What is the Famous Ritz Carlton Cake?
This unbelievable lemon pound cake was widely popular at the Ritz Carlton Hotel tea room back in the 1920s. Once you take the first bite, it's not hard to see why it was such a beloved item on the menu. This is the be all and end all of lemon pound cake recipes - I really cannot brag on it enough. I love a good vintage recipe!
It's dense and moist without being the slightest bit gummy. My husband finished his slice and said, "I just realized it doesn't have any glaze or frosting, because it totally tastes like it does."
What Do I Need to Make the Ritz Carlton Cake?
This is really a straightforward lemon pound cake recipe (click to jump down to recipe) but this cake incorporates shortening along with the butter, which helps the texture of the cake be a little softer and lighter. You will want to use fresh lemon - no substitutes - for the juice and zest. That will really inject that super fresh citrus flavor into the cake. I don't think those lil' plastic lemon-shaped bottles existed in 1920! Not hatin', just sayin'...
The full recipe makes a lot of cake - either one large bundt/tube pan or two standard loaf pans. I chose to use the loaf pans when testing this recipe because I wanted to be as authentic as possible. Did you know that bundt pans were not around until the 1950s? But go ahead and use that pretty bundt pan if you want to add a little visual flair to your cake - it'll still taste marvelous.
This set of 2 loaf pans will work!
Is The Ritz Carlton Cake Freezer Friendly?
If you don't need so much cake sitting around at once, use the loaf pans and wrap the extra one tightly in plastic wrap, place it into a ziploc bag, and freeze for up to 3 months for best taste and texture. Thaw on the counter for an hour or so before slicing.
This is one lemon pound cake recipe that has stood the test of time and it has certainly earned its permanent spot in the "MAKE AGAIN" section of my recipe files. It will for you as well. Enjoy!
How To Make The Famous Ritz Carlton Lemon Pound Cake
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Famous 1920 Ritz Carlton Lemon Pound Cake
The vintage lemon pound cake recipe made famous by the Ritz Carlton tea room in 1920. This is the ONLY lemon pound cake recipe you'll ever need.
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 2 loaf pans OR 1 large bundt pan
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 TBS baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup shortening at room temperature
- 5 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk or ½ cup lowfat milk plus ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 6 TBS fresh squeezed lemon juice*
- Zest from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour two standard loaf pans OR one large bundt pan. Set aside.
- In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a second bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, cream the butter, shortening, and sugar until pale yellow and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
- Alternately add the flour mixture with the milk with the mixer on low, then continue mixing on low until everything is combined and just a few flour streaks remain.
- use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and gently fold in the lemon juice and zest. Fold until the remaining flour streaks have been incorporated, but be careful not to overmix.
- Transfer cake batter to loaf pans or bundt pan and bake on center rack of oven 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Other signs of doneness is a golden top and the sides of the cake will start to slightly pull away from the edges of the pan.
- Allow to cool in the pan before trying to remove the cake from the pans. Slice and serve.
Notes
* Make sure to use real lemon juice here, not the bottled stuff from concentrate or with other added ingredients. It'll be worth it. If you want to use bottled, make sure it's 100% pure, like Santa Cruz
If you use the loaf pans, it's easy to freeze the extra cake! Just wrap tightly with plastic wrap, place in a large Ziploc bag, and place into the freezer. Let thaw on the counter for an hour or so before slicing.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
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Diane Allen
I love this cake I have made it for years but this time I ran out of flour I can’t get to the store because it snowed last night. I only have cake flour and just wanted to know if I could use it?
Katy
Mine fell and ruined….any ideas? I was so careful ?????
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Jan
Where does the milk and heavy whipping cream come in?
TheLudGirl
Step 4: “ Alternately add the flour mixture with the milk with the mixer on low…”
Lisa
Simply marvelous!! About to make it a 2nd time! Turned out so moist and flavorful!
Erin
Awesome! I love this cake so much, I'm glad you did too!
Therese
Wow!! Incredible flavour with a light and fluffy texture. Not too sweet, it was perfect. This recipe is a keeper!
MrsG
I saw a couple of comments on the outer page that stated this recipe called for too much sugar....Is this correct? Should it actually be 3cups of sugar? If so, does cutting back on it like some of them suggested change the outcome of it?? Thanks so much and FYI I cannot wait to make this... lol
Erin
I'm so sorry it's taken me a while to get to this comment - I have been very ill! Changing the sugar content will alter the texture of the cake. I haven't tried a reduced sugar version myself so I can't comment with any certainty about whether or not that will work, but yes, the sugar content stated is the correct amount when making 2 standard bread loaf pans or one large bundt pan.
Bobbie
I reduced it to 2 1/2 c and was plenty sweet still to me, but I don’t like things super sweet. I found it to be just fine, although mine may have been underbaked ever so slightly. Best to us a long tester rather than short toothpick to ck. Not sure how compares to making it with 3 cups, but we all liked it!
Tia
The best I've ever had. This is my 3rd time making this recipe.
Made this recipe for a tea party the lady's @ Church had.
Erin
I'm so sorry it's taken me a while to get to this comment - I have been very ill! I'm so happy you loved this recipe - thank you for rating it 5 stars and for sharing your experience!
toni
Do you have to use shortening? Can i sub butter ( I know it already calls for butter, just if I add 1/2 c more in stead of the shortening? I want to make this for guests next week thank you
Erin
That should be fine. It may change the texture slightly, but the bake will work.
Mary Parks
Can you freeze this cake without it being left in the loaf pans
Erin
You can! After the cake cools, release it from the pan, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze. You can also cut it into slices and freeze the slices individually.
Tami
Do you think this recipe would work for individual cakes to present to moms on Mothers Day?
Erin
Yes, you could bake them in individual loaf pans. Same temperature, but start checking early as they will bake faster!
Stefanie
Can I cut the recipe in half if I just want one loaf?