Basic Vanilla Cake Batter

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon almond extract 
• 1.5 teaspoons double-acting baking powder 
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 3 cups cake flour 
• 3 large eggs 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• whisk
• stand mixer

Directions

1. Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at medium-low speed just until blended after each addition. (Batter will be thick.) Use immediately.
4. Ultimate Vanilla Cake Batter: Substitute 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste for vanilla extract. Proceed with recipe as directed.
5. Chocolate Cake Batter: Reduce cake flour to 2 cups. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step
6. Whisk 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa into flour mixture in Step 2; proceed with recipe as directed. Beat 1/3 cup hot water into batter just until smooth.