- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Pans:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper to ensure easy release.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine with Dry Ingredients and Milk:
- Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Each time, mix until just incorporated; it’s important not to overmix.
- Bake the Cake:
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Cool and Frost:
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Once cool, frost with your favorite frosting. For a simple choice, a classic buttercream or cream cheese frosting works beautifully.
Frosting Recipe (Simple Buttercream):
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Beat the butter until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl often.
- When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.
- Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Beat in vanilla extract.
Tips for Perfect Cake:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature to achieve a smoother batter.
- Even Baking: If one cake pan is closer to the oven’s heat source, rotate them halfway through baking to help them bake evenly.
- Cooling: Cooling cakes completely before frosting is crucial as it prevents the frosting from melting.
This vanilla cake is moist, fluffy, and versatile, making it ideal for birthdays, celebrations, or even just a comforting weekend treat. Enjoy your baking and the wonderful aroma that will fill your kitchen!