Easy Homemade Vanilla Cake Recipe: A Beginner's Guide to Baking

Prepare Your Ingredients and Workspace

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Before you begin, gather all ingredients and ensure they're at room temperature. You'll need 2¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1⅓ cups granulated sugar, 3½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup softened butter, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs. Room temperature ingredients blend better and create a smoother batter, resulting in a more uniform cake texture.

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Prepare Your Baking Pans

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Proper pan preparation is crucial for easy cake removal. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter or cooking spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper circles. Dust the sides with flour, tapping out any excess. This three-step process ensures your cakes will release perfectly after baking.

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Mix Dry Ingredients

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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This step distributes the leavening agents evenly throughout the flour, ensuring your cake rises uniformly. Sift these ingredients together to remove any lumps and incorporate air, which helps create a lighter cake texture.

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Cream Butter and Sugar

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In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. This crucial step incorporates air into the batter, leading to a tender cake. The mixture should be pale yellow and notably increased in volume. Use an electric mixer on medium speed for best results.

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Add Eggs and Vanilla

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Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This allows each egg to be fully incorporated into the butter-sugar mixture. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined. The mixture should be smooth and uniform in color.

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Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (three additions of dry, two of milk). Mix on low speed just until combined. This method prevents overmixing and ensures a tender cake.

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