Yellow Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350F.
2. 2
   Butter and flour a 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan (not dark) or 2 (8- or 9-inch) round pans.
3. 3
   Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
4. 4
   Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer (fitted with paddle if using a standing mixer) at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.
5. 5
   Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla, and beat until thoroughly incorporated, about 5 minutes.
6. 6
   Mix in flour mixture in 4 batches alternately with milk at low speed, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
7. 7
   Mix until batter is just smooth, then spread evenly in pan.
8. 8
   Bake cake in middle of oven until it begins to pull away from sides of pan and a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes (cake will be pale in color, not golden brown like a cake-mix cake).
9. 9
   Cool 5 minutes in pan, then invert onto a rack and cool completely.