Indulge in the ultimate homemade treat: this rich, buttery, and incredibly dense Chocolate Chip Pound Cake. Packed with an abundance of melty chocolate chips in every bite, it’s designed to elevate your baking experience and become your new favorite. Say goodbye to long coffee shop lines and hello to the comforting aroma of a freshly baked, utterly delicious pound cake right in your own kitchen. This isn’t just a cake; it’s a statement of comfort, warmth, and pure indulgence that promises to satisfy every craving.

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Pound Cake Recipe
There’s nothing quite like a perfectly baked pound cake, and this Chocolate Chip Pound Cake recipe truly stands out. With its distinctive buttery flavor, irresistibly moist crumb, and wonderfully dense texture, it’s a delightful step above any coffee shop offering. Imagine a slice of this heavenly cake, adorned with generous pockets of warm, melted chocolate, enjoyed with your morning coffee, as a satisfying afternoon pick-me-up, or as a sophisticated after-dinner dessert. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary experience, making it a must-try for any baking enthusiast.

Beyond the Coffee Shop: Crafting Your Perfect Loaf
While the convenience of grabbing a slice of pound cake from a drive-thru can be tempting, the satisfaction of baking your own is unmatched. This recipe was born from a desire to elevate that simple pleasure. We’ve taken the classic pound cake and infused it with an unparalleled buttery richness and a perfect density, creating a loaf that’s not only incredibly moist but also bursting with the ideal amount of premium chocolate chips. Each bite is a testament to homemade goodness, proving that the best treats are often those made with love and attention in your own kitchen. Prepare to fall in love with this superior chocolate chip pound cake – it truly is a game-changer.

Essential Ingredients and Supplies for Your Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Crafting the perfect Chocolate Chip Pound Cake starts with quality ingredients and the right tools. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to achieve that irresistible texture and flavor. (For exact measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
Key Ingredients:
- Softened Unsalted Butter: The foundation of any great pound cake. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content, ensuring a balanced flavor profile, while softened butter is crucial for proper creaming.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and contributes to the cake’s tender crumb and golden-brown crust.
- Large Eggs: Bind the ingredients together, add richness, and help with the cake’s structure and moisture. Room temperature eggs emulsify better with the butter and sugar.
- Whole Milk: Adds essential moisture and contributes to the cake’s velvety texture. Whole milk is preferred for its richness.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate beautifully. Use a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
- All-Purpose Flour: The primary structural component of the cake. Proper measurement is key to avoiding a dense or dry result.
- Baking Powder: A leavening agent that gives the pound cake a slight lift, ensuring it’s dense yet not overly heavy.
- Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the cake.
- Chocolate Chips: The star of the show! Whether you prefer semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate, choose a good quality brand that melts deliciously.
Essential Supplies:
- 9×5-inch Loaf Pan: The ideal size for achieving that classic pound cake shape and ensuring even baking.
- Electric Mixer (Stand or Handheld) fitted with the Paddle Attachment: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, which is a critical step for the cake’s texture.
- Mixing Bowls: For combining both wet and dry ingredients.
- Rubber Spatula: Perfect for scraping down the bowl and folding in chocolate chips gently.
- Wire Rack: For cooling the cake completely, preventing a soggy bottom.

Mastering the Art of Softened Butter for Perfect Pound Cake
Understanding the perfect consistency of “softened butter” is crucial for baking success, especially when it comes to a dense and moist cake like pound cake. Softened butter should still feel cool to the touch, not warm or greasy. When pressed with your finger, it should yield slightly, leaving an indentation, but it should not be mushy or oily. It should also be pliable enough to bend without breaking.
Butter that is too soft or melted will not properly cream with sugar, leading to a cake with a greasy texture and an undesirable spread during baking. For optimal results, remove chilled butter from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for approximately 25-30 minutes, depending on your kitchen’s temperature. If you’re short on time, explore various methods for softening butter quickly, but always aim for that specific cool-but-pliable consistency.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Follow these detailed steps to bake a flawless Chocolate Chip Pound Cake that will impress everyone with its rich flavor and perfect texture.
- Prepare Your Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (160°C). This ensures the oven is at a consistent temperature when the cake goes in. Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan. This step is vital for preventing the cake from sticking and ensuring a clean release.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of your electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar. Beat them together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This creaming process incorporates air, which contributes to the pound cake’s tender crumb.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully combined. This ensures the eggs are thoroughly integrated into the batter. Next, beat in the whole milk and vanilla extract until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixer.

- Combine Gently: Beat on low speed until the flour mixture is just combined. Overmixing the flour can develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough, dry cake. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently stir in 1 and 1/4 cups of your chosen chocolate chips using a rubber spatula. Ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Fill and Top the Pan: Spread the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan. For an extra chocolatey touch and beautiful presentation, sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips evenly over the top of the batter.

- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If you notice the top of the cake browning too quickly before the center is fully cooked, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. This protects the top while allowing the interior to finish baking. I often tent my loaf halfway through the baking time as a preventative measure.
- Cooling Process: Allow the pound cake to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. This helps the cake set and prevents it from breaking when removed. After 30 minutes, carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling completely on a rack is crucial for avoiding a soggy bottom and achieving the perfect texture. Enjoy your perfectly baked Chocolate Chip Pound Cake!

