Basic Cake Recipe That You Can Try At Home

With the advent of commercial cake mixes, people stopped making cake from scratch. However, these days, there seems to be a re-awakening and appreciation for baking desserts and cakes from scratch. Since the time I came across a basic cake recipe, I have not used pre-packaged, preservative-packed mixes, which were so popular for a long time. There are some tips I would like to give you before we actually turn towards cake recipes from scratch. The most important tip is to pay attention to the exact measurements. If you miss or make any mistake with the measurements, chances are high that the cake may not turn out to be the same way as you had expected it to be. The next important step is to follow the recipe to the T. Any changes in the process may end up making the cake similar to a brick. Sifting the flour before you use it in the batter will give the batter lightness. If you do not want to use shortening, then you can substitute it with either margarine, butter or applesauce. This will help in preserving moistness and richness, but remove some of the weight and bad fats from the cake. Now we will turn towards the recipes.

How to Make a Basic Cake from Scratch

Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour 1 cup
• White Sugar ½ cup
• Shortening ¼ cup
• Milk ½ cup
• Baking Powder 2 teaspoons
• Salt ½ teaspoons
• Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon
• Eggs 2

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour the baking pan.
• Mix together sifted all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
• Sift the flour mixture and keep aside.
• In a large bowl, mix sugar and shortening together. Whip till it is light and fluffy.
• Add one egg at a time and beat thoroughly till the mixture is fluffy and light.
• Add flour mixture alternately with milk and mix well, so that no lumps are formed. Make sure the batter is soft.
• At last, stir in vanilla and mix well.
• Transfer the batter into the baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the cake should come out clean.

Basic Cake with Plain Flour

Ingredients

• Butter 2 sticks
• Sugar 1 2/3 cups
• Eggs 5
• Plain Flour 2 cups
• Vanilla 1 teaspoon
• Lemon 1 teaspoon

Method

• In a bowl mix together butter and sugar, till light and fluffy.
• Add one egg and continue to whisk, so that the mixture is fluffy.
• Gradually add plain flour to the egg and sugar mixture and keep whipping, so that the batter is soft.
• At last add vanilla and lemon and mix well.
• Grease and flour a baking pan and transfer the batter into the pan.
• Place the baking pan in a preheated oven and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
• When the cake leaves the side of the pan, understand the cake is ready and remove it from the oven.

Basic Cake without Eggs

Ingredients

• Flour 1½ cups
• Sugar ¾ cup
• Baking Powder 2 teaspoon
• Salt ¼ teaspoon
• Milk (Soy Milk) ¾ cup
• Vanilla 2 teaspoons
• Egg Substitute for 1 egg

Method

• Grease and flour the baking pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a bowl sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together.
• Add the remaining ingredients and beat till the batter is soft without any lumps.
• Pour the batter in the baking pan and bake the cake for 30 minutes, till a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

These were just the basic cake recipes. You can add other ingredients like cocoa, fruit chops, nuts, etc. to change the flavor of the cake. I hope you do enjoy baking as much as I do, and till next time happy baking!