1 box Sun-Maid raisins (cheaper ones will not do, I tried them)
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
4 extra lg. eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 c. sugar
5 c. all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla (I use two)
1 c. buttermilk

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Soak raisins in boiling water for at least 1 hour. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly, add eggs, one at a time, beat well after each egg. Then begin adding flour and buttermilk alternately adding salt and soda, then raisins after draining thoroughly. Mix thoroughly.

Cook for approximately 2 hours in tube pan, which has been greased and floured. After one hour and 50 minutes, stick toothpick in deep and check for doneness. Ovens differ, and it takes all of 2 hours to cook mine.

Hope you have good luck with it. I put my butter in the mixing pan I intend to use for everything and cover with a plate and put eggs in that and leave out overnight.