Basic Golden Cake Layers

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups whole milk

Recipe

• 1 position oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 350°; grease the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust pans with flour.
• 2 into a bowl, sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk to combine and set aside.
• 3 in the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium-high speed until creamy, about 30 seconds.
• 4 gradually add in the sugar and beat at high speed until light, about 2 minutes.
• 5 decrease speed to low and add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
• 6 beat in the vanilla (if you have a splatter shield, attach it now).
• 7 add the flour mixture at low speed in three additions, alternating it with the milk in two additions and mixing just until the flour is incorporated.
• 8 scrape the batter into the prepared pans, dividing it evenly, and smooth the tops.
• 9 bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges.
• 10 cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes.
• 11 invert the layers onto the racks and cool completely.
• 12 frost as desired.