Pound cake is just about the butteriest of butter cakes out there. The name "pound cake" comes from the French "quatre quarts," which refers to the equal amount of the key ingredients (flour, butter, sugar and eggs) in the cake.

Compared to other butter cakes, the ratio of butter or fat is much higher, which gives the resulting cake a dense texture, tight crumb and sturdy shape. Pound cakes work extremely well for cake decorating projects, as they will hold their shape even when sculpted, and they wont collapse under the weight of fondant or buttercream.