A Little History About the 1-2-3-4 Cake

In the 1800's this white wedding cake recipe was called the 1-2-3-4 cake.

It's easy to remember(1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 4 eggs), and easy to prepare.

The egg whites are beaten separately and folded into the batter at the end for added lightness.

I have used this recipe with variations for 25 years and always have gotten good results.

For a three tier wedding cake for 150 people you will have to multiply this times 6. I have done that for you below.

Recipe For An Easy Wedding Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients

• 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks at room temperature)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs (separated)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside

In the large bowl of an electric mixer beat the butter until soft and smooth. Add the sugar and beat until light and smooth. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters several times.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in the vanilla. At this point you may add flavoring touches if desired.

In another bowl, with a clean beater, beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir about 1/2 cup of whites into the batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining whites in several additions.

Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Smooth the batter level, then spread it slightly from the center to the edges.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or just until the tops are springy or a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a rack for 10 minutes.Invert the cakes onto racks.

If you are making lemon cake brush add this wonderful lemony syrup over the cakes.

1/4-1/2 cup of sugar and the juice of 2 lemons. Double or triple for a wedding cake.

White Wedding Cake Recipe Times Three For Smaller Tiered Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients

• 9 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks at room temperature)
• 6 cups granulated sugar
• 12 eggs (separated)
• 3 cup milk
• 3 teaspoon vanilla extract

Follow the directions above.

White Wedding Cake Recipe For a Three Tier Cake

14" 10 "6" or

12" 9" 6" and some left over batter for a dozen cupcakes

Follow the directions above, but you will need much larger bowls and an industrial mixer like the one pictured here.

• 18 cups of sifted all-purpose flour
• 6 Tablespoons baking powder
• 3 Tablespoons salt
• 3 lbs. of unsalted butter
• 12 cups sugar
• 24 eggs (separated)
• 6 cups milk
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla

I originally found this recipe in a book called "A Piece Of Cake" by Susan Purdy

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