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Basic Cake

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Submitted by Kerensa

A flexible basic vanilla cake template using cake flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, and your choice of mix-ins. The starting point for chocolate chip, fruit, or layer cakes.

YIELD

1 cake

PREP

20 min

COOK

40 min

READY

1 hrs

Every baker needs a foundation cake recipe in their back pocket, and this is that template. The base is built on tender cake flour for a fine crumb, plus enough sugar and leavening to give you something light and sweet without taking on a strong personality of its own. From there, you customize: fold in chocolate chips, fresh berries, citrus zest, chopped nuts, or whatever your kitchen offers up.

This is the kind of recipe that’s a starting point, not a destination. Use it as your blank canvas for birthday layer cakes, weekend snacking cakes, or holiday Bundts. Pair it with the frosting or glaze that suits the occasion and you’ve got a different cake every time.

Pro Tips

  • The recipe as written omits butter or oil. Add 1 cup (about 230 g) of softened butter or ¾ cup of vegetable oil for proper texture and moisture.
  • Add 1 to 1½ cups of milk or buttermilk to the batter for the right pourable consistency. The recipe doesn’t list a liquid, but you’ll need one.
  • A teaspoon or two of vanilla extract goes a long way. Skip it and the cake tastes flat.
  • Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together before mixing. This guarantees even leavening and avoids salt pockets.
  • Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 to 40 minutes for a 9-inch round, or 25 to 30 minutes for cupcakes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Variations

  • Fold in 1½ cups chocolate chips and a tablespoon of cocoa for a chocolate chip cake.
  • Add 1½ cups fresh blueberries tossed in flour for a berry cake.
  • Stir in 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon zest and substitute lemon juice for some of the milk for a citrus version.

Ingredients

8 1.9
CUPS L CAKE FLOUR
6 1.4
CUPS L SUGAR
granulated
¼ 59
CUP ML BAKING POWDER *
2 10
TEASPOONS ML SALT
3 3
LARGE LARGE EGGS

Directions

Combine ingredients together.

Add any other ingredients (like chocolate chips, fruit etc) to form a batter.

Pour into a cake pan and bake until done.

Invert, and cool.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 615g (21.7 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 2206 2% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 159mg 53%
Sodium 1237mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 171g 171%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Sugars g
Protein 54g
Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 6% Iron 116%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Trans-fat Free, Good source of fiber
 

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