Try our butter cake recipe

We are big supporters of packet mixes when it comes to birthday cakes. Why? Because they are readily available (tick), easy to make (tick), create cakes that are nicely firm and therefore easy to stack and decorate (tick), and we have never met a kid who has not enjoyed the nice, plain taste (tick).

But we know some of you will cringe at the thought of packet mixes and that is why we have created our own perfect birthday cake recipe - that also just so happens* to make exactly the same amount of cake batter as two packet mixes, the perfect amount for many Shape Tins cakes. 

*It just so happens because we very deliberately developed it that way.

So, here it is! Our very own "perfect birthday cake" recipe.

Ingredients
250g unsalted butter (softened)
280g caster sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
350g plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
300ml milk

Method
Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy. You will know when this happens. If it doesn’t look light and fluffy, keep beating. Add eggs one at a time and mix for 30 seconds after adding each egg.

In a separate bowl, sift flour and baking powder.

Combine milk and vanilla.

Add 1/3 of flour mix and 1/3 of milk mix into the butter/sugar/egg mix and gently mix by hand using a spatula. Repeat 3 times until all ingredients are combined.

This mixture makes approximately 1300g of cake batter, or the equivalent of 2 packet mixes. Baking times vary depending on which Shape Tin you are using - check the handy guide inside the cover of the Shape Book or the recipe card for the cake of your choice.