This Easy Vanilla Cake recipe is a classic and comes together in minutes. Even if you've never baked a cake from scratch, you will find this simple and achievable!
8 inch (20 cm) round cake pan with high sides use a light colored cake pan
electric mixer
Ingredients
½cupunsalted butter((or 1 stick or 113grams) (softened - see notes))
1cupsuperfine white sugar((also known as castor sugar))
2eggs((room temperature))
2cupsplain (all purpose) flour((250 grams))
4 teaspoonsbaking powder((check the recommended amount for your brand of baking powder - see notes))
½cupwhole milk((for a less dense cake - use ⅔ cup milk))
4teaspoonsvanilla extract
¼teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
Butter and line the base of an 8inch/20cm round deep cake pan then dust with flour to ensure the cake doesn't stick. Remember to use a light colored cake pan.
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. I like to sift onto a sheet of baking paper to save washing up.
Place all ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on low for 30 seconds.
Scrap the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure all the flour has been incorporated. Be sure to scrape the bottom - sometimes the mixer blade doesn't full incorporate the ingredients at the bottom.
Mix again this time on medium speed for 3 minutes. The cake batter should lighten in color and be thick and creamy.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, tap the pan on the kitchen bench to remove excess air bubbles and place into the oven.
Bake for 35-45 minutes. It will be cooked when the cake no longer jiggles, is coming away from the side of the pan, springs back when pressed and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out on a wire rack. Flip so that it is up the right way and allow to cool.
A simple dusting of powdered sugar is all it needs. Can be served warm or cool. Best eaten with 3 days.
Notes
1/2 cup of unsalted butter is equal to a stick of butter for US readers.
To soften butter quickly, simply grate with a coarse grater. Allow to stand until softened which won't take long.
Baking powder can differ in each country. Be sure to check the packaging for the correct ratio of baking powder to flour. The baking powder I used states to use 2 teaspoons per 1 cup of flour. Also remember that baking powder has an expiry date. Always use fresh baking powder!
If you have access to self raising flour you can substitute 2 cups of self raising flour for 2 cups of plain flour and 4 teaspoons baking powder.
If you would like a less dense cake add a little more milk - instead of 1/2 cup add 2/3 cup of milk. In this case, give the cake 5 or 10 more minutes in the oven.
To measure flour correctly for this recipe.
Stir the flour to lighten then spoon it into measuring cup and level off with a knife. Don't dip and scoop the measuring cup into the flour bag or pack the flour into the measuring cup.