Description
Grandma’s classic old-fashioned butter cake brings nostalgic comfort straight from her cherished kitchen. Buttery, golden layers promise rich memories and sweet moments you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
- 2/3 cup Hershey’s cocoa
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with grease and flour.
- Sift dry ingredients including flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
- Incorporate softened butter, milk, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients, using a hand mixer to blend thoroughly for 2 minutes, ensuring to scrape bowl sides.
- Introduce eggs to the mixture and continue beating for an additional 2 minutes until batter becomes smooth and uniform.
- Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans, carefully smoothing the surface to create level layers.
- Transfer pans to preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick inserted into cake center.
- Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to reach room temperature.
- For chocolate frosting, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk Hershey’s cocoa into melted butter until completely integrated and smooth.
- Gradually blend powdered sugar and milk, alternating additions to achieve spreadable consistency, adjusting with extra milk if necessary.
- Fold in vanilla extract to enhance frosting flavor.
- Once cakes have completely cooled, generously apply chocolate frosting between layers and across cake surfaces.
Notes
- Soften butter at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to ensure smooth, even mixing and better cake texture.
- Sift dry ingredients thoroughly to eliminate lumps and create a lighter, more delicate cake crumb.
- Use room temperature eggs to help them blend more evenly and create a smoother batter consistency.
- Check cake doneness by gently pressing the center – it should spring back when touched and have a golden-brown surface.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum.
- Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain moisture and freshness.
- Enhance chocolate frosting by adding a pinch of espresso powder to intensify the cocoa flavor without making it taste like coffee.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg