This rich, butter-based cake is moist and tender, with a dense crumb structure. Close-grained and sturdy, this vanilla cake recipe is perfect for stacking in layers and can be paired with any of the frostings you love: chocolate, vanilla, coconut, caramel...
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease (but don't flour) the bottom only of your choice of pan(s): one 9" x 13" pan, two 9" round cake pans, three 8" round pans, or the wells of two muffin tins (24 muffin cups). You can also line the muffin tins with papers, and spray the insides of the papers.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add the butter and beat with an electric mixer at low speed, until the mixture looks sandy.
Combine the milk and vanilla and add, all at once. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.
Scrape the bottom and sides of the mixing bowl.
With the mixer running at low speed, add 1 egg. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.
Repeat this procedure with the second egg. Continue adding the eggs, scraping after each addition, until all 4 are added.
After the last egg is added, scrape the bowl once more, then beat at medium-high speed for 30 more seconds.
Transfer the batter to the pans of your choice. For layers, divide the batter among the pans. The batter weighs 48 ounces; if you're using a scale to measure out your layers, each 9" layer should weigh 24 ounces; each 8" layer needs 16 ounces of batter. Smooth out the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a tablespoon. For cupcakes, scoop by heaping 1/4-cupfuls into the prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 35-40 minutes for a 9" x 13" pan; 30-35 minutes for 9" layers; 24-27 minutes for 8" layers, or 23 to 25 minutes for cupcakes.
The cake is done when it's golden brown around the edges and just beginning to pull away from the edge of the pan. A toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack to cool completely.
This cake can develop hard sides if your oven runs a bit hot, your pans are dark, or you've greased the sides of the pans. Insulating your baking pans with cake strips will prevent this. If your cake does develop hard sides, wrap it well and let it rest overnight before serving.
