Vanilla Bean Layer Cake

Ingredients:
3 1/3 cup flour
1 1/3 cup milk
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
3 tablespoons vanilla paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 egg yolks

chocolate cream cheese frosting


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour or spray with baking spray two 8 inch round pans. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, mix until well combined. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Add the vanilla paste to the milk. Mixing continuously, add the flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Divide evenly into the prepared pans and bake about 40 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Cool on wire rack, removing from the pans after about 5 minutes. Cool completely then ice.

My thoughts:

We had some friends over for dinner and I used it as an excuse to make a classic vanilla cake with chocolate icing. I've been wanting to make a layer cake for ages but living in the household of two, there is just no hope that we would be able to finish it. Th cake is moist and has tiny flecks of vanilla beans throughout. The vanilla flavor is present but surprisingly subtle considering the amount of vanilla paste that went into the cake. Which isn't to say it is bland just that the flavor is very natural tasting and not overpowering.