This easy-to-prepare yellow cake with buttercream frosting will be welcome at any birthday celebration.
Birthday Cake
Cake Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
Frosting Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
6 cups powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round baking pans. Set aside.
2. Combine flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Set aside.
3. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and 3/4 cup butter in large mixer bowl at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition just until mixed.
4. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 29 to 34 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen cake by running knife around inside edge of pans. Carefully remove cake from pans; cool completely.
5. Beat 3/4 cup butter in large bowl at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt alternately with whipping cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in corn syrup.
6. To assemble, place 1 cake layer on serving plate, bottom-side up; frost top. Place remaining cake layer over frosting, bottom-side down; frost top and sides of cake. Decorate as desired.
Makes 12 servings.
Frosting Variations:
* Chocolate Frosting: Add 2 to 3 squares melted unsweetened baking chocolate.
* Lemon or Orange Frosting: Stir in 1 tablespoon grated lemon or orange peel.
* Coconut Frosting: Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract or flavoring.