I stole this recipe for Simple Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting from marthastewart.com. This recipe for homemade cake and frosting is easy to make and a perfect Father’s Day dessert. First flour, baking powder and salt are mixed together. Then butter and sugar are creamed together, adding eggs before adding the flour mixture. Vanilla and milk are added before pouring the batter into pans. Once the cakes are baked and cooled, then the frosting is made with butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. The layers are frosted and served. Be careful to make sure no one licks the frosting before serving the cake!
Whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and ½ tsp salt. Set aside.
Then beat together 1 stick butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 3 eggs and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined.
Then add 1 cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla and beat until just combined. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula.
Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 15 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire racks to cool completely.
Beat together 1 stick butter and 4 oz cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Then add 5 cups confectioner’s sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Next add ¼ tsp salt, ¼ cup milk and ½ tsp vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup of frosting on top.
Then place remaining cake layer on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.
Decorate as desired!
If you liked this recipe for Simple Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting then you can also try other layer cake recipes like The Best Chocolate Cake with Whipped Vanilla Buttercream, Homemade Funfetti Cake, Yellow Birthday Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting or Strawberry Cake.
Simple Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened plus more for cake pans and parchment
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp fine salt
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 5 cups confectioner’s sugar
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Cake
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper; 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.
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Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 15 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire racks to cool completely.
Frosting
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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.
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Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup of 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.