Powdered Sugar Pound Cake

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Sift powdered sugar; gradually add to butter, beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture.
• Heavily butter a 10-inch (12-cup) plain or decorative tube pan; add sliced almonds (if used), then tilt pan to coat inside surfaces with nuts. Or butter pan and dust with flour.
• Scrape batter into pan and smooth top surface.
• Bake in a 300° oven until a slender wooden toothpick inserted in center come out clean, about 1½ hours.
• Let cool in pan on a rack for about 5 minutes; run a knife around edges of tube to loosen center of cake, then invert cake onto rack to cool.
• Serve warm or cool, cut into thin slices.