My outdated recipe:Old plain vanilla cake

One of the skill, I mastered before Cooking is Baking! Even though, in India, it is not a necessity that one will own an oven in every home! My mom owned a free white gas range with four burners and huge oven (that was her favorite appliance she brought with her when she moved to India) that is another story the oven has never been tested for any baking goods. She kept to store all her sharp knives and items! She used only the stovetop and the oven was just an antique dark piece.
After many years of good use, we just threw away the rusted huge piece! When the oven was in our kitchen, I never thought of baking, probably I was too young! But when I was teen, I tried to attempt to bake a cake.
Without an oven, measuring cups, even without a baking pan, I don't know how I got that idea & wanted to give a try for a plain vanilla cake, which I found pretty easy to assemble. The first move is to approach my opposite baker, if he could kindly bake my small cake, which was my brother’s job. Next for baking pan, I got the pressure cooker aluminium round pan (which we cook dhal and rice-now they give a stain steel)! For the ingredients, again my brother manages to get all equal amount with the local merchant: White butter, maida, sugar and egg.
One Sunday afternoon, I mixed the butter, sugar and egg in the blender jar (mixie), folded the flour with the spoon! I did everything under 15 minutes and my brother ran to the opposite bakery with the pan. I was little tense not for the outcome of my cake, worrying what the baker would think seeing my cake, laugh, tease? But after 30 minutes, the guy shouted : hey ur cake is ready! My brother flew to pick it up. My cake came back and it was my first success for a delicious attempt! Everyone appreciated the taste of the plain cake which turn out like a store bought. But my parents were not so happy that I disturb the friendly baker every Sunday. So I stopped baking until my dad gifted me a brand new Toaster oven for one of my X-teen birthday gift! Still the oven is living in my house, loaded with my memories.
This plain vanilla cake recipe date almost more than 15 years! The cake is still appreciated in my family. I was much moved when my grand-ma said: I never liked a cake but ur cake tastes just extra-ordinary :) So whenever I bake one a huge sliced is shared to my granny, whenever I go India this cake is a top priority in my kitchen.
I am dedicating my first cake recipe for my granny who is sick and bedridden !



 
Note: the recipe is very easy simple rule: for every 50 gm of flour/sugar/butter add one egg +baking soda, powder and salt. The original recipe was in gram and I converted in cup!

Baking time: 30- 40 min
Preparing the cake: 10 min (exclude the mess u do in ur kitchen and washing ur dish)
Yield: 2 small loaf tins or one small loaf tin and 9 medium muffins

Ingredients:

All purpose flour: 2 cups
Sugar: 1 cup + ¼ cup
Egg: 5 num (room temperature)
Unsalted Butter: 2 sticks at room temperature(1 stick = 113 gm)
Salt: ¼ tsp
Baking soda: ½ tsp
Baking powder: 1 tsp
Vanilla essence: 2 tsp


How to bake?
1.Preheat the oven for 350 F. Grease a big loaf tin or two small tins.
2. Beat sugar, soften butter, egg and vanilla essence together until smooth
3. Sieve the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4. Sprinkle little by little the flour into the buttery smooth mixture
5.Fold the flour mixture into the buttery mixture with a spatula or if you are using a beater in slow mode (1 or 2).
6. Scoop in a greased loaf tin or pan and tap the tin slightly (release some air bubble) before placing in oven.
7. Bake for 30 or 35 minutes.

Important tips for Baking beginner:

Before starting to bake, preheat the oven and next mix the cake.
Never open the oven door once u placed the cake for baking, use the pilot light of the oven to check.
When you fold the flour into mixture do it in clockwise! The cake will be airy!
To check if it is done:Insert a knife in middle of the crack, it should come out clean after 30 minutes. U can increase 10 minutes at the time, if not.
If it is not silicone, grease generously the pan and use a wax paper.
Some people are frustrated when it comes to baking: If you are a person who follows each and every single measurement (like you do in Chemistry class) you will never fail in baking! Just follow blindly the recipe and measurements; it is not like cooking little bit of this and that…

Verdict: It is less rich than pound cake.


I baked in small loaf tin and made some cupcakes with different toppings.


I am sending this cake for baking for beginner hosted by Vandana , hoping some new baker will benefit!

And this cake is Just for You: sending to Alka's event.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Need these plain cakes sometimes. most of the time my kids will ask only for plain vanilla cakes or cupcakes. A good one.
FH said…
HeHe!! Knife and pot holding oven! She must have loved it so much, I am sure. I store stuff too but on the bottom drawer of the oven and keep a huge double layered cookie sheet in the oven at all times! :D

