes is the perfect balance of sweet, citrus, and tropical. The sweet lime glaze adds a visually pleasing pattern as well as a pop of tart citrus flavor. Since they’re mini-sized, you don’t even have to share.

2. Mini Lemon Lavender Bundt Cakes

Lemon and lavender go together like peanut butter and jelly. These Mini Lemon Lavender Bundt Cakes are the perfect place for such a perfect combination. The cakes are so easy to make and they’re topped with a sweet lavender glaze. These cakes are so good, you may be tempted to eat two. That’s okay, they’re mini cakes.

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3. Italian Cream Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Italian cream cake is traditionally built like a layer cake that’s stuffed full of nuts and coconut. This vegan Italian Cream Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting has a few variations. First, it’s made in a Bundt pan, which gives it its distinct shape. Then, it’s topped with a vegan cream cheese frosting that is rich, creamy, and decadent. Sometimes, it’s best to break traditions.

4. Poppy Seed Clementine Bundt Cake

This Poppy Seed Clementine Bundt Cake is a healthy and satisfying dessert. Poppy seeds and sweet clementine oranges come together for a delicious flavor and texture combination. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, this is the perfect dessert to follow any meal.

5. Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Cute, kitschy, old-fashioned Bundt pans take a perfectly tasty “normal” shaped cake and turn it into something fancy-Pants like this Lemon Poppy Seed Cake. Lemon and poppy seeds are a match made in heaven and that’s made even better with the addition of blackberries. It’s topped with a luscious lemon glaze that is thick, rich, and looks so pretty oozing down the sides of the cake.

6. Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is a Bundt cake from the 1950s that’s like a giant, gooey, sticky-sweet cinnamon bun. In this Monkey Bread, aquafaba gives the cake a soft and addictive texture — you’ll want to eat this cake with your hands. With the sweet icing glaze, you won’t be able to stop yourself from licking your fingers. Go ahead, we’re not looking.

7. Peanut Butter Chocolate Marble Cake

The perfect cake can be eaten any time – as a dessert, as a snack with a cup of tea or coffee, and even for breakfast. This Peanut Butter Chocolate Marble Cake is that perfect cake. The peanut butter gives this classic cake recipe a sweet and buttery flavor that everyone loves.

8. Chocolate Chai Marbled Cake

Not only is this Chocolate Chai Marbled Cake vegan, but it’s also gluten-free. This cake is made decadent with cocoa powder, and it’s fragrant from the warm chai spices. It’s pretty to look at, but you better look fast because this cake is going to disappear quickly. You had better take a picture first.

9. Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cake

This Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cake is packed with flavor and healthy goodness. Made with whole wheat flour and pumpkin purée, this cake is dense but so moist. The chai spices add warmth that you can feel down to your tummy. Top with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly decadent dessert experience.

10. Healthy Banana Walnut Bundt Cake

The only thing better than having a delicious cake is having a cake you can feel good about. This Healthy Banana Walnut Bundt Cake is made with wholesome ingredients, fresh fruit, and has no added fat. It’s moist from bananas and almond milk, which also add natural sweetness. Healthy never tasted so good.

11. Cranberry Lemon Poundcake 

This Cranberry Lemon Poundcake is sweet, tart, and so rich. Enjoy this recipe after dinner with a cup of tea!

12. Lemon Lavender Pound Cake 

Floral, fresh, and so decadent, this Lemon Lavender Pound Cake doesn’t even need frosting! If you’re looking to take your love for lavender to the next level, you’ll love this recipe!

13. Carob Pound Cake With Ganache 

This Carob Pound Cake With Ganache is chocolatey, rich, and almost like a brownie! But it’s not overwhelmingly sweet, which makes it perfect to enjoy for breakfast if you’re feeling indulgent.

14. Grilled Pound Cake With Berries

This Grilled Pound Cake With Berries makes for the healthiest dessert or a sweet breakfast! Citrusy pound cake is grilled and then served with mashed and fresh berries, but you can try this with multiple pound cakes and fruit.

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