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  6. Yellow cake vs. Pound cake

Pound Cake vs. Yellow Cake — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Elen Khachatrian by Elen Khachatrian | Last updated on July 26, 2023
Medically reviewed by Astghik Baghinyan Article author photo Astghik Baghinyan
Yellow cake
vs
Pound cake

Summary

Pound cake's ingredients are the same as yellow cake's, except they do not contain as much chocolate. Yellow cake provides slightly more calories and fat when compared to pound cake. 

Pound cakes are much richer in almost all vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins. Specifically, pound cakes provide 4 times more Vitamin B1, as well as 3 times more Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B5. On the other hand, yellow cake contains 7 times more Vitamin E and 15 times more Vitamin K.

When it comes to minerals, yellow cake is richer, containing more iron, copper, and less sodium than pound cake.

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
    1. What's the Actual Difference?
      1. Nutrition
        1. Macronutrients and Calories
          1. Calories
          2. Fats
          3. Carbohydrates
          4. Fiber
        2. Vitamins
          1. Minerals
            1. Glycemic Index
              1. Acidity
              2. Health Impact
                1. References

                  Introduction

                  This article will discuss the main differences between yellow cake and pound cake. We will focus on the nutritional value and health impact of these cakes.

                  What's the Actual Difference?

                  Classic yellow cake is made from salt, flour, eggs, sugar, milk, butter, vanilla, and chocolate. It has a vanilla flavor and a tender and fluffy texture. 

                  Pound cake's ingredients are the same as yellow cake's, except chocolate. It has a sweet and buttery taste and a dense, velvety texture.

                  Nutrition

                  The nutritional differences here are depicted for commercially prepared, butter pound cake and commercially prepared yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

                  The serving sizes for both are usually one piece. One piece of individually wrapped pound cake is 49 grams, while one piece of yellow cake is about 64 grams.

                  However, to keep the comparison between the two simple, we will sometimes refer to 100-gram servings of each in this section. 

                  Macronutrients and Calories

                  As can be seen from the macronutrient comparison charts below, pound cake and yellow cake have similar compositions. The predominant macronutrients in both are carbs, making up about 55% of the entire composition.

                  Macronutrient Comparison

                  Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
                  3% 18% 55% 22%
                  Protein: 3.16 g
                  Fats: 17.75 g
                  Carbs: 55.36 g
                  Water: 22.38 g
                  Other: 1.35 g
                  5% 14% 54% 26%
                  Protein: 5 g
                  Fats: 13.96 g
                  Carbs: 53.64 g
                  Water: 25.87 g
                  Other: 1.53 g
                  Contains more FatsFats +27.1%
                  Contains more ProteinProtein +58.2%
                  Contains more WaterWater +15.6%
                  Contains more OtherOther +13.3%
                  ~equal in Carbs ~53.64g

                  Calories

                  Both pound cake and yellow cake are very high in calories. 

                  Per 100-gram serving, pound cake provides 353 calories, while the same serving of yellow cake provides only slightly more, 379 calories.

                  Fats

                  The yellow cake contains slightly more fat than the pound cake. 

                  Per 100-gram serving, the yellow cake contains 18 grams of fat, while the pound cake contains 14 grams of fat.

                  Carbohydrates

                  Both yellow cakes and pound cakes are considered high-carb foods. 

                  Yellow cake has 55.36g of carbs per 100g, and pound cake contains 53.64 carbs per 100g. If you have diabetes or you're controlling your blood glucose levels, be mindful of eating these cakes.

                  Fiber

                  The amount of fiber in yellow cake is slightly higher than in pound cake. It contains 1.5g of fiber per 100g, while pound cake contains 0.6g per same serving.

                  Vitamins

                  The vitamin content of pound cake is richer than that of yellow cake.

                  Pound cakes provide more B-complex vitamins than yellow cakes. Specifically, pound cakes provide 4 times more Vitamin B1, 3 times more Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B5, and 2 times more Vitamin B3 and folate. Moreover, it also contains some amounts of Vitamin B12, which is completely absent in yellow cake.

                  On the other hand, yellow cake contains 7 times more Vitamin E and 15 times more Vitamin K.

