MY GO-TO YELLOW CAKE RECIPE

Let me preface this post by saying 1. I'm not a food photographer and 2. we wanted to eat it so badly I didn't take many pictures before we destroyed this bad boy!

My three-year-old requested a cake for no reason, and being the fat kid that I am, I was like "sure! why not?!" Problemo- it was 6:00 pm and I was not about to run to the store. I searched Pinterest for the easiest and yummiest cake recipe, and turned up with this gem. This is now my go-to yellow cake recipe! So simple, very few ingredients, in fact I bet you have all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Mwuahahaha!

This cake is m-o-i-s-t, slightly dense but light, buttery, and absolutely de-lish. The frosting is my friend, Lori's, go-to vanilla frosting. It's sweet but not disgustingly so. Nice and fluffy.

Scroll down for the recipe.

UPDATE: I made it again and it's just so freaking good! Make sure to read the notes though!

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

2 tbsp good vanilla extract

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 20-25 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs. DO NOT over bake- the secret to the yummiest cakes!

7. Cool in pans on wire rack for 5 minutes, then flip out on wire rack and cool completely. 

*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