Vanilla cake look perfect. Trisha likes that white and yellow cake, Tushar always a chocolate cake guy!:)
anudivya said…
I love the simple vanilla cake that I used to have back home, light and fluffy, they used to be the perfect snack after school.
Sunshinemom said…
Cham, that was a keen observation about using the oven section in the range for storage - that is what my cousin and SIL do even now:))! I love your cake for the memories and the joy associated with it!! My kids are still in the chocolate flavor stage!
veggie belly said…
Great recipe. One could start with this and experiment adding other flavors and mix ins!
Divya Kudua said…
I love love the simple vanilla cake Cham..the day I started baking,I've been wanting to make "that"bakery like white cake..definitely gonna try this one..love to your cake-loving grandma!!
Varsha Vipins said…
Such a cute story of urs..I was imagining ur excitement n tension..he he..
Thats so simple n yummy cake..:)
Vikis Kitchen said…
Always love your cake recipes. I really appreciate ur keen measurement techniques and love for baking even from teens.
The baker cud have also appreciated ur eagerness. Prayers and well wishes for grandma to get well soon.
jayasree said…
Your memories made a great read. Old time incidents keep coming back each and every time we do anything associated with it, isn't it. Cake looks perfect. Sometimes, all that we prefer is a simple plain cake. My husband is a big fan of this cake.
Anonymous said…
h ha..but i cant tolerate the misuse of that poor oven cham..At least that made you a baker..right.? Hope by now your mom bakes..
Vanilla plain cake is such a wonderful delicacy and simple for any beginner to start with..
Cham said…
Ann the funniest thing I shared and even showed how to do it, only few have succeed in my family to come up with a good cake, usually they blame it is hard or it turns like biscuit. And my mom she will not attempt any baking because of fear!
Vibaas said…
I love this plain cake so much, cham. And it is really encouraging to know it is easy to bake :-)

Anyways, my aunt had the kind of oven that your mom had and they used it for storage too :-) Never used it for baking!! I rarely use my oven too..i just use it to make puffs and to bake cakes out of mixes..I tried baking cookies from the scratch and got crumbs!!
Lakshmi said…
Ask me about failures and I can probably write in episodes. This post with loads of tips will definitely benefit me, btw all cakes looks yumm..I am ogling at them and drooling
CurryLeaf said…
Lovely Cham,I do not know whether I love the post or the cake more.It truly touching that you dedicate this to your Granny.But yes,It also had me in splits regarding the use of oven,but my cousin does that still now :(.
The cake looks perfect and scrumptious.and thanks for the tips as well,I did not know most of them
Unknown said…
an all time favourite..looks so gorgeous..
Rathna said…
WOW ! so soft and delicious cake Cham. The cake looks really dense and moist. Could melt in the mouth.
Cute, lovely story :-)
sra said…
Cham, that was a lovely post. I wish your gran gets better soon.
Kayal said…
Your cake looks so yummy. I am just like your mom...so scared of baking. What a Lovely story. My prayers for your Grandma.
Hey Cham thats a great recipe. hope ur granny gets well soon.

lovely bake n thanks for helping me with the subscriber, however I do hve a few quesions...just a lil busy these days, will mail u later :)
Dershana said…
surely for me! my baking attempts are generally disastrous!! handy tips, easy recipe!!
Jaishree Iyer said…
WOW ! Cake is so soft and delicious. I love this plain cake so much.. looks so gorgeous..
Hi cham
hey you have presented a good old nice recipe of the vanilla cake.It is exactly that, ecepts for few nuances. I am really moved by your dedication of this recipe to your granny. May she be well and happy.
Priya Suresh said…
Cham, ur cute story brings me some old memories too, yea even my brother run to bakery to bake my bakes,else my mom manage to bake with pressure cooker, mud etc.. Love the simple vanilla cake, nothing will beat this na, cute cupcakes too...its really touching that u r dedicating this delicious cake to ur granny...
cake looks awesome cham. so soft...mouthwatering..
Deepthi Shankar said…
its been ages since I ate these, they look lovely, plain & simple, goes great with tea
lubnakarim06 said…
Wow love it. Simply love it.
Chitra said…
plain cake is so gud.But one thing..we dont use eggs..plz tell me wat can i use to replace eggs?also the tips for beginners is really useful..Thanx cham..Do visit my blg at ur free time:)
R said…
Well written tips... Cute looking cake and muffins. I loved the story narration part much.... My Love to your granny esp.
Vijitha said…
Such a cute story cham! even i used to do the same . Take my cake to my bakery uncle n ask him to bake it for me.

