Butter Cake Recipe

Whether you're baking a cake for mom's birthday or cupcakes for the kids, you can't go wrong with a classic butter cake recipe. The buttery flavor of this cake makes it ultra velvety and sweet without being too dense. It has a firm, yet moist texture, so this butter cake recipe is ideal if you're crafting a multi-layered or tiered cake. This butter cake recipe is also great for baking in shaped pans, fluted tube pans, the Wonder Mold Pan or any baking dish with fine detailing. Pair it with your favorite frosting or serve it plain with a scoop of ice cream for a simple and elegant dessert that's sure to please.

Prep30 min
Total Time2 hr
Skill LevelBeginner

Amount10-12 servings

Ingredients & Tools
Instructions

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter,
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 1/2 cups buttercream frosting

Tools
2 8-inch cake pans
Cooling grid
Non-stick spray
2 large mixing bowls
Electric stand mixer (Optional)

Instructions

Click to mark complete

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare pans with vegetable pan spray or use Wilton’s Cake Release Spray.
Using a stand mixer (if available), combine butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl, creaming until mixture is light and fluffy.
Next, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, mix in the pure vanilla extract and the almond extract.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder and salt. Once mixed, alternate adding the flour mixture slowly to the creamed butter mixture while also mixing in the milk until it’s thoroughly mixed.
Slowly pour the combined batter into two 8-inch round pans making sure the same amount is in each, place in a preheated oven, and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
As the butter cake is baking, whip up a batch of Wilton's Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
Once the butter cake is finished baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes while still in the baking pan. Then, loosen the sides and place the baked cake layers on a cooling wire rack.
Let the cake cool completely to room temperature before decorating with buttercream frosting.

Notes

Recipe makes about 7 1/2 cups of cake batter

How To

Buttercream Frosting Consistency
Whether you’re frosting a cake or piping decorations, the consistency of the frosting is key to getting the right results. Thankfully, it’s easy to take your buttercream from stiff to soft consistency, and the other way around!
Buttercream Frosting Tips and Tricks
Did your homemade buttercream come out runny or too dry? Are your buttercream flowers drooping or is your frosting filled with air bubbles? We’re here to help!