Remove your milk and eggs and butter about 30 minutes before you want to make the cake, so they can come to room temp.

Grease and flour your cake pans, and cut out a circle piece of parchment paper to go inside on the bottom of each pan.

Preheat oven to 350 F/176 C with the main rack in the middle position.

Mix together the sugar and the butter on high for 2 to 3 minutes until pale. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.

Add half of the milk to the batter and about 1 cup of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Then add the rest of the milk and another cup of flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Put the mixer away and fold/stir in the rest of the flour mixture until just combined. The vanilla cake batter is ready to go.

Now pour half of the batter in one pan and the other half in the other pan.

Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.

Allow cake layers to cool about 10 minutes in pans then remove them from the pans and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Wrap cake layers in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes. This step is optional.

Cream the butter with the vanilla in a large bowl with a hand mixer, stand mixer, or sturdy whisk.

Slowly mix in the powdered sugar until it is combined. The result will be a very thick frosting.

Thin the frosting out by adding a little bit of milk at a time until you get your desired thickness.

Place a dollop of frosting in the middle of your rotating cake pedestal or just use a plate.

Next, take one layer of cake and remove the parchment paper from the bottom, then place it down on the cake pedestal.