Master Recipe

Basic Yellow Cake

NOTE: For best results, use a bleached all-purpose flour like Gold Medal or Pillsbury, which have less protein than unbleached all-purpose flours.

  1    tablespoon solid vegetable shortening

  2¹/₂    cups (12¹/₂ ounces) bleached all-purpose flour, plus 2 tablespoons for flouring pans

  1    tablespoon baking powder

  ¹/₂    teaspoon salt

  1    cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still firm

  2    cups sugar

  4    large eggs at room temperature

  1    cup milk at room temperature

  1    teaspoon vanilla extract