Source: Fanny at Chez Panisse
Two 8- or 9-inch layers
This cake is called 1-2-3-4 because it is a very old recipe and
people could remember the ingredients by the numbers without
having to write it down. This is what we make for birthday cakes.
It is very good plain, or with lemon curd and fresh violets.
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 cups cake flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
Turn on the oven to 350 degrees F. Measure all the ingredients
and get organized before you begin to make the batter. The butter
should be soft. Cut it into small pieces, and put in a large
bowl. Measure the sugar and set aside.
Sift the cake flour, scoop into a measuring cup, scrape a knife
across the top of the cup to level it, and measure 3 cups. Put
the flour in a separate bowl. Measure level teaspoons of the
baking powder and add to the flour. Measure the salt and add to
the flour. Mix together.
Separate the eggs. Put the whites in one bowl and the yolks in
another. Have the vanilla ready, and measure the milk and set
aside.
Butter the insides of two 8- or 9-inch cake pans. Rub a small
amount of butter all over the inside; don't miss the corners.
Then put a tablespoon or so of flour in the pan and turn it all
around so the pan is completely dusted with flour. Turn the pan
upside down, and tap the edge on the table to let the extra flour
fall out.
Now everything is ready to make the batter. Beat the butter with
a wooden spoon or in a mixer until light and fluffy. Add the
sugar and beat again until very fluffy and light yellow. This is
what it means to cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolks
and beat them in briefly. Add 1teaspoon vanilla and mix it in
well.
Next add the flour and milk in parts. Sift about half of the
flour over the butter mixture and lightly stir it in. Exchange
the spoon for a large rubber spatula, and pour in about half the
milk. Use the spatula to gently mix the milk into the batter.
Sift over the rest of the flour and stir it in. Pour in the rest
of the milk and gently mix it in.
The last step is to beat the egg whites and fold them into the
batter. Put the egg whites into a very clean metal bowl, and beat
with a whisk or mixer. They will gradually thicken and get very
white as you beat in air bubbles. When the whites are very fluffy
and will hold a soft peak shape when you lift up the whisk,
they're ready.
Scoop up some of the whites with the spatula, add to the batter,
and very gently stir them in. This will lighten the batter and
make it easier to fold in the rest of the whites. Then pour the
rest of the whites onto the batter and begin to fold them in.
Folding is more delicate than stirring. Use the spatula to lift
up some of the batter from the bottom of the bowl and fold it
over the whites. Turn the bowl a little and fold again. Do that
just until the egg whites are mixed in. The air bubbles in the
whites will give the cake a light and delicate texture.
Divide the batter between the cake pans, and put in the center of
the oven to bake for about 25 minutes. When the cakes are lightly
browned, and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean,
they're done. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.
You can cut the recipe in half to make a single layer cake. Or a
full recipe will make 32 cupcakes--fill the papers half full.
Posted by Sharron
Back to Desserts Page
Back to Main Page
