Here's a simple recipe for a classic vanilla cake:
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer or beat by hand.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the flour mixture, mixing until just combined after each addition. Be careful not to overmix, as it can result in a dense cake.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cakes have cooled completely, you can frost them with your favorite frosting, such as buttercream or cream cheese frosting. Decorate as desired.
This simple vanilla cake is versatile and can be enjoyed on its own or customized with different frostings, fillings, or toppings to suit your preferences. It's a great base recipe that you can experiment with by adding flavors like lemon zest, chocolate chips, or berries to create variations.