Happy Birthday Cake

It's sure to be a happy birthday with this cake. Bake this classic yellow butter cake in either three layers or a 9x13-inch pan, then frost as desired!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 215 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 4 eggs, separated, room temperature
• 1 cup milk, room temperature

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8- or 9-inch-diameter cake pans.

Step 2

Cream sugar and butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

Step 3

Sift flour, baking powder, and a pinch salt together into a bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three batches, alternating with milk, beating batter briefly after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for 1 more minute.

Step 4

Beat egg whites with a pinch salt in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into cake batter to lighten it; then gently fold in remaining egg whites. Pour batter into the prepared pans.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until the cakes springs back when lightly touched with a fingertip and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.