                  Vitamin Comparison

                  Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
                  Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 1.6% 90% 6% 11% 21% 15% 9.9% 0% 0% 63% 17% 9.5%
                  Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 14% 13% 24% 43% 57% 30% 29% 8.3% 45% 4.3% 32% 36%
                  Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +592.3%
                  Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +1376.5%
                  Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +826.9%
                  Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +300%
                  Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +302.3%
                  Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +167.7%
                  Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +101.9%
                  Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +193.9%
                  Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +∞%
                  Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +∞%
                  Contains more FolateFolate +90.9%
                  Contains more CholineCholine +277%
                  ~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg

                  Minerals

                  Yellow cake has more minerals than pound cake. It contains more iron, copper, and less sodium than pound cake.

                  The amount of copper is 2 times higher in yellow cakes when compared to pound cakes.

                  Both provide similar amounts of phosphorus, zinc, potassium, and selenium.

                  Mineral Comparison

                  Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
                  Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 14% 9.6% 17% 76% 53% 11% 59% 40% 29% 32%
                  Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 5.7% 14% 13% 56% 14% 12% 60% 49% 14% 27%
                  Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +150%
                  Contains more PotassiumPotassium +25.5%
                  Contains more IronIron +37.2%
                  Contains more CopperCopper +278.6%
                  Contains less SodiumSodium -17.8%
                  Contains more ManganeseManganese +101.8%
                  Contains more SeleniumSelenium +18%
                  Contains more CalciumCalcium +46.9%
                  ~equal in Zinc ~0.43mg
                  ~equal in Phosphorus ~140mg

                  Glycemic Index

                  The GI of pound cake is 54, whereas the GI of yellow cake is unknown. However, both cakes are high in carbs, so it is better to avoid too much consumption.

                  Acidity

                  One way to understand the acidity of foods is through their potential renal acid load (PRAL) value, which shows how much acid or base the given food produces inside the organism. 

                  Based on our calculations, the PRAL values of yellow cakes and pound cakes are 1.8 and 3.7, respectively, meaning both values are acidic.

                  Health Impact

                  Both cakes are high in carbs, calories, and sodium. According to research, consuming highly processed foods high in simple carbohydrates may harm heart health and affect your blood sugar levels (1).

                  References

                  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33319568/
                  Article author photo Elen Khachatrian
                  Education: Nutrition & Microbiology at YSU
                  Last updated: July 26, 2023
                  Medically reviewed by Astghik Baghinyan

                  Infographic

                  Yellow cake vs Pound cake infographic
                  Infographic link

                  Fat Type Comparison

                  Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
                  33% 41% 27%
                  Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 5.793 g
                  Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 7.214 g
                  Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.728 g
                  43% 27% 30%
                  Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.811 g
                  Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.02 g
                  Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 3.419 g
                  Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +138.9%
                  Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +38.3%
                  Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -17%

                  Carbohydrate type comparison

                  Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
                  18% 76% 3%
                  Starch: 8.55 g
                  Sucrose: 36.51 g
                  Glucose: 1.29 g
                  Fructose: 0.62 g
                  Lactose: 0.59 g
                  Maltose: 0.21 g
                  Galactose: 0 g
                  34% 60% 3%
                  Starch: 17.36 g
                  Sucrose: 30.68 g
                  Glucose: 0.75 g
                  Fructose: 0.33 g
                  Lactose: 1.27 g
                  Maltose: 0.33 g
                  Galactose: 0 g
                  Contains more SucroseSucrose +19%
                  Contains more GlucoseGlucose +72%
                  Contains more FructoseFructose +87.9%
                  Contains more StarchStarch +103%
                  Contains more LactoseLactose +115.3%
                  Contains more MaltoseMaltose +57.1%
                  ~equal in Galactose ~0g

                  Comparison summary table

                  Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
                  Yellow cake Pound cake
                  Lower in Cholesterol ok
                  Lower in Sodium ok
                  Lower in Glycemic Index ok
                  Lower in Sugar ok
                  Lower in Saturated Fat ok
                  Rich in vitamins ok
                  Lower in price Equal
                  Rich in minerals Equal