Yummy simple recipe. Soft n moist slices. Gr8 baking cham!
SMN said…
this looks absolute divine i would love to have it
Raks said…
Lovely post,cherishing your experience in baking!
I too love plain vanilla cake than most other!
Finla said…
I love simple vanilla cakes like this, this is one my mom always made for us, she had a oven , bit it is like a round box, with a see through glass top.
Pavani said…
hi cham,these are really superab...i like plain cakes only...ur is my favt one.
notyet100 said…
ur post is perfect for beginner like me,,,cke looks yum,..yummy post loved the cupcakes too,..
Bong Mom said…
You were an early entrepreneur, you outsourced !!! I like that Sunday ritual :)
The cake looks perfect, all that year of exp can't go wrong :D
Gita Jaishankar said…
Wow, you started cooking when you were so young...I entered the kitchen only after getting married...the cake looks delicious Cham..the ingredients used here are easy to remember..I should try this one :)
Vaishali said…
Cham, what a lovely story, and you must've been a really talented baker at a young age. This cake sounds and looks gorgeous.
Laavanya said…
Looks awesome Chams.. reminds me of the most delicious cake my neighbour used to make every Christmas.. plain with no special additions but perfect in everyway.
Hope your granny gets well soon.
Anonymous said…
Wowwwwww.....just loveeeeeeeed it.
I never like cream cakes,they r way too sweet for my taste buds.And u know wht,my hubby is sooooo very fond of this cake,that if i cud bake thislike u did(so soft and fluffy)he is going to dance with joy...really i swear.....lol
I am so happy that u thought of sending in this to our event,thnks for that :-)
Unknown said…
hey cham this cake always have its place how many flavors came after this but this one is a all time fav for every one ithink and so sweet of you making a cake for granny and cake looks fluffy and nice color looks sososo yummy love the pic.
kamala said…
That is a lovely and touching post Cham..Harish loves plain vanilla cake only..He is asking for this cake for a long time..I am gonna try ur version..So soft and fluffy too!!! My heartiest wishes to ur Grandma to get well soon..
Vanamala Hebbar said…
Nice photos .... ofcourse lovely recipe...looks delicious
Sum Raj said…
nice and useful tips cham..both looks fantastic..
Usha said…
Lovely post and the cake looks really soft and delicious,nothing to beat plain vanilla cake in my opinion....hope your grandmother gets well soon !
lovely!!! the cake really looks soft and fluffy
Archy said…
All time fav cake, looks so gud an high Cham.. Drooling !!
suvi said…
lovely post cham...can totally relate to you, even I baked before I could even fry onions!! And the plain old vanilla cake is our all time favourite, nothing to beat the aroma and flavour of a freshly baked one. The crumb in your cake looks just right.
Yasmeen said…
Perfect for beginners,its an evergreen recipe.My best wishes for your granny.
Sujatha said…
haha, your first baking story was a good one :) I'm just the opposite, I scare away from baking.. give me a pressure cooker and pan, I will be happily cooking forever :)

Plain Vanilla cake looks awesome! May be a good start for newbies like me :)
Chitra said…
Thanx a lot cham!!Sure will try by replacing eggs with tofu:)Thanks again dear:)
Neha said…
Nice one for a beginner like me, I'm really pathetic at baking. Never know, how my cake can come with the same recipe..
Love that simple recipe, n the cute story..
Anonymous said…
Wow...the cake looks so soft and delicious! Good entry.
Purva Desai said…
Vanilla cake is simple and yet all time favourite cake of everyone....Can I have a bite :)
Shreya said…
so nice that you learnt baking first! nice post:-) plain and simple is sometimes always the best..love those cookies!
Recipeswap said…
lovely simple cake........the best most often.Hope ur Grandmom gets better.
Unknown said…
plain cake is my kid's favorite...looks so yummy and gr8 idea to make into cupcakes...very good entry for those events CHAM :)
Trupti said…
love this simple vanilla cake. I love this cake
Malar Gandhi said…
Wow...I am a big fan of this vanila cake, you must be a great baker, you make all the cake recipe very interesting...love it.
AnuSriram said…
That looks so fluffy... Love them a lot!
ranji said…
oh wow!!what a delicious rich vanilla cake....plain and simple is always the best..my hubby likes it that way :)...good one cham!!!
Vibaas said…
Love your new blog layout :)
Nithya Praveen said…
Cham though outdated dont u think this is the most easiest and the best cake recipe? :-)Your pic reminded me of the small Britania Cake that i've eaten during school days:-) Looks great girl!
This looks delicious. My daughter loves what she calls "plain" cake which is this.
And how could it be outdated? You know old is gold! And your Grandma certified it as the best, so its a keeper.
notyet100 said…
am goin to try this,..will let u knw how it comes out,..:-),pry for me this gonn be first time i am goin to try hand at bakin,,...
notyet100 said…
THNKS TON ,..FOR STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTION,..ENJOYED BAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME,..UR POST WAS PERFECT GUIDE FOR BEGINNER LIKE ME,..WILL POST TODAY IN MY BLOG,..THNKS AGAIN,..
Namratha said…
Nothing is outdated dear, the loaf is perfect and the cake looks moist and delicious! :)

Hehe, most of my friends use their ovens to store things too, mine is used only to bake! :D
Unknown said…
Looks really soft n fluffy. i can imagine the soothing taste of these beauties.
Sravanthi said…
Hi

I tried out ur vanilla cake recipe today..it turned out great..!! But for some reason I had to cook it for 1.5 hr rather than 30 minutes. But the result was really superb...Thanks so much for the recipe.
Cham said…
Sravanthi Thanks to leave a comment, I appreciate it. I am really surprise about the baking time. Did ur oven temp was too low, at least it should be 350. And the cake was too dense? May take too much time to bake...