Heavenly Vanilla Layer Cake with Buttercream Frosting

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

2.In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

3.Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.

4.In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the flour mixture, mixing until just combined.

6.Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.

7.Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8.Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.

9.While the cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.

10.Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined. Then, add the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, beating until smooth and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add more cream as needed.

11.Once the cakes are completely cool, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous amount of buttercream frosting on top.

12.Place the second layer on top of the first and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining buttercream.

13.Decorate as desired, and slice to serve.