A Heavenly Baked Birthday Cake
Last week was my birthday and I made my own birthday cake. It is a two-layer vanilla cake with a classic buttercream frosting. This cake is commonly referred to as the 1-2-3-4 cake. It has a light and moist texture with a sweet buttery flavor. It is actually an "easylicious" cake (easy to make and delicious).
I mentioned earlier that it is known as the 1-2-3-4 cake.
The numbers 1-2-3-4 refer to the quantities of ingredients; 1
cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, and 4 eggs. You will use
the creaming method where at first the butter and sugar are beaten
together and then you add the eggs, the flour and the milk.
After the cake layers are baked and have cooled down, we will frost and decorate the cake with confectioners' frosting or simply called buttercream frosting. This frosting contains confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla extract and milk. You need to beat these ingredients until it has a light and fluffy texture. Make sure that the consistency is not too thick or too thin. To color the frosting, I used pink and yellow food color gel pastes.
To decorate the cake, use the cake decorating tip no. 18. Pipe rosettes on top and star at the bottom of the cake. I lined-up small white and pink sugar flowers around the cake (middle portion)
VANILLA CAKE INGREDIENTS :
1 Cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
2 Cups granulated white sugar
3 Cups sifted all purpose flour
4 Large eggs (room temperature)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
1 Cup milk (room temperature)
CONFECTIONERS' FROSTING :
4 Cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 Cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
2 - 4 Tablespoon milk or light cream
Food color gel paste (if needed)
DIRECTIONS
Vanilla Cake :
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit (180 degrees C)
2. In a bowl, combine the sifted flour, baking powder and salt
3. Beat the butter until soft and creamy using an electric mixer (use the paddle). You may use a hand mixer if you do not have the electric mixer
4. Add the sugar gradually until fluffy
5. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well
6. Add vanilla extract
7. Add the sifted flour and milk alternately (make sure the mixer is on low speed when doing this) and beat until combined
8. Divide the batter between the two pans (use 8 x 2 inches round pan). Apply vegetable shortening first on the pans before placing the batter.
9. Bake for 27 to 35 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean
10. Place the cakes on a wire rack until completely cool before frosting
Frosting :
1. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy using an electric mixer or hand mixer
2. Add the vanilla extract
3. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar with the mixer on low speed
4. Add two (2) tablespoons of milk and beat until combined
5. With the mixer on high speed, beat the frosting until light and fluffy. Make sure you get the right spreading consistency.
6. Apply food color gel paste if desired for decorating the cake.
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