What Is the Difference Between Pound Cake Mix and Yellow Cake Mix?

eHow
May 26, 2011

Pound cake and yellow cake mixes produce two distinct confections with different ingredients, yields, textures and flavors. Pound cake traditionally contained one pound each of butter, sugar, flour and eggs. Modern recipes scale back the ingredients, but the ratio of 1:1:1:1 builds the foundation for any size pound cake. Varying recipes for the less formulaic yellow cake call for different amounts of flour, sugar, butter or oil, and eggs.

Ingredients
Pound cake mix typically calls for the addition of 2/3 cup of water or milk, ½ stick (or ¼ cup) of butter and two eggs. The ingredients in a basic pound cake mix include sugar, flour, corn syrup, corn starch, leavening agents, additives, artificial flavor, color and preservatives.

Yellow cake mix calls for 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of oil and three eggs. The yellow cake mix ingredients are similar to that of the pound cake: sugar, flour, wheat starch, baking powder, corn starch, salt, artificial flavor, additives, color and preservatives.

Additives serve a number of functions, from coloring and flavor enhancement to preservation and anti-clumping. Some additives thought to be harmful, particularly trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, have been removed from many packaged foods. (See References 1)

Yield and Nutrition
A typical pound cake mix makes eight servings. The directions call for the cake to be baked in a loaf pan or Bundt pan, both of which produce eight rather large slices. A typical yellow cake mix makes 12 servings in a 13x9 rectangular cake pan, two 8-inch rounds, a Bundt pan or 24 cupcakes.

The nutritional values of the two varieties differ significantly. The pound cake contains more calories, fat, carbohydrates, sugar and protein.

Texture
Dense and moist pound cake contains butter, an ingredient not typical of other cake mixes, which usually call for vegetable or canola oil. This indicates a much richer cake. Pound cake can hold up to a heavy frosting or glaze.

Lighter in texture, yellow cake crumbles more than pound cake. Because the mix incorporates a great number of eggs than pound cake, the yellow cake will be fluffier. A traditional birthday cake base, yellow cake carries icing well.

Flavor
The buttery flavor of pound cake cannot be achieved with the canola or vegetable oil called for with most other cake mixes. Vanilla usually flavors boxed mixes, and its subtle flavor makes pound cake a perfect base for trifles, fruit toppings and other accoutrements.

Sweet yellow cake also has a subtle vanilla flavor, but it lacks the buttery richness of pound cake. Often iced with chocolate frosting to add flavor, yellow cake can be accented with any flavor for a custom cake.

References
Reader's Digest Version: Four Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods
Gourmet Sleuth: Pound Cake
Martha Stewart.com: Yellow Butter Cake