08/31/2026
Mrs. Johnnie Ruth’s Mile-High Pound Cake
Ingredients
4½ sticks (2¼ cups/510 g) butter, softened
3 cups granulated sugar
10 large eggs, at room temperature
3¾ cups cake flour, sifted
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3 teaspoons almond extract
3 teaspoons lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, optional
Instructions
Bring the butter, eggs, and condensed milk to room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Generously grease and flour a large 16–18-cup tube pan. A smaller Bundt pan may overflow.
Beat the softened butter for approximately 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the sugar. Continue beating at medium speed for 7–10 minutes, until the mixture is extremely pale, light, and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl periodically.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating until each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Scrape down the bowl regularly.
Mix in the almond extract, lemon extract, and optional vanilla bean paste.
Add the sifted cake flour in three additions, alternating with the condensed milk in two additions. Begin and finish with the flour.
Mix on low speed only until combined. Gently fold the batter by hand to eliminate any dry pockets without overmixing.
Spoon the thick batter evenly into the prepared tube pan. Smooth the surface and tap the pan gently against the counter to release large air bubbles.
Bake low and slow at 300°F for 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours 15 minutes. Begin checking after 1 hour 40 minutes.
The cake is ready when a long wooden skewer inserted into the thickest section comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
If the top becomes too dark, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the final 20–30 minutes.
Cool the cake in its pan for 20–25 minutes.
Carefully loosen the outside edge and center tube, then invert the cake onto a wire rack.
Allow it to cool completely before slicing.
Yield: 18–22 servings
Prep time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours 15 minutes
Pan: Large 10-inch, 16–18-cup tube pan