This Grapefruit Pound Cake is dense, super moist, and delicious!! If you love grapefruit, you need to try this cake. It's topped with a grapefruit glaze to add the perfect amount of sweetness to this citrusy treat.
If you enjoy cakes that are moist, dense, and full of flavor, this Grapefruit Pound Cake recipe is for you! All you need is one large grapefruit and a few simple ingredients to bake this cake and you will have a special citrusy treat.
I needed to use up some of the grapefruit in my fruit bowl before it went bad so I decided to try it in a cake! You only need one large grapefruit to make this pound cake. I used a pink grapefruit, but you could also use a ruby red or yellow grapefruit.
The pink grapefruit I used tinted the cake and the glaze ever so slightly to create a beautiful pink hue. As I mentioned, the cake is super dense and moist so don't expect it to rise too much, but do expect it to be delicious!
Ingredients Needed to Make Grapefruit Pound Cake
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- unsalted butter, room temp
- sugar
- eggs, room temp
- fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
- grapefruit zest
- milk, room temp
- confectioners powdered sugar
How to Make This Super-Moist Pound Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray.
- Mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and set it aside. Zest the grapefruit and then juice it. Strain the pulp and set the juice aside as well.
- Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer) and beat together until creamy. Add the eggs, grapefruit juice, and zest and combine everything.
- Add half of the dry mixture and half of the milk to the batter and mix in with a silicone spatula or spoon. Once combined, add the rest of the dry ingredients and the milk and fully incorporate everything.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, tap lightly on the counter to remove any air bubbles, and bake for 42-45 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then on a cooling rack.
How to Make a Super Easy Grapefruit Glaze
Combine the powdered sugar and grapefruit juice in a medium bowl and whisk together until smooth. Immediately pour over the top of the cooled loaf and allow the glaze to set. Sprinkle with more fresh zest if desired and enjoy!
Tools for Making a Grapefruit Cake
Grapefruit Pound Cake
Equipment
- 9" bread loaf pan
- large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer
- 2 medium mixing bowls
- silicone spatula or spoon for mixing
Ingredients
Grapefruit Pound Cake
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temp
- ½ cup fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest
- ½ cup milk, room temp
Grapefruit Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray. TIP: I used the wrapper from my butter and it worked perfectly!
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and set it aside. Zest the grapefruit and then juice it. Strain the pulp from the liquid, discard the pulp, and set the juice and zest aside as well.
- Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer) and beat together until creamy, about 4-5 minutes. Add the eggs, grapefruit juice, and zest and continue beating until everything is combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer.
- Add half of the dry mixture and half of the milk to the batter and mix in with a silicone spatula or spoon. Once combined, add the rest of the dry ingredients and the rest of the milk and fully incorporate everything.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, tap lightly on the counter to remove any air bubbles, and bake for 42-45 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then on a cooling rack.
- Once the loaf has cooled, combine the powdered sugar and grapefruit juice in a medium bowl and whisk together until smooth. Immediately pour over the top of the cooled loaf and allow the glaze to set. Sprinkle with more fresh zest if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- I've read that grapefruit juice and aluminum have a bad reaction together and create a bad taste in the bread so avoid aluminum tools when mixing the batter.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Did you make this Grapefruit Pound Cake?
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Karla says
I look forward to trying this recipe, I have a surplus of grapefruits. I’m baking this afternoon, I look forward to tasting it. The reviews make it sound delicious!
Emily says
Hi Carla, I hope you love this recipe, it's one of my favorites! I'm jealous of your surplus of grapefruits 😁 Enjoy!
Carole Evans says
Used half all-purpose flour and half almond meal (as I had a surplus) plus 3 eggs. Loaf is less moist but absolutely delicious.
Will definitely make again. Had previously used original recipe..
Emily says
Thanks for sharing, Carol. I bet the addition of almond meal was delicious.😊
Jessica Formicola says
I love anything with citrus, but grapefruit is my absolute favorite! I can't wait to give this delicious looking pound cake a try!
Emily says
I know you will love it! If you love citrus this pound cake is for you and you can make it with any fruit, not just grapefruit. Enjoy!
Elizabeth’s says
Great recipe! We loved it!
Emily says
So happy to hear you guys enjoyed this pound cake!
Ramona says
I love the looks and the sound of this recipe. I have grapefruit that needs using so this will be the perfect weekend treat. Thank you soo much for sharing this amazing looking recipe. I cannot wait to make it 😊
Emily says
You are so welcome, Ramona! This is the perfect recipe to make sure all of that delicious grapefruit gets used up!
Linda says
Made this and I'm in love with this pound cake! So easy and delicious, perfect for a sweet breakfast treat
Emily says
Linda, I'm so glad you enjoyed this pound cake. Cake for breakfast is always a good idea 😁.
Jamie says
Looks delicious, perfect for breakfast!
Emily says
Breakfast, lunch, dinner...all of the above, LOL!😂
Julia says
Yum, love the citrus-y kick with the sweetness!
Emily says
Yes! The grapefruit flavor comes through really nice in this one!
Kristina Tipps says
This was my first time putting grapefruit in a baked good and it was fabulous! Now i want to make cookies, thanks for the inspiration!
Emily says
Oooh, I love that idea! Let me know how it goes!
Sondra says
Looks delicious!
Bintu | Budget Delicious says
This sounds like such a delicious cake! I don't use grapefruit anywhere near enough in my bakes!
Emily says
I don't always have grapefruit in the house, but this is a good one to make when you do!
Leslie says
Perfect Grapefruit Poundcake recipe!
Emily says
Thank you, Leslie!😊
whitney says
I love how different this recipe is! I've never even thought to use grapefruit as a dessert as I just eat it on it's own. I can't wait to try this!
Emily says
Whitney, it surprised me how good it was and how much the grapefruit flavor comes through. It's definitely worth trying!
Beth says
This is such a delicious pound cake! I'm going to make it often as my family loved it!
Emily says
So glad to hear it, thanks, Beth!