Vanilla Cake With Blackberry Buttercream Food

MY BEST VANILLA CAKE - STAYS MOIST 4 DAYS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) for 20 minutes before starting the batter (Note 8). Place shelf in the middle of the oven.
• Grease 2 x 20cm / 8" cake pans with butter, then line with parchment / baking paper. (Note 9 more pan sizes) Best to use cake pan without loose base, if you can.
• Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Beat eggs for 30 seconds on speed 6 of a Stand Mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or hand beater.
• With the beater still going, pour the sugar in over 45 seconds.
• Then beat for 7 minutes on speed 8, or until tripled in volume and white.
• Heat Milk-Butter: While egg is beating, place butter and milk in a heatproof jug and microwave 2 minutes on high to melt butter (or use stove). Do not let milk bubble and boil (foam ok). Don't do this ahead and let the milk cool (this affects rise).
• Gently add flour: When the egg is whipped, scatter 1/3 flour across surface, then beat on Speed 1 for 5 seconds. Add half remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 sec. Add remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 - 10 sec until the flour is just mixed in. Once you can't see flour, stop straight away.
• Lighten hot milk with some Egg Batter: Pour hot milk, vanilla and oil into the now empty flour bowl. Add about 1 1/2 cups (2 ladles or so) of the Egg Batter into the Milk-Butter (don't need to be 100% accurate with amount). Use a whisk to mix until smooth - you can be vigorous here. Will look foamy.
• Slowly add milk: Turn beater back on Speed 1 then pour the Milk mixture into the Egg Batter over 15 seconds, then turn beater off.
• Scrape and final mix: Scrape down sides and base of bowl. Beat on Speed 1 for 10 seconds - batter should now be smooth and pourable.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Knock out bubbles: Bang each cake pan on the counter 3 times to knock out big bubbles (Note 10 for why)
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.
• Remove from oven. Cool in cake pans for 15 minutes, then gently turn out onto cooling racks. If using as layer cakes, cool upside down - slight dome will flatten perfectly. Level cake = neat layers.
• Frost with frosting of choice, or cream and fresh berries or jam. See list of ideas in post!
• Beat butter with paddle attachment in stand mixer for 3 minutes on high until it changes from yellow to almost white, and it becomes fluffy and creamy.
• Add icing sugar / powdered sugar gradually in 3 lots, beating slowly (to avoid a powder storm) then once mostly incorporated, beat on high for a full 3 minutes until fluffy.
• Add vanilla and milk, then beat for a further 30 seconds. Use milk only if needed to make it lovely and soft but still holds it's form (eg for piping). Use immediately. (If you make ahead, refrigerate then beat to re-fluff).

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with a rack in the center. Spray an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper to cover the bottom and longest sides. Lightly spray the parchment. Set aside.
• Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in the oil, vanilla, sour cream and warm water then set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds to combine.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the butter, a few pieces at a time. Mix until the butter has disappeared into the dry ingredients and the mixture looks like cornmeal, about 2 minutes. Add half of the liquid ingredients and blend on low speed to combine. Raise the mixer to high speed and beat for 30 seconds. Stop and scrape the bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula and blend again on high speed for a few seconds. With the mixer on low speed, add half of the remaining liquid ingredients and mix until smooth. Scrape the bowl and then add the remaining liquids and blend on low speed just until combined. Give the batter a few folds with the rubber spatula then scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
• Tap the pan on the counter a few times, place it on a sheet tray and bake in the center of the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with a few moist crumbs, 68 to 70 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes then use an offset spatula to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan. Using the parchment handles, pull the cake out of the pan onto a wire rack and let cool 20 minutes more. Remove the parchment paper and discard. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap while still warm and let cool completely, preferably overnight for the best texture and flavor (see Cook's Note). Meanwhile, thoroughly wash and dry the stand mixer bowl and paddle attachment.
• For the buttercream: Beat the butter on medium speed in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and shiny, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar, blend on low speed to combine then beat on medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape the bowl and paddle. Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed. Scrape the bowl then mix on high speed for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and mix again on high speed for another few seconds.
• Trim a bit of the cracked crown off the top of the cooled cake, if desired, and then frost the top of the cake with buttercream. Store in a covered cake dome for up to 5 days.

