southern living cover worthy!

although i did not have the amazing fondant snowflakes pictured here this cake was AMAZING! it was made for early Christmas with my in-laws earlier this month. Leftovers were quickly devoured and enjoyed by all! one change to my recipe vs what is stated below was that 9" pans were used vs. 8" pans which only means you have to watch the cakes time wise and check a few minutes before the 8" times.

Mrs. Billett's White Cake
what you need...
Parchment paper
1 cup milk (i used skim)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 cups cake flour  (note that this is cake flour that comes in a box at Publix)
1 tablespoon baking powder
5 egg whites (check the container if you are buying egg whites in a carton--only few brands whip up for baking)
vanilla buttercream frosting (see below)

what to do...Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 3 (8-inch) round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper, and grease and flour paper.  Stir together milk and vanilla.  Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift together flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.  Beat egg whites at medium speed until stiff peaks form; gently fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 350° for 20 to 23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; discard parchment paper. Cool completely (about 40 minutes). Spread Vanilla Buttercream Frosting between layers (about 1 cup per layer) and on top and sides of cake.

for the icing...

what to do....
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (32-oz.) package powdered sugar
6 to 7 Tbsp. milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

what to do...
Beat butter and salt at medium speed with an electric mixer 1 to 2 minutes or until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 6 Tbsp. milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Stir in vanilla. If desired, beat in remaining 1 Tbsp. milk, 1 tsp. at a time, until frosting reaches desired consistency.