Butter Cake

Yum

                   We used to call this as tea cake during school days, my dad would buy this cake atleast once a month. I like this cake compared to the Kerala Plum Cake. The cake is so soft & spongy and easy to make. I got the recipe from Wendy who got it from a Mrs NgSK. This is a very basic cake recipe & you will certainly get the desired output if you follow all the instructions to a T. This is a must try cake!

                      Make sure all your ingredients are in room temperature before using.(This goes for almost all kinds of cakes unless specified otherwise). It took me about 30 mins just for the preparation as I had to check my LO  each and every  time I was using the beater(she is a very light sleeper). The only step that is time consuming is beating the egg whites, which took me about 10 minutes on the whole (may be more).  The flour mentioned here is self rising flour if you do not have it you may substitute it with all purpose flour and baking powder. Combine one teaspoon. of baking powder to 200g of all purpose flour.

                         People who are baking a cake  for the first time might not understand the term "beat until stiff peaks are formed". When you beat the egg whites make sure you are doing this in a clean and dry  big bowl and the egg whites do not have any yolk in them. Soft peak means after beating the whites for some time the egg whites will become opaque & when you lift up the blade of the beater from the egg whites, they will form soft peak  that just falls slightly over to the side. Stiff peak means the peak formed will hold its form and will not slump, it will be erect.

Ingredients:
Salted butter, softened at room temp              -        230 g.
Eggs                                                                -        4
Sugar (for egg whites)                                    -       50 g. 
Sugar                                                               -       150 g.
Self rising flour, sifted                                    -        200 g.
Milk                                                                -         60 ml
Vanilla extract                                                -          1 tsp.

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180 C. Grease a 8 inch square pan with butter and line it with parchment paper.
2. Separate the eggs. And place the white in a big  bowl. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks are formed and then gradually add the 50 g. sugar very slowly as you continue beating the egg whites. Beat until the egg whites form stiff peaks.
3. Beat the butter and the remaining 150 g sugar until pale and fluffy.
4. Add the vanilla extract to the butter sugar mix and beat for a minute or two. Add the egg yolks one by one and beat well after each addition.
5. Now add the flour and the milk alternatively, starting and ending with flour.(in 2 or 3 batches). Beat on low speed after every addition.
6. Now beat half of the egg whites in the above batter on low speed and using a spatula just fold in the remaining egg whites slowly.
7. Pour the batter in the prepared pan and level the top with a spatula. Place in the oven (i placed in the middle rack) and bake for 45 mins. or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool on a wire rack and serve or store in a air tight container.

Notes:

• Combine one teaspoon. of baking powder to 200g of all purpose flour, if you do not have self rising flour.