Classic Vanilla Cake with Buttercream

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F) and grease two round pans of 22 cm.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 2
   Whip the soft butter with the sugar 4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Cream the butter soft, at room temperature: cold butter doesn't take in air, and melted butter doesn't hold it.
3. 3
   Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each until absorbed.

   💡One egg at a time, and only when the previous one is absorbed: that way the emulsion holds and the batter doesn't split into curds.
4. 4
   Add the vanilla and mix.
5. 5
   Add the flour, baking powder and salt alternately with the milk, starting and ending with the flour, and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatula

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
6. 6
   Pour half the batter into each pan and smooth the top.

   Round pan
7. 7
   Bake 28–32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Let the cakes cool completely.
9. 9
   Whip the soft butter on its own, until fluffy and pale.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Room-temperature butter whips into a smooth cream: cold butter stays lumpy, and melted butter won't hold the air.
10. 10
    Add the powdered sugar in two or three additions, then the milk and vanilla, and keep whipping until the cream is smooth.

    Hand mixerorStand mixer
11. 11
    Place one cake on a serving plate, spread a layer of cream over it and set the second on top. Cover the top and sides with the rest of the cream.

    Offset spatula