Pound cake - Definition

Pound cake is an American English name for a type of fruit cake known in British English as a Madeira cake. Its name originated from the ingredients used in quantities of Imperial pounds. This results in a large, dense cake not often suited to modern American tastes, though the style (if not the size) is still popular in Britain. American pound cakes are lighter, but often contain an abundance of butter, to provide a rich taste.

A traditional Pound Cake recipe would specify one pound each of flour, butter, eggs (8 eggs), sugar, and several kinds of dried fruit (currants, sultanas, and raisins, with perhaps a lesser quantity of glacé cherries). (These quantities are too great for most modern families, but an excellent cake can be made with half quantities or less.) It is usual to weigh the eggs first and then use the same weights of the other ingredients; with a traditional pair of kitchen scales, the eggs are simply used instead of weights.

Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject:

Pound cake