Vanilla Butter Cake

Ingredient list

• Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works and is infinitely cheaper. 
• Butter: this is one of the star ingredients so buy the best quality you can afford.
• Sugar: regular white sugar is the best, but you can use light brown sugar and the cake will be a little bit denser.
• Milk: use whole whenever possible. Buttermilk also works if that's all you have.
• Flour: I use cake flour but all-purpose works just fine. Or maybe a mix of both if you want to experiment.

How to make a butter cake

If you follow the instructions in the recipe, you will have a fluffy and wonderful cake.

1. Mix butter and sugar.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time. 
3. Mix well after each addition. 
4. Add vanilla paste or extract.
5. Add dry ingredients in 3 parts.
6. Add milk in 2 parts. You start and end with the flour mixture. 
7. Beat at low speed until you have a smooth batter. Don't overbeat at this point!
8. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Kitchen notes

• Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!
• Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 
• Ingredients: make sure you have them at room temperature as directed in the recipe. This is important.
• Instructions: follow instructions to ensure the best results. Don't overbeat the batter after adding dry ingredients.
• Vanilla: I like to use 2 or 3 teaspoons, depending on the type of extract I'm using. Since this is a vanilla cake, make sure the flavor shines.
• Baking: have the oven preheated for better results and test for doneness with a cake tester or a brochette stick. It should come out clean. But don't overbake it.
• Storing: it's important to let the cake cool completely on a wire rack. After that, wrap and keep refrigerated for a few days or freeze for up to a month.

What is a vanilla cake?

Any cake that has vanilla as the main flavor can be called a vanilla cake. It's usually made with butter and eggs and the batter has no other flavoring.

Are butter cakes different from yellow or white cakes?

Any cake made with butter (instead of oil for example) can be called a butter cake. So yellow or white cakes can also be butter cakes if made with that ingredient.

What makes a cake moist?

A moist cake has wet ingredients with a certain percentage of fat in them. When you use whole milk instead of water, use sour cream, add an extra yolk to the batter, use oil (in addition to butter or as a substitute) you are adding moisture. The ratio of these ingredients to the dry ingredients determines if a recipe will be drier or moister.

What makes a cake light and fluffy?

Take the time to cream the butter and sugar well, sift the flour and don't overbeat after adding it, use the right-sized pan, and preheat the oven. All the details make for a great result. When it comes to butter cakes, following a good recipe, such as this one, will result in a fluffy cake.