Growing up in Georgia, I was blessed to have my grandparents live close by to visit with. Lots of dinners and fun times. However, the one thing I will always remember about Grandmother is her incredible pound cake. She always had it sitting under a cake dome every time we visited. Here, I took her delicious recipe and updated it just a bit for a fabulous Lemon Coconut Pound Cake.

Remembering Grandmother

Maybe that’s why I love cake so much, because I ate SO much of this pound cake growing up. It was so delicious and lemony. Must admit, it was so hard not to go back for a second piece because it was that good. Thinking back, I don’t recall I was ever there when she made it????? But what I do remember is eating it. Mmmmmm…

What is it with southerners loving our pound cake so much? What’s not to love, right?

Bundt Pan

Grandmother always made this cake in a bundt pan and still have memories of walking in and seeing it sitting out on her counter. Of course, I couldn’t miss it. Also, what made this cake so good was the addition of a lemon glaze she poured on the top. Oh so delicious as it was the perfect touch to make this cake even more delicious and lemony.

I recall before I left for college, I requested one of her whole cakes for my birthday and she complied happily. I felt so special, as I got to eat this entire cake at anytime, woo hoo! Of course, always sharing with my family. Totally felt on top of the world and what a great birthday gift it was. Treasure that memory !

Giving It A Try

After I got married, I was given so many recipes as a new cook and baker. Without a doubt, I got Grandmothers Lemon Pound Cake, there was no way I wasn’t getting that piece of gold. Anxious to try my hand at making it myself, well that didn’t go so well initially. Going through the recipe step by step carefully but it just did not turn out like hers.

With that, I called her to ask what did I do wrong!!!!????? One thing I learned was I added way too much yellow color! WAT???? She laughed along with me and its fun to have that chuckle looking back. I had no idea what I was doing in the kitchen at that time. Honestly, I’m not sure what I did but it just never tasted like hers.

Years went by before I tried to make this again, it was like a challenge to me and I was so determined to get it right. Now, being a culinary school grad I thought, “Hey, I can do this.” I made it again and it was better but still not like I remember. Grandmothers must put their own spin on how they bake, don’t they? I regretted never watching her make it!

Redo-Lemon and Coconut

So this spring I was determined to get this right and maybe incorporate some of my own twists to bring out that lemon flavor that was so famous about hers and throw in some coconut flavor too. Her recipe used all purpose flour and I substituted some cake flour in there as well to really lighten it up. Coconut milk took the place of buttermilk for some additional moistness that paired well with the lemon coconut flavor profile.

Love the upgrade and I had a hard time not eating so much of it after it cooled. I think she would be proud.

lemon coconut pound cake sliced — Cake flour and coconut milk gives a soft crumb and adds moisture

Loaf Pan

Instead of a Bundt pan, I split her original recipe in half and bake it in a loaf pan for smaller servings. This serves two purposes: 1) So I don’t go crazy and eat all of it 2) Perfect for two to four people to munch on (two slices each per person of course). 🙂

Hope you will enjoy this yummy heirloom pound cake as much as I do. Eating this cake brings back many memories, including sitting at her table eating a slice of her delicious cake and remembering how happy I was eating and visiting with her.

Love Cake? Check out some of my other cake creations: