Family-Sized Buttery Vanilla Cake

[knittercook]

This is my favourite 'lunch box' cake as it is a nice big cake that lasts all week, very buttery and yummy, it is taken from the Women's Weekly Quick-Mix Cakes cookbook.


Name of Recipe: Family-Sized Buttery Vanilla Cake

Ingredients:
250g butter, chopped
2 tsp vanilla extract
440g castor sugar
4 eggs
300g self-raising flour
40g custard powder
250g milk

Preparation:

Grease a deep 23cm square cake pan, line base and sides with baking paper. Combine all ingredients in   speed 4 for about 1 minute, increase speed to 6 and mix for approximately 1- 2  minutes until mixture is smooth and changed in colour.  Spread into prepared pan. Bake in moderately slow oven 160^oC ( I use 150^oC fan-forced) about 1 1/4 hours.  Stand 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool.  Dust cold cake with icing sugar, if desired.

members' comments

cookie - I make this a lot. I have had it called a Hi-light Cake. Sometimes I use cocoa instead of the custard powder to make it a chocolate cake, it's really nice.

CC - Look what I made in my new cake tin using your recipe Knittercook. It fitted perfectly and tastes wonderful. I did chicken out of mixing it in my TM though and used my old Kenwood Chef.

Lilli33 -  Cake was a big hit and I think I will add to my standard yummy cakes. Especially for school!!! Thanks again, was a real hit, we all loved it.

Hally - I made this once & it was a disaster, one side overcooked, other side not cooked.

[DizzyGirl]

Oh no DS can't have custard powder beacuse of the colours in it. Does anyone know if I could substitute it for something else?

DG 

[fundj&e]

maybe some cornflour and more vanilla DG

[cookie1]

I make this a lot. I     have had it called a Hi-light Cake. Sometimes I use cocoa instead of the custard powder to make it a chocolate cake, it's really nice.

[DizzyGirl]

Thanks fundj, may have to give it ago or find a recipe without it.

[cookie1]

DG could you just add an extra 40g of flour? I'm sure it would still make a lovely cake.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Oh no DS can't have custard powder beacuse of the colours in it. Does anyone know if I could substitute it for something else?

DG 

Originally custard powder was made with cornflour, vanilla and salt. 

[judydawn]

I thought the Orgran brand custard powder was OK to use?

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

It should be JD.  The ingredients in the Orgran brand are "Maize starch, Natural vanilla flavour, Salt, Natural colour: Beta carotene". I'm pretty sure the beta carotene is extracted from veggies. 

[Meagan]

I will give this a go minus the custard powder thanks   

[Halex]

Near where we are staying is Port Gregory, the pink lake, its spectacular, as you are  approacing the clouds are pink from the reflection of the pink lake.

Beta carotene is made here from the algae from the lake.

H

[DizzyGirl]

ewww Hally that doesn't sound good. Perhaps the cornflour and vanilla might be the best option.

[cookie1]

It's beautiful isn't it Hally? The beta carotene is all very natural. There is also a pink lake in Esperance.

[Halex]

Yes cookie it is, the pink clouds are truly amazing, so many lovely places to see up here.

DH says the beta carotene shoukd be fine, the company he works for used to own the plant here.

H

[Cornish Cream]

Look what I made in my new cake tin using your recipe Knittercook. It fitted perfectly and tastes wonderful.I did chicken out of mixing it in my TM though and used my old Kenwood Chef.