Basic Vanilla Cake

Ingredients

-1½ c. sifted cake flour
-1½ tsp. baking powder
-¼ tsp. salt
-½ c. unsalted butter
-1 c. sugar
-2 large eggs
-½ tsp. vanilla extract
-½ c. whole milk

Directions

1-Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8-inch cake pan with butter and dust with all-purpose flour. Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.

2-Beat in the butter one heaping 1/4 teaspoonful at a time, using an electric mixer set on low speed, until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Beat in the sugar a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture resembles fine damp sand. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and milk, and beat on medium-high, just until blended. Do not overbeat.

3-Pour into the prepared pan and bake until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean — 30 to 35 minutes. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

4-Un-mold and cool completely.