Old Fashioned Pound Cake

This is a genuine pound cake, made just as original pound cakes were made— with a pound each of butter, sugar, flour and eggs.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups butter
2 cups granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 large eggs, separated
1 tablespoon vanilla extract*

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt® , a 10-inch tube pan or two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans. Set aside.
2. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until soft and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until yellow disappears and mixture is light and fluffy. Add vanilla, mixing well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda and then gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing at low speed just until blended after each addition.
4. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan and let cool completely on wire rack.

Makes 1 (10-inch) cake or 2 loaf cakes.

*Or 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 teaspoon lemon or almond extract.