Traditional Vanilla Cake


Baking cakes on family occasions has been an old tradition. What goes into the oven are a few common ingredients, but what comes out is the aroma and taste of eternal love and emotions!! Be it simple or lavish, baking a cake is always a wonderful experience for the entire family. And there are times when, "Simplicity is the best virtue" makes a lot of sense, as in this case. That's how birthdays, christmas, thanksgiving, graduation parties or anniversaries are always cherished alongwith sweet memories of a freshly baked home-made cake!! (Dig out your old pictures and see how many of then have a cake in it!) So here's my very simple recipe for the traditional Vanilla Cake. I always associate this with my brother, because he has baked many such cakes for me since childhood:) (image courtesy noshteria.com)

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
2 cups unsalted butter
2 cups sugar (powdered)
2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup plain milk
2 tsp baking powder
2-3 eggs
1 tsp salt

Method
Heat the oven to 400° F. Lightly coat a cake pan with butter and dust with all-purpose flour. Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Beat in the butter and sugar in a separate bowl. Beat the eggs and pour them into the butter and sugar mixture and mix everything well together.Using an electric mixer set on low speed, add flour slowly to this mix and beat the mixture until it is smooth and you see sharp peaks form in the mixture. If you are using a large spoon and your hand to beat this, make sure you are always stirring in the SAME direction (clockwise or anticlockwise).

Finally add the vanilla essence and milk and blend everything together. Do not over beat. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 mins, or until the edges have separated from the sides of the mould and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the cake cool (about 15 mins) before trying to remove it from the mould or cut into slices.

There are a million things that can go with this Vanilla Cake like ice-cream, chocolate sauce, fruit syrups, puddings, whip cream or more. But most of the times I prefer it alone, just the way it is! Simple, pure and divine!! Make any memory a sweet one with this simple home-made cake; you don't even need to be an expert cook for this!!


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20 comments :

Anonymous said...

Oooh... just the kind of cake I really like! I bake a fair amount but it's the simplest cakes that I like best :) I'm bookmarking this recipe.

Padma said...

Simply Deli-ciou-so! I too agree simplicity is the best virtue..loved the cake recipe

Cynthia said...

Exact measurements, almost like a pound cake. My mom would love this.

Chef Jeena said...

Hey Mansi your vanilla cake looks lovely, your recipe sounds good too :)

Swaruchy said...

mansi....ur vanilla cake looks really good. Nice one dear ;-)

amna said...

we make this all the time back home. recently i got an OTG and i baked a cake on my bday :)

Reeta Skeeter said...

mmm wow! I can already smell it. Cheers!

Mansi said...

Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful feedback! and I'm so glad many of you join me in enjoying simplicity!

Cynthia, pls give my love to ur mom when u bake this:)

Nags, I would've loved to bake a cake for u if i could!! bcoz U R not supposed to bake it on your b'day, someone else should do it for u:)

Suganya said...

2 cups butter? Faint...

The Bhandari's said...

hi, your recipe is exactly like mine, I use pure ghee instead of butter and results are same :) liked your blog, will come back to read further dishes

Anonymous said...

Hi Mansi
I love your blogsite.Just surfing for thoughts and came to this blog site.Its wonderfully done. I am into sugarcraft and stay in Botswana.
Just wanted to show you. I recently made the 5-layered cake for an Indian Wedding in Botswana.It was an experiment. Do pass by me site whenever you can.

Mansi said...

thanks Anamika and Bhandari!! I'm glad you guys liked the site..I'm constantly trying to improve and enhance if for my readers:) appreciate your words of encouragement!

Anamika, will surely be checking out your 5-layered cake!:)

Anonymous said...

mansi, I came here through a search, and I am so pleased to find the perfect Vanilla Cake recipe! and I can see many other people felt like me!! Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge with us!

-Shaheen

Anonymous said...

hi Mansi... I am a new comer in your blog. But your vanilla cake looks very good.

Unknown said...

Mansi i tried your cake it is simple and delicious .Me and my child we enjoyed.Thankx for it.

Never Mind!! said...

Mansi, I am complete baking novice and was wondering what size baking tray you use.

Mansi said...

Hi there, a 8x8 square or round pan will give a thicker cake, or you can even use a 9x13 loaf pan for baking this.

hope you enjoy baking this cake!:)

Ancy said...

Hi, this is my first time in your blog. I would like to try this recipe. Since I am a beginner can you please tell me exactly how many eggs should I add for a soft moist cake?

Things n Thoughts said...

Hi there,
I want to make this same cake but an eggless version of this using condensed milk. please guide me about the measurements of sweetened condensed milk and sugar thereof.
I really want to make this one......but m a strictly vegetarian person !!!!

Ajita

Mansi said...

Hi Ajita, here's a recipe for my eggless chocolate cake, if you like:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5269497978_9fe99c278c.jpg

For the vanilla version, you can omit the eggs in the above recipe, and use 1/4 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup condensed milk and try, then let me know how it comes out:)