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Classic Pound Cake

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Classic Pound Cake

Light on effort, heavy on flavor, pound cake has earned its centuries-long popularity. It owes its name to the traditional ingredients -- one pound each of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs -- which remain essentially the same today.

The recipe isn't difficult, but it tends to be a bit finicky so make sure to follow the instructions carefully for cakes that are airy and rich, not tough and dense.

Ingredients

Makes 2 cakes

  • 1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 4 sticks softened unsalted butter, plus more for pans
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 9 large, room-temperature eggs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 5-by-9-inch loaf pans. Combine all-purpose flour and salt in a bowl.
  2. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy, for 8 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to medium, and add vanilla extract.
  3. Lightly beat eggs, and add to mixer bowl in 4 additions, mixing thoroughly after each and scraping down sides. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 4 additions, mixing until just incorporated. Divide batter between pans. Tap on counter to distribute; smooth tops.
  4. Bake until a tester inserted into center of each cake comes out clean, about 65 minutes. Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack.

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