Making a cake is a delightful and satisfying process. Here's a basic recipe for a classic vanilla cake with buttercream frosting. You can customize it with your choice of flavors, fillings, and decorations.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp milk or cream (adjust for desired consistency)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles or decorations (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Sift Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This can take about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
4. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Alternate Dry Ingredients and Milk:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, alternating with the milk. Start and finish with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing, which can make the cake tough.
6. Divide and Pour Batter:
Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
7. Bake:
Place the cake pans in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven.
8. Cool:
Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove them from the pans and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Prepare Buttercream Frosting:
While the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream frosting. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk or cream. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Add food coloring if desired.
10. Assemble and Frost:
Once the cakes are completely cool, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a layer of frosting on top. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the top and sides of the entire cake with a generous layer of buttercream.
11. Decorate:
Decorate the cake with sprinkles, chocolate shavings, fruit, or any other decorations you like.
12. Slice and Serve:
Use a sharp knife to slice the cake, and enjoy your homemade creation!
Feel free to get creative with flavors, fillings, and decorations to make your cake unique and tailored to your preferences. Happy baking!
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