VANILLA CAKE WITH BLACKBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Lightly spray three 15cm (6in) cake tins with cake release and line with baking paper.
• Add all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder/soda and salt) to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse briefly to mix together.
• Add the cubed butter and pulse again until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Mix the eggs and vanilla together. Gradually add the eggs through the feeding tube and process for a minute until well incorporated.
• Gradually pour the milk into the processor through the feeding tube and process together until you have an evenly mixed batter. Stop the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure the batter is thoroughly mixed.
• Divide the batter between the tins (each will be around 210g/ 7.4oz) and bake for 20-22 minutes until the cakes are springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes then turn out to a wire rack.
• Brush the sponges with a little sugar syrup while they are still a little warm and leave to cool completely.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge, ideally overnight. Level the cake layers, if needed, using a large serrated knife before frosting the cake.
• Make the frosting. Put the butter and icing sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat well, starting on low speed setting and increasing to maximum speed once ingredients are incorporated.
• Keep beating until light and fluffy, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl halfway through.
• Add the vanilla paste and jam and beat until smooth.
• Transfer a third of the buttercream into a large piping bag fitted with a plain round tip.
• Add about 10 tablespoons of jam into a smaller piping bag fitted with a plain round tip.
• Pipe a ring of buttercream around the edge of the bottom cake layer.
• Pipe or spread jam inside the ring and spread to fill.
• Pipe more buttercream on top of the jam and smooth.
• Top with the second layer and repeat the process.
• Pipe or smooth a thin layer of buttercream (crumb coating) over the entire cake. Use a palette knife to smooth the top of the cake letting the buttercream spread over the edges.
• Use a side scraper to smooth the buttercream on the side of the cake - using a turntable will make this easier.
• Freeze the cake for 30 minutes before applying a second layer of buttercream to cover the cake. Repeat the process to smooth the buttercream for a clean finish.
• Pipe any extra buttercream on top of the cake using a selection of small or large star tips.
• Decorate with a few fresh blackberries and some edible flowers if you like. Add a little gold dust or pastel sprinkles and serve.

VANILLA CAKE WITH VANILLA SWISS BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the vanilla cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment circles and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Combine the butter, oil and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl between each egg. Beat in 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste until incorporated.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add a third of the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat on low speed. Add half of the buttermilk and beat until just incorporated. Alternate dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry and scraping down the bowl as needed until the batter is smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans and bake until the cakes are lightly golden and the centers spring back to the touch, about 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, to make the cake syrup, combine the remaining 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste with 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• For the vanilla Swiss buttercream: Bring a medium saucepan filled with 2 inches of water to a simmer. Whisk together the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and set the bowl over the simmering pot. Continue whisking until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture feels hot to the touch, 1 to 2 minutes. Wipe the condensation from the bottom of the bowl and attach it to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat the egg white mixture on medium-high speed until the whites are glossy and the underside of the bowl is no longer warm, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running, begin adding a few chunks of butter at a time. Continue to add all the butter in this way until the buttercream is smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla bean paste and salt.
• For the assembly: Trim the tops of the cakes, if necessary. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of each layer of cake with the cake syrup, allowing it to soak in slightly. Add about 1 1/2 cups of buttercream to the top of the first cake and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Place the second cake on top of the first and add another layer of buttercream. Place the last cake on top and frost just the top with the remaining buttercream. Arrange some of the blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries decoratively around the top edge of the cake. Serve with the remaining berries on the side.

EASY VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a round, deep 20cm tin, then line the base and sides with non-stick baking paper.
• Using electric beaters or a tabletop mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and ¼ tsp salt together until pale and fluffy, then pour in the eggs, one at a time, giving the mix a really good beating before adding the next.
• Add 1 tbsp of the plain flour if the mix starts to look slimy rather than fluffy. Beat in the yogurt. Mix the flours; then, using a large metal spoon, fold them into the batter, followed by the milk.
• Spoon the mix into the tin and bake for 1 hr 20 mins or until well risen and golden - a skewer inserted into the middle should come out clean.
• Meanwhile, make the syrup by gently heating 50ml water with the sugar and vanilla in a pan until the sugar dissolves. Set aside. Once the cake is out of the oven, leave to cool for 30 mins in the tin, then use a skewer to poke holes all over the cake, going right to the bottom. Pour the syrup over, letting it completely soak in after each addition.
• Leave to cool completely, then either wrap the cake well or fill and ice it. If you wrap it with baking parchment and cling film, the unfilled cake will keep well for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.
• For ideas on how to decorate the cake and to try out some variations on this basic cake mixture, have a look at the 'Goes well with' recipes for Simple elegance wedding cake, Birthday bug cake and Summer celebration cake.

VANILLA CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Pour into prepared pans, dividing batter evenly. , Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely. , For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and vanilla until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Decorate with sprinkles or nonpareils if desired.