Basic Yellow "Butter" Cake

Basic Yellow "Butter" Cake 16 T. unsalted butter, room temp. 2 C. cake flour, sifted 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 C. milk 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 1/2 C. sugar 4 large eggs, room temp. Grease and flour 3 cake pans or a tube pan, set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl, set aside. In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until it becomes pale and fluffy, about 3 min. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla. On low speed alternately add dry ingredients and milk. Beat until the batter is smooth. Divide the batter amongst the pans. Tap the pans on the counter to remove any trapped air. Bake the cakes in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes (using cake pans) or 35-40 min. using a tube pan, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake(s) cool in the pan for 15 minutes then invert them onto wire racks to continue cooling. Frost or leave "naked". To make a Pig Pickin' Cake Prepare the cake as above, stir in 15 oz. (drained) mandarin oranges before pouring into the cake pans. Bake as directed. For the icing: 8 oz. cool whip 3.5 oz. instant vanilla pudding 16 oz. crushed pineapple, undrained Combine all ingredients and frost the cake. Save some of the mandarin oranges as decoration for the top if you want to spruce it up a bit.