Everybody needs a basic white cake in their wheelhouse, and this is mine. Double it for a layered cake, or keep it simple – either way it is moist and delicious.

Basic white cake, today with a layer of fresh strawberries baked into the middle of the cake and served with softly whipped cream.

1 cup white sugar
1⁄2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3⁄4 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Grease and flour a 9×9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.

Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk until batter is smooth.

Scoop batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

This might just be sweet little Stella’s first whipped cream beater to lick …. but shhhh – don’t tell anyone, Mom and Dad are away!

This cake is so versatile – tonight I spooned half the batter into the pan, covered with sliced strawberries and then covered those berries with the remaining batter.