This cake is m-o-i-s-t, slightly dense but light, buttery, and absolutely delicious. The frosting is my friend, Lori’s, go-to vanilla frosting. It’s sweet but not disgustingly so. Nice and fluffy. I’ve also used cream cheese frosting and it’s perfect and not too sweet. So simple, very few ingredients, in fact I bet you have all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now!
Scroll down for the recipe. Make sure to read the notes!
NOTES:
*If you want your cake to taste fresh and delicious, use fresh and delicious ingredients. I know that sounds like common sense- but seriously- use GOOD and real (read: expensive) vanilla extract, use the best butter, eggs, milk, etc. It truly makes a difference.
*UNDER BAKE this cake. My rule of thumb is set the timer 5-10 minutes under what the recipe says and keep testing every 2-3 minutes. The cake should be firm with a little JIGGLE when you gently shake the pan. It will KEEP COOKING in the pan!! Put a knife in the middle and it should come out with crumbs on it- NOT clean. Clean means you probably over baked it. But still eat it. Obviously.
RECIPE:
GO-TO YELLOW CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, room temp
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk (you can sub half or all with buttermilk- YUM)
2 tbsp good vanilla extract
Milk soak: 1/4 cup milk + 1 tsp vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter and flour pans (I used 2- 9″ rounds).
3. Sift dry ingredients and set aside.
4. Beat butter for 3 minutes. Add sugar and beat another 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and beat thoroughly.
5. Add flour mixture on lowest speed one cup at a time, alternating with milk. End with the flour mixture. Add vanilla and mix well. Pour into prepared cake pans.
6. Bake about 20 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs. DO NOT over bake- the secret to the yummiest cakes! The cake should jiggle a tiny bit in the middle.
7. Cool in pans on wire rack for 5 minutes only, then flip out on wire rack and cool completely.
8. Mix milk soak together and brush over the surface of the cake before frosting.
*adapted from THIS recipe
VANILLA FROSTING
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1/4 tsp salt
1 (32 oz) package powdered sugar
6-7 tbsp milk
1 tbsp good vanilla extract
1. Beat butter and salt on medium speed 1-2 minutes until creamy
2. Gradually add powdered sugar alternating with milk at low speed til blended and smooth
3. Mix in vanilla and food coloring if adding. Whip until desired fluffiness.
*adapted from Southern Living Magazine
Moral of the story: bake a cake for no reason.
-L