Happy Birthday Cake

Recipe View Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8- or 9-inch cake pans. (Prep time: 5 minutes)

Recipe View In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. This should take approximately 5-7 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. (Prep time: 8 minutes)

Recipe View In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. (Prep time: 7 minutes)

Recipe View In a clean, dry mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. (Prep time: 5 minutes)

Recipe View Gently fold one-third of the beaten egg whites into the cake batter to lighten the mixture. Then, gently fold in the remaining egg whites until just combined. Be careful not to deflate the egg whites. (Prep time: 3 minutes)

Recipe View Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. (Prep time: 2 minutes)

Recipe View Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the cakes spring back lightly when touched. (Bake time: 25-30 minutes)

Recipe View Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely. (Cool time: 10 minutes)