Vanilla cake

A basic recipe for vanilla cake. It is the perfect cake to turn into something special such as a birthday cake, for instance, or even a custard cake for Easter.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (500 ml) flour
  • 1 2/3 cup (400 ml) sugar
  • 3 teaspoon (15 ml) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
  • ½ cup (125 ml) canola or rice oil (you can reduce it to 1/3 cup (90 ml) of oil)
  • ¾ cup (200 ml) cold water
  • 7 extra large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cream of tartar

Method

  1. Sift together: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, in this order.
  2. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Add the canola or rice oil, egg yolks, cold water, and vanilla.
  3. Mix until smooth.
  4. Whisk egg whites until stiff and then add cream of tartar. Gradually fold dough into egg whites.
  5. Turn batter into greased and lined tins. Use two 23 cm round pans, or a chiffon pan.
  6. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 180°C, or a bit longer if you used a chiffon pan.
  7. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.