Description
Sweet vanilla cake magic unfolds with simple ingredients and foolproof technique. Bakers discover pure comfort in this classic dessert that delivers rich flavor and tender crumb, inviting you to savor each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Essentials:
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 ¾ cups (330 grams) cake flour
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 2 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk, at room temperature
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C). Thoroughly coat two 9-inch round cake pans or a 9×13-inch rectangular pan with grease and flour to prevent sticking.
- Using an electric mixer, transform softened butter and granulated sugar into a voluminous, airy mixture by whipping for 4-5 minutes until the texture becomes light and fluffy.
- Introduce eggs individually into the creamed mixture, ensuring thorough integration after each addition. Incorporate vanilla extract, blending until the essence is uniformly distributed.
- In a separate vessel, combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt through a gentle whisking motion, creating a cohesive dry ingredient blend.
- Methodically introduce the dry ingredient mixture into the butter-sugar base, alternating with milk. Execute this process in three dry ingredient additions and two milk additions, always beginning and concluding with dry ingredients. Mix gently to maintain batter integrity, avoiding overmixing.
- Distribute the cake batter evenly between prepared pans, using a spatula to smooth and level the surface for uniform baking.
- Position pans in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cake’s center – it should emerge clean without any batter residue.
- After removing from the oven, allow cakes to rest in their pans for approximately 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack, permitting complete temperature reduction before frosting or serving.
Notes
- Softened butter ensures a smoother, more even cake texture, so take butter out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
- Sift dry ingredients to eliminate lumps and create a lighter, more delicate cake crumb, preventing dense or uneven baking.
- Room temperature eggs blend more easily and create a more uniform batter, helping the cake rise evenly and maintain a consistent structure.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace cake flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, which maintains similar texture and prevents crumbly results.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg