How to Bake a Cake with Only 5 Ingredients--The Basic Cake Recipe

Almost every cake recipe is based on that of Five-Ingredient Cake, aka the Basic Cake Recipe. How you vary the proportions, make substitutions, and add other flavorings is what creates the unique flavors and textures of all the other cakes in the world.

If you want to do some baking experiments on a rainy weekend, start by altering this simple cake recipe that only requires 5 common ingredients.

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
• 1 tsp baking powder

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with a wire whisk or electric beater until thoroughly mixed. To soften the stick of butter, warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Also prepare a 9x13 cake pan with non-stick spray, or use a non-stick cake pan.

Next, add the two eggs and beat until the eggs are completely mixed with the butter and sugar.

Add the flour and baking powder and beat for another minute. You can also use an electric mixer to blend everything. The cake will turn out much better if you use sifted flour, but if you accidentally forget to sift, just make sure there are no lumps in the batter.

Pour the batter into a nonstick cake pan. You can also prep a regular pan with butter and flour. Bake for about 25 minutes if you use a 9x13 pan or circular cake pans. Bake for about 15-20 minutes if using cupcake pans. You'll know it's done when a toothpick comes out clean when you poke it in the center of the cake.

To make familiar cake variants, you can add cocoa powder to make chocolate cake, use beaten egg whites instead of whole eggs to make angelfood cake, and many other variations. For best results when decorating, add the frosting when the cake has completely cooled and set.

© Had2Know 2010