Basic Butter Cake

 
130 g butter 
1 tsp vanilla essence 
¾ cup caster sugar 
2 eggs 
1½ cups cake flour, sifted
1½ tsps baking powder 
½ cup milk
 
1.  Place butter and vanilla essence in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition. 

2.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour and baking powder. Fold flour mixture and milk, alternately, into butter mixture. 

3.  Spoon batter into 20 cm (8-inch) round cake tin and bake for 45 minutes at 180oC (350oF). Allow cake to stand in tin for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. When cold, top with frosting or icing of your choice. 
 
Makes 1 cake.