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A close-up shot of a perfectly baked vanilla cake slice, demonstrating one of the versatile baking recipes featured.
FL Recipes

Year-Round Baking Recipes: The Ultimate Any-Season Vanilla Cake

The ultimate guide to year-round baking recipes! This simple, adaptable vanilla bean cake is the perfect base for any season, offering endless variations for delicious, homemade treats anytime.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 slices
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

For the Any-Season Vanilla Cake
  • 2.5 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2.5 tsp Baking Powder
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature
  • 1.75 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 4 Large Eggs room temperature
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup Whole Milk room temperature

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Pan
  • 1 Electric Mixer
  • 2 Mixing Bowls

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in the room temperature eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk in two parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until the last streaks of flour disappear. Do not overmix.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting, adding toppings, or slicing and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalProtein: 4gFat: 15gFiber: 1g

Notes

Ingredient Temperature is Key: Using room temperature butter, eggs, and milk is crucial for a smooth batter and a tender, fluffy cake.
Storage: Store the cake tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Variations: See the blog post for simple and delicious seasonal variations including lemon blueberry, apple cinnamon, and cranberry orange.
Keyword easy baking recipes,vanilla cake,year-round baking

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