pre-heat oven to 350℉butter and sugar your tube or bundt pan, once you butter or grease your pan, put ¼ cup of sugar in the bottom and swirl around till about 3 inches up the sides, the remaining just leave in the bottom of the pan. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and soda and set aside.
In a large bowl beat the butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. then add the 2 cups of sugar and continue beating for a couple of minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time making sure each one is mixed in well. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract.
Alternating dry ingredients with the buttermilk just until they are combined, you don't want to overmix it for it will make for a dry cake. (see below if using coconut) Add batter to your prepared cake pan spread to make it even.
Coconut: if using coconut you will sprinkle it into the pan before adding your batter.
Bake for about 50 minutes to an hour until a toothpick comes out clean. Once baked remove it from the oven and let it sit foe 10 minutes. Then score around the pan and carefully remove it from the pan onto a rack to cool.