How to Make a Cake at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Preheat the oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

2. Make buttermilk:

• In a bowl, combine 1 cup of whole milk with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
• Let it sit for a minute to create homemade buttermilk.

3. Mix dry ingredients:

• In a large bowl, whisk together 1¾ cups of all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
  

4. Cream, butter, and sugar:

• In another bowl, cream ½ cup of softened unsalted butter with 1 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

5. Add vanilla and buttermilk.

• Mix in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
• Alternately add the dry flour mixture and the buttermilk to the butter-sugar mixture, starting and ending with the flour.
• Mix until well combined.

6. Divide and bake:

• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

7. Cool and Frost:

• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
• Frost with your favorite icing or enjoy it plain!

Tips for Success:

• Measure ingredients accurately.
• Use fresh baking powder.
• Cream the butter and sugar well.
• Don’t overbeat the batter.
• Bake it as soon as the batter is ready.

And there you have it! A delightful eggless vanilla cake that’s perfect for any occasion.