Basic Golden Cake Layers Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 15 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat together egg yolks and egg white. Beat the egg mixture into the butter and sugar.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Stir flour into egg mixture alternately with milk. Stir in almond and vanilla extracts. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean.

Steps:

• Position oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 350°; grease the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust pans with flour.
• Into a bowl, sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk to combine and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium-high speed until creamy, about 30 seconds.
• Gradually add in the sugar and beat at high speed until light, about 2 minutes.
• Decrease speed to low and add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
• Beat in the vanilla (if you have a splatter shield, attach it now).
• Add the flour mixture at low speed in three additions, alternating it with the milk in two additions and mixing just until the flour is incorporated.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pans, dividing it evenly, and smooth the tops.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges.
• Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes.
• Invert the layers onto the racks and cool completely.
• Frost as desired.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8 inch round pans.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
• Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl. Add egg yolks and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Add milk to butter mixture in 2 parts alternately with flour mixture in 3 parts, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spread in prepared pans.
• Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment as well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat well, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Add milk and vanilla and beat until just combined.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt, milk, and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. If not using immediately, cover surface of frosting with plastic wrap. Frosting can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week. Before using, bring to room temperature, then beat on low speed until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Place remaining cake layer on top. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. (If frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate to firm up.) Cake can be covered with a cake dome and refrigerated overnight. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.