Basic Butter Layer Cake Recipes

BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and line an 8″ square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla for about 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Stir in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the milk. Repeat with another 1/3 of the flour mixture and the rest of the milk. Finish with the remaining flour and mix until just combined.
• Spread the batter out evenly into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
• To make the buttercream, beat the butter in a large mixing bowl for 2 minutes until light and creamy. Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and 1 tablespoon of milk and beat until smooth.
• Add another tablespoon of milk if needed to reach a spreadable consistency. Spread over cooled cake.

GOLDEN BUTTER CAKE LAYERS RECIPE

Steps:

• Place flour in a sifter.
• Add sugar.
• Add baking soda.
• Add baking powder.
• Add salt.
• Sift dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Set aside for now.
• Place eggs in another medium sized mixing bowl.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Add sour cream.
• Add milk.
• Add butter.
• Beat the wet ingredients together.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
• Whisk ingredients just until combined.
• Butter and flour your cake pans.
• Divide batter evenly between the cake pans.
• Bake at 350F degrees for 20-30 minutes or until done.
• Remove from oven and place pans on wire rack. Let rest for 10 minutes.
• Flip layers out of pans and onto wire rack to completely cool.
• Enjoy!

SIMPLE LAYER CAKE WITH VANILLA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment as well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Add milk and vanilla and beat until just combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt, milk, and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. If not using immediately, cover surface of frosting with plastic wrap. Frosting can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat on low speed until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Place remaining cake layer on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. (If frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate to firm up.) Cake can be covered with a cake dome and refrigerated overnight. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment or wax paper, or dust lightly with flour.
• Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Beat butter and white sugar until fluffy and light in color. Gradually add eggs, beating well after each addition; stir in vanilla. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Stir until just blended (see Cook's Note for Blueberry Cake variation). Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for until cake springs back when lightly touched, about 30 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto wire rack to cool completely.

YELLOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake.