Basic birthday cake recipe

Adapted from Joyofbaking.com
Stephanie Jaworski's recipe

  

Vanilla Cake Recipe: (Makes 2 -9" cake)

3 cups (345 grams) sifted all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated white sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup (240 ml) room temperature milk

Confectioners' Frosting:

4 cups Icing sugar,Sifted
1 cup (226) grams unsalted butter,room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp milk
Liquid colour (if required)

Method:

1. Cream together butter and sugar using hand blender.
2. Now add the eggs, and beat one at a time until light and fluffy
3. Add the vanilla extract to it.
4.Mix the sifted flour,baking powder,salt  in another bowl.
5.Now add the flour mixture alternating with milk and flour gradually till the end.
6.Grease a baking tray.
7.Pour the batter and bake it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 30 mins.
8.Check if it is done by inserting a toothpick at the center of the cake.
9.Cool the cake completely before frosting.

Tips:(If you do not have a hand blender)
1. Use a whisk to mix for a easy and better results .
2.While you mix , Do it only in one direction.


For frosting:
1.Cream the butter using hand blender.Then add,Vanilla extract.
2.Add the icing sugar gradually and add the milk to get the right consistency
3.If required, colour the frosting with liquid colour or gel paste .

Assemble the cake:
1.Place one cake layer (bottom side facing up) on your serving plate and spread with about 3/4 cup (180 ml) of frosting. 
2. Place the other cake layer (bottom side facing up) on top of the frosting and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting. 
3.You can also pipe into a decorative borders and decorate it with sprinkles...