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    Home » Recipes

    Grapefruit Pound Cake

    Published: Mar 17, 2021 · Modified: Apr 5, 2022 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 27 Comments

    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.

    grapefruit pound cake with glaze and zest on top
    Jump to Recipe

    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
    grapefruit pound cake with flowers on the side

    How to Make This Super-Moist Pound Cake

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    sliced grapefruit pound cake

    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!

    grapefruit pound cake with glaze and zest on top on a cooling rack

    Tools for Making a Grapefruit Cake

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    sliced grapefruit pound cake on a plate

    Grapefruit Pound Cake

    This Grapefruit Pound Cake is a dense, super moist, and delicious cake topped with a grapefruit glaze for the perfect citrusy treat.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Cooling time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 10 slices
    Calories: 297kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • 9" bread loaf pan
    • stand mixer or hand mixer
    • large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer
    • 2 medium mixing bowls
    • cooling rack
    • whisk
    • 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!
      bread loaf pan with a butter wrapper
    • 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.
      grapefruit juice being strained into a glass
    • 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.
      creamed sugar, butter, eggs, and grapefruit zest
    • 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.
      grapefruit pound cake batter
    • 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.
      grapefruit pound cake batter in a pan before cooking
    • 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!
      baked grapefruit pound cake in a pan

    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

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 48.2g | Protein: 3.6g | Fat: 10.1g | Saturated Fat: 6.1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 32.8g | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    sliced grapefruit pound cake with glaze
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    Did you make this Grapefruit Pound Cake?

    If you make this Grapefruit Pound Cake I would love for you to leave a review below and tag me in your photo if you post it on Instagram or Facebook!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karla says

      January 23, 2023 at 3:58 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        January 23, 2023 at 8:20 am

        Hi Carla, I hope you love this recipe, it's one of my favorites! I'm jealous of your surplus of grapefruits 😁 Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Carole Evans says

      March 10, 2022 at 3:45 am

      5 stars
      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..

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 10, 2022 at 6:51 am

        Thanks for sharing, Carol. I bet the addition of almond meal was delicious.😊

        Reply
    3. Jessica Formicola says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love anything with citrus, but grapefruit is my absolute favorite! I can't wait to give this delicious looking pound cake a try!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 29, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        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!

        Reply
    4. Elizabeth’s says

      March 28, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! We loved it!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 28, 2021 at 4:07 pm

        So happy to hear you guys enjoyed this pound cake!

        Reply
    5. Ramona says

      March 27, 2021 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      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 😊

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 3:36 pm

        You are so welcome, Ramona! This is the perfect recipe to make sure all of that delicious grapefruit gets used up!

        Reply
    6. Linda says

      March 27, 2021 at 6:05 am

      5 stars
      Made this and I'm in love with this pound cake! So easy and delicious, perfect for a sweet breakfast treat

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 3:37 pm

        Linda, I'm so glad you enjoyed this pound cake. Cake for breakfast is always a good idea 😁.

        Reply
    7. Jamie says

      March 26, 2021 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious, perfect for breakfast!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:12 am

        Breakfast, lunch, dinner...all of the above, LOL!😂

        Reply
    8. Julia says

      March 26, 2021 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Yum, love the citrus-y kick with the sweetness!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:13 am

        Yes! The grapefruit flavor comes through really nice in this one!

        Reply
    9. Kristina Tipps says

      March 26, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:13 am

        Oooh, I love that idea! Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    10. Sondra says

      March 26, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious!

      Reply
    11. Bintu | Budget Delicious says

      March 26, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds like such a delicious cake! I don't use grapefruit anywhere near enough in my bakes!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:14 am

        I don't always have grapefruit in the house, but this is a good one to make when you do!

        Reply
    12. Leslie says

      March 26, 2021 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect Grapefruit Poundcake recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:14 am

        Thank you, Leslie!😊

        Reply
    13. whitney says

      March 26, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:15 am

        Whitney, it surprised me how good it was and how much the grapefruit flavor comes through. It's definitely worth trying!

        Reply
    14. Beth says

      March 26, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious pound cake! I'm going to make it often as my family loved it!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 27, 2021 at 1:15 am

        So glad to hear it, thanks, Beth!

        Reply

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