
Ponqué (Colombian Pound Cake)
Ingredients
- 3 sticks of butter at room temperature
- 3 cups of sugar
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup of whole milk at room temperature
- ½ cup of heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Butter two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans and line with buttered parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the beaten eggs, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla.
- Reduce the speed to low, add half the flour mixture and beat until incorporated. Beat in the milk and cream until blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat just until the batter is smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake until the top of each cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let cool for about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely.

To start, my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy. I hope you and your families are safe. I am thinking of you!
Now for the recipe...Ponqué is the Colombian version of pound cake, which is basically a cake made with equal parts of each ingredient, flour, butter, and sugar. Our Colombian version is moist, buttery and rich, very similar to the American version.
I have so many childhood memories of times spent with my Mom, but the ones I like the most are the times we spent baking and cooking together. This cake brings back a lot of childhood memories for me. I grew up eating this dessert.
This my Mom's Ponqué recipe, which she just gave to me over the phone a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks, Mom!
Buen provecho!



Claudia
Hi Erica.
I came across your recipe page and truly struck gold.
Absolutely love your recipes. They’re easy to follow and full of wonderful memories. Thank you.
I am eager to make this cake as it reminds me of a ponque my dad used to buy me at a place called “La Viña”mans I was hoping
you could clarify the actual measurements for the butter I need to use.
“3 sticks of butter at room temperature”
Thank you
Jess
Can you make this cake in round cake pans for a layered cake? What size would you recommend?
Anonymous
Hello, v fin Please what brand on flour an butter do you uses? Thank you!
Adonay Fresneda
Is it salted or unsalted butter?
Erica Dinho
Unsalted
Anonymous
Hola Erika,
Soy Colombiana viviendo en la India, tengo una duda podría hacer el ponque sin los huevos? o que me aconsejas. Gracias
Andrea
Hola Erika. Soy colombiana y vivo en usa. Precisamente llevo una semana con ganas de aprender a hacer Tortas a lo colombiano. Tu receta se ve deliciosa. Que marca de harina y mantequilla recomiendas que pueda comprar acá para que salga bien. Tengo entendido que eso influye.
Gracias