Description
Vanilla cake delights home bakers with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques that guarantee a delectable dessert. Mixing bowl magic happens when classic pantry staples come together, creating a tender, golden treat your family will adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the oven to precisely 350F, ensuring the rack sits in the center position.
- Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with butter, then dust thoroughly with flour to prevent sticking.
- Beat ½ cup softened butter with 1 ½ cups sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Crack 3 large eggs into the butter mixture, incorporating each one completely before adding the next.
- Splash 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the batter, stirring until evenly distributed.
- Whisk 2 cups flour with 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt in a separate container.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and 1 cup milk to the butter mixture, stirring gently after each addition.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
- Slide the pans into the preheated oven and bake for exactly 30-35 minutes.
- Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should emerge clean without wet batter.
- Remove cakes from the oven and let them rest in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly and create a softer cake texture.
- Sift dry ingredients to prevent clumping and ensure a lighter, more even crumb.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend.
- Avoid overmixing the batter, which can make the cake tough and dense.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 319 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 217 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 71 mg