1-First Step: Preheat and Prep Pans Heat your oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round pans, line bottoms with parchment, and dust with flour. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking. Room-temperature ingredients mix smoothly, key for moist cake.

2-Second Step: Sift Dry Ingredients Sift together 2 1/4 cups cake flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt into a large bowl. Sifting twice aerates the flour, promoting fluffiness. Stir briefly to combine; this base supports the vanilla cake structure. For gluten-free, use certified blend here.

3-Third Step: Cream Butter and Vanilla In a stand mixer, beat 1/2 cup softened butter and 1 tsp clear vanilla on medium until creamy, about 2 minutes. This creates a flavorful base. Scrape the bowl often. Vegan adaptation: use plant butter at room temp.

4-Fourth Step: Alternate Wet and Dry Add dry mix alternately with 1 cup milk to the butter, starting and ending with flour. Beat on low after each addition until just combined, about 1 minute per. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter tender. Batter will be thick; that’s normal for fluffy results. Low-cal tip: use skim milk.

5-Fifth Step: Whip Egg Whites In a clean bowl, whip 6 egg whites to stiff peaks, about 3-4 minutes. Peaks hold shape without falling. Add a pinch of cream of tartar for stability if desired. Gently fold into batter in thirds using a spatula. This step traps air for rise; folding preserves fluff. Vegan: whip aquafaba similarly.

6-Sixth Step: Divide and Bake Divide batter evenly between pans. Tap gently to release bubbles. Bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges pull from sides. Centers spring back lightly. Rotate pans halfway for even browning. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then invert onto racks. Peel parchment carefully.

7-Final Step: Cool and Frost Cool layers fully on racks, about 1 hour. Level tops if needed. Fill and frost as desired. This yields two 9-inch moist fluffy white cake layers. Slice and serve fresh. Pro tip: brush simple syrup on layers for extra moisture. Stores well; see storage section below. Pairs great with buttercream.