Here’s my basic recipe for a classic homemade cake. This is a versatile recipe that you can customize with different flavors and frostings based on your preferences.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or you can make buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 1/2 cups of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This can be done with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as it can result in a dense cake.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
8. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Once the cakes are completely cool, you can frost and decorate them as desired. You can use buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, chocolate ganache, or any other frosting of your choice.

Enjoy your homemade cake! Feel free to get creative with flavors, fillings, and frostings to make it your own.