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Simple Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting

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.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Servings 12 people

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.