Pound Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a tube pan.
2. 2
   Cream the butter and shortening together in a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, starting at the slowest setting and increasing to a medium speed after 3 or 4 minutes.
3. 3
   Cream on this setting until done.
4. 4
   Add the sugar a little at a time.
5. 5
   Add the eggs, 1 egg at a time, mixing after each addition, until well incorporated.
6. 6
   In a mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix with a wire whisk until thoroughly combined.
7. 7
   Reduce the stand mixer setting to the lowest speed.
8. 8
   Start adding a little of the dry ingredient mix followed by some milk.
9. 9
   Alternate the dry ingredients and the milk ending with dry ingredients.
10. 10
    Then add the vanilla extract.
11. 11
    Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pound cake comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
12. 12
    Remove the pound cake from the oven and let it cool down for 3 to 5 minutes.
13. 13
    Gently flip tube pan over to remove the cake, and cool the pound cake on a wire rack.
14. 14
    If the pound cake cools too long while still in the tube pan, it might break or not come out.
15. 15
    Cool the cake for 30 minutes before dusting with confectioners' sugar.
16. 16
    Serve the same day or lightly toasted the following day.