Butter Cake



As promised:  Butter Cake, the decadent cousin to Cheap Cake.  This is my sons' all-time favorite cake - simple, not too sweet, clearly rich and buttery.  They would eat it morning, noon and night (and probably do behind my back). 


BUTTER CAKE  (compliments of Cooks Illustrated

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

scant 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened or room temp

1 cup sugar

1 whole large egg plus 1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 tsp grated orange zest

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup whole milk

Preheat oven to 375.  Butter 9" round cake pan, line bottom with a round of parchment paper and butter parchment.  Lightly dust with flour. 

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Add whole egg, yolk, zest and vanilla; beat one minute.  At low speed, mix in flour mixture and milk in alternating batches.  

Spread batter in cake pan and bake until golden brown and a wooden pick comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.  Cool cake in pan ~10 minutes and then turn out onto a rack.  When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar. 

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