Apple Cider Pound Cake with Buttermilk Icing

3 cups sugar
1 1/4 cup butter
6 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup apple cider
1 tsp. vanilla extract


In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. In separate bowl, stir together all dry ingredients; set aside. Add dry ingredients alternately with cider to batter mixture. Mix well. Spoon into greased 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 325 F for 1 hour, 10 minutes. Invert onto serving dish. While cake is warm, drizzle buttermilk icing over cake if desired.


Icing
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. baking soda


In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil; Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Drizzle over cake.