Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour cake pans.
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add dry ingredients and milk alternately, mixing just until combined.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.
Frost with whipped vanilla bean buttercream.