Tips for Baking the Best Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Achieving a truly spectacular Chocolate Chip Pound Cake involves a few key techniques and considerations. For that perfectly moist, dense, and flavorful result, keep these tips in mind:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify properly, creating a smooth batter that traps air efficiently, leading to a lighter yet still dense crumb.
- Accurate Flour Measurement: Too much flour is a common culprit for dry cakes. Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
- Don’t Overmix: After adding the dry ingredients, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make your pound cake tough and chewy instead of tender.
- Quality Chocolate Chips: The type of chocolate chips matters! Use a brand you love for eating, as their flavor will shine through. You can use semi-sweet, milk, or even a mix of dark and milk chocolate for added complexity.
- Even Chip Distribution: To prevent chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom, toss them with a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter. This light coating helps them stay suspended throughout the cake.
- Oven Temperature Consistency: A consistently heated oven is vital for even baking. Investing in an oven thermometer can help you verify your oven’s accuracy.
- Tenting for Even Browning: As mentioned in the instructions, if the top is browning too quickly, tenting with foil prevents burning while the center finishes cooking.
- Cooling Patience: Resist the urge to cut into the cake while it’s still warm. Allowing it to cool completely in the pan for 30 minutes, then fully on a wire rack, is essential for its structure and texture. Warm cake can be crumbly and less defined.
- Serving Suggestions: This chocolate chip pound cake is delicious on its own, but also pairs wonderfully with a dusting of powdered sugar, a simple vanilla glaze, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, or fresh berries.
Explore More Irresistible Pound Cake Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the classic density and rich flavor of this Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, you’re in for a treat! The world of pound cakes offers endless possibilities for delicious exploration. Here are some other cherished pound cake recipes that are sure to become new family favorites:
- Pumpkin Pound Cake:A quintessential fall delight, this perfectly spiced Pumpkin Pound Cake is wonderfully moist and crowned with the most deliciously sweet glaze. It’s destined to be the star of your autumn dessert table!
- Banana Pudding Pound Cake: Get ready to go bananas for this incredibly moist and flavorful Banana Pudding Pound Cake! It beautifully captures the beloved flavors of the classic Southern dessert in a cake form.
- SuSu’s Sour Cream Pound Cake: Discover a moist and tender pound cake featuring a delightful crackly crust. SuSu’s Sour Cream Pound Cake pairs beautifully with seasonal fresh fruits for a simple, yet utterly crowd-pleasing dessert that’s sure to become a cherished family tradition.
- Neapolitan Pound Cake: Indulge in the classic Neapolitan flavors of strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate, elegantly layered together in this rich and buttery pound cake. Drizzled with a simple sweet glaze and made even more festive with colorful sprinkles, it’s a great cake for any celebration or just a delightful everyday treat!
- Chocolate-Filled Chocolate Chip Pound Cake: For the ultimate chocolate lover, this moist and rich pound cake takes things a step further by being not only studded but also generously filled with even more decadent chocolate chips. Yum!
Proper Storage and Freezing for Freshness
Ensuring your Chocolate Chip Pound Cake stays fresh and delicious is simple with the right storage methods. Proper storage not only preserves its incredible flavor and texture but also extends its shelf life, allowing you to enjoy it for days or even weeks.
To store chocolate chip pound cake at room temperature, make sure it is completely cooled first. Wrap the entire loaf tightly in plastic wrap or place individual slices in an airtight container. Stored this way, it will remain fresh and moist for up to five days from the date it was baked. Keeping it covered prevents it from drying out and absorbing other refrigerator odors.
To freeze pound cake for longer enjoyment, ensure the cake has cooled completely. Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain, then wrap it again in aluminum foil. Alternatively, slice the cake and place slices in a freezer-safe airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Stored correctly in the freezer, your pound cake will maintain its quality for up to 3 months.
To defrost frozen pound cake, simply transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. Once thawed, keep it covered at room temperature for an hour or two before serving to allow it to reach its optimal texture and flavor. This careful thawing process ensures the cake retains its moisture and doesn’t become dry.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy baking and savoring this magnificent Chocolate Chip Pound Cake. It’s a recipe truly designed to bring joy and deliciousness to your home. If you create this buttery, chocolate-filled masterpiece, please don’t forget to snap a picture and share your wonderful creation with me on Instagram @thebakermama! I absolutely love seeing your inspired takes on my recipes. For even more baking inspiration, tips, and a fantastic community of fellow food lovers, be sure to join my exclusive Friends of The BakerMama group on Facebook. It’s a wonderful place to connect, share your culinary adventures, and discover exciting new ideas. Happy baking!
xoxo,

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Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
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Author: The BakerMama
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 60-70 minutes
Total Time: 1 loaf
Description
This buttery, dense Chocolate Chip Pound Cake with loads of melting chocolate throughout will have you skipping the line at your favorite coffee shop.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 and 1/2 cups chocolate chips, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined. Then beat in the milk and vanilla.
- Add the flour, baking powder and salt and beat on low speed until just combined.
- Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups of the chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top of the cake starts to brown too much before the center is done baking, tent the pan with foil until it is baked all the way through. I usually tent my loaf with foil halfway through the baking time.
- Let cool in pan for 30 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
