Making a cake involves several steps. Here's a general guide on how to make a basic cake:
Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional:
- Additional flavorings (such as cocoa powder, lemon zest, etc.)
- Frosting or icing of your choice
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a cake pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer or a stand mixer.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all the ingredients evenly.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing well after each addition. This helps ensure a well-blended batter.
Add the vanilla extract (and any additional flavorings you desire) to the batter and mix until everything is fully combined and smooth. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as it can lead to a dense cake.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly.
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on the cake as it bakes.
Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cake has cooled, you can frost or decorate it as desired. Choose your favorite frosting or icing, and apply it evenly on the top and sides of the cake using a spatula or a piping bag.
Finally, slice and serve the cake. Enjoy!
Remember that this is a basic cake recipe, and you can experiment with different flavors, fillings, and decorations to customize it to your liking.