Pound cake is a classic in any baker's recipe repertoire. It's perfect for most occasions—picnics, parties, and brunch— and it can be enjoyed any time of year. As a bonus, it keeps well so you can easily make it ahead of time, then slice and serve when you're ready. And this recipe is so easy: One bowl and five ingredients are all you need! Why It's Called 'Pound Cake' Pound cake is an "equal-ratio" cake. In fact, that's where the name "pound cake" comes from! The original pound cake recipe required exactly one pound each of granulated sugar, flour, unsalted butter, and eggs. While you won't need a full pound of each for this recipe, the ingredients for this recipe for traditional pound cake haven't been altered too much; just enough to make a nicely balanced cake that fits nicely in a loaf pan. Many pound cake recipes call for cake flour, but all-purpose flour works just fine here. Baking powder is also used to work its leavening magic in the baking process. To serve and serve again To prevent it from drying out, store leftover pound cake in an airtight container. Make sure the cake is completely cool before placing it into the container. Stored pound cake will keep for several days at room temperature, up to one week when refrigerated, or up to two months when frozen. Read Less