Simple Vanilla Cake

Growing up, some of my fondest memories revolve around the time my grandparents lived with us.

We always had a special bond with our grandfather, not only because we thought he was the coolest man on earth but it may have also been the fact that, at the drop of a hat, he would walk into the kitchen and whip up a simple cake.

Midnight???  Doesn't matter.  If the kids wanted cake, he would make one and then we would all sit up giggling and enjoying the slice of cake still warm from the oven.  It felt like we were sharing a secret, or part of some club that no one else was invited to.

His cakes were never difficult to make, they never included special ingredients, just plain ol' flour, eggs, sugar and milk, and to this day my favorite cakes are the easy simple ones.

This recipe is not the one my grandfather used, but it's pretty close. 

Simple Vanilla cake

Source:  Baking Bites

Serves 8-10

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, adding them one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Stir in half of the flour mixture, followed by the milk. Add in remaining flour mixture, stirring just until no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 1 loaf.