                  All nutrients comparison - raw data values

                  Nutrient Yellow cake Pound cake Opinion
                  Calories 379kcal 353kcal Yellow cake
                  Protein 3.16g 5g Pound cake
                  Fats 17.75g 13.96g Yellow cake
                  Net carbs 53.86g 53.04g Yellow cake
                  Carbs 55.36g 53.64g Yellow cake
                  Cholesterol 16mg 66mg Yellow cake
                  Vitamin D 6IU 34IU Pound cake
                  Magnesium 20mg 8mg Yellow cake
                  Calcium 32mg 47mg Pound cake
                  Potassium 187mg 149mg Yellow cake
                  Iron 2.03mg 1.48mg Yellow cake
                  Sugar 39.22g 33.36g Pound cake
                  Fiber 1.5g 0.6g Yellow cake
                  Copper 0.159mg 0.042mg Yellow cake
                  Zinc 0.42mg 0.43mg Pound cake
                  Starch 8.55g 17.36g Pound cake
                  Phosphorus 138mg 140mg Pound cake
                  Sodium 310mg 377mg Yellow cake
                  Vitamin A 26IU 241IU Pound cake
                  Vitamin A 7µg 70µg Pound cake
                  Vitamin E 4.5mg 0.65mg Yellow cake
                  Vitamin D 0.2µg 0.8µg Pound cake
                  Manganese 0.222mg 0.11mg Yellow cake
                  Selenium 5.9µg 5µg Yellow cake
                  Vitamin B1 0.043mg 0.173mg Pound cake
                  Vitamin B2 0.093mg 0.249mg Pound cake
                  Vitamin B3 0.8mg 1.615mg Pound cake
                  Vitamin B5 0.165mg 0.485mg Pound cake
                  Vitamin B6 0mg 0.036mg Pound cake
                  Vitamin B12 0µg 0.36µg Pound cake
                  Vitamin K 25.1µg 1.7µg Yellow cake
                  Folate 22µg 42µg Pound cake
                  Trans Fat 1.313g 0.192g Pound cake
                  Choline 17.4mg 65.6mg Pound cake
                  Saturated Fat 5.793g 4.811g Pound cake
                  Monounsaturated Fat 7.214g 3.02g Yellow cake
                  Polyunsaturated fat 4.728g 3.419g Yellow cake
                  Tryptophan 0.041mg Pound cake
                  Threonine 153mg Pound cake
                  Isoleucine 0.204mg Pound cake
                  Leucine 0.397mg Pound cake
                  Lysine 0.198mg Pound cake
                  Methionine 0.117mg Pound cake
                  Phenylalanine 0.239mg Pound cake
                  Valine 0.249mg Pound cake
                  Histidine 0.117mg Pound cake
                  Fructose 0.62g 0.33g Yellow cake
                  Omega-3 - EPA 0g 0.001g Pound cake
                  Omega-3 - DHA 0g 0.007g Pound cake
                  Omega-3 - ALA 0.474g 0.372g Yellow cake
                  Omega-3 - DPA 0g 0.005g Pound cake
                  Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.026g 0.015g Yellow cake
                  Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.001g 0.008g Pound cake
                  Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g 0.004g
                  Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 3.999g 2.895g Yellow cake

                  Which food is preferable for your diet?

                  ok
                  ok
                  is better in case of low diet
                  Yellow cake Pound cake
                  Low Calories diet ok
                  Low Fats diet ok
                  Low Carbs diet ok
                  Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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                  Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

                  The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
                  Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
                  19%
                  Yellow cake
                  26%
                  Pound cake
                  Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
                  34%
                  Yellow cake
                  26%
                  Pound cake

                  Comparison summary

                  Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
                  Yellow cake
                  Yellow cake is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 50mg)
                  Which food contains less Sodium?
                  Yellow cake
                  Yellow cake contains less Sodium (difference - 67mg)
                  Which food is lower in glycemic index?
                  Yellow cake
                  Yellow cake is lower in glycemic index (difference - 54)
                  Which food is lower in Sugar?
                  Pound cake
                  Pound cake is lower in Sugar (difference - 5.86g)
                  Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
                  Pound cake
                  Pound cake is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.982g)
                  Which food is richer in vitamins?
                  Pound cake
                  Pound cake is relatively richer in vitamins
                  Which food is cheaper?
                  ?
                  The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
                  Which food is richer in minerals?
                  ?
                  It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

                  References

                  All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

                  1. Yellow cake - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174944/nutrients
                  2. Pound cake - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172704/nutrients

                  All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

                  Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.