Lemon Pound Cake

Does everyone need to know how to whip up a pie crust from scratch, or build a towering, elaborately decorated layer cake? Absolutely not. But every cook should have at least one good dessert up their sleeve, and this classic, lightly glazed lemon pound cake should be yours. Rich and tender, not too sweet, and fragrant from tons of lemon zest, it's the kind of baked good you can just as easily serve with coffee in the afternoon or as the finale to a sit-down dinner party. (Nobody will get mad if you top each slice with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of homemade whipped cream, or even just a spoonful of good Greek yogurt.) You will need a couple of pieces of equipment, namely a loaf pan and a hand mixer, but both are kitchen essentials and not very expensive—consider this your excuse to invest.

Head this way for more of our best lemon desserts →