Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Thoroughly coat a large tube pan with shortening and then dust with flour. Set aside.

Step 2

Sift the flour. Set aside.

Step 3

Beat the butter and shortening with a mixer until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.

Step 4

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until incorporated into the butter mixture.

Step 5

Alternate adding the flour and buttermilk together, beginning and ending with the flour. Do not overbeat.

Step 6

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Ran a knife through the batter and then tap the pan on the counter a few times to settle the batter.

Step 7

Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Check the cake after 55 minutes. If it is getting too brown on top, spray cooking spray on one side of a sheet of aluminum foil. Add the sheet to the top of the pan with the sprayed side facing the cake pan.

Step 8

Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Then turn it out onto cake plate.