Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 cups cake flour, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup superfine or castor sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Zest of a lemon or orange (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Line the bottom of the 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease the paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Sift the flour mixture once more.
  3. Beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Slowly add the sugar, beating continuously on medium-high speed until light in colour and fluffy. (Be sure to scrape the bowl and add the sugar very slowly).
  4.  Add the eggs, one at a time. Continue beating and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  5. Beat in vanilla and zest.
  6. Add the flour mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. Bake for 60 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. After removing  the cake from the oven, allow to cool completely before decorating.