Chocolate Pound Cake

This recipe is from Kim Daisy and was published in People Magazine's special entertaining issue. She has a cookbook titled Daisey Cakes. It sounds wonderful. Can't wait to give it a try!

Chocolate Pound Cake

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Icing (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10-inch tube pan.

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, or until soft and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Pour batter into greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

Bake for 1 hour or until long wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Do not open the oven door during baking. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on wire rack, about 1 hour.

Frost with Chocolate Frosting if desired.