Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: Birthday Party

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (52)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(52)

Cook Time:
25 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
3 layer cakes

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 25 min
Total:: 35 min

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Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
D snellville, GA 11-20-2009
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Absolutely perfect
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Ok so let me just start of by saying that i NEVER DO REVIEWS but this cake is amazing the recipie is simple, the cake comes... out beautiful and white and spongy and moist just like you would expect a "boxed" mix would. Now for a few tips: the recipie calls for "self rising flour" I only had " all purpose flour" so I added1 1/2 tsp of baking powder and 1/2 tsp of baking soda and everything worked out great. I added more vanilla than the recipe called for (i always do ) and also added a hint about 1/4 tsp of almond extract. We cut the cake the day after but the cake just got better the more days it sat in the fridge. This recipie gets 2 thumbs up. P.S if you do custom cakes and wedding cakes this is a great base recipe because you can dress it up with all sorts of other ingredients and fillings, it also holds its shape very well. D.Hazel Read more
recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
Torri fort lauderdale, FL 10-05-2009
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So delicious ;)
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My first "home made" cake...my husband and grandson ate it up! It wasn't too difficult and well worth the effort! Thanks... Paula!!!Read more
recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
marsha brooklyn , NY 09-25-2009
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wow!! this was amaZIing!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

me and my patient was so bored we decided to try a cake recipe but i had none at work so i tried this one n was very... pleased!! the texture was perfect and it held its shape wonderfully i can definitely see myself using this recipe over and over again! Butter Queen( dats what we in trinidad calls you) you hit my spot with this one!!! booom bang bangggg. Read more
recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
Michele Clovis, CA 06-17-2009
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Is it ME or the recipe???
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The recipe was ABSOLUTELY DELISH!! Problem was every bit of it stuck to the pans when I used regular cooking spray. I... highly recommend using a top quality cake release (maybe the Wilton kind) before pouring into pans! Otherwise A++!!Read more
recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
Meski Plano, TX 05-21-2009
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Perfect Base Cake
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I needed a simple base cake to make my rum cake and this turned out to be the perfect recipe! I filled it with my rum custard... filling and iced the outside with a home made fresh whipped cream and it was an immediate hit with my family and friends! I'm sure I'll be using it over and over as a base for my future cake adventures!!! Read more
recipe Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
Jessica Leigh Rome, GA 04-24-2009
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Light and Fluffy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this today but instead of making a 3-layer cake, I decided to make cupcakes. They turned out so light and fluffy. I... frosted the cupcakes using the "Chocolate Frosting recipe"- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chocolate-frosting-recipe/index.html. Simply delicious! This recipe is definitely a keeper! 1-2-3-4 Cake will be my "turn-to" recipe for many cakes to come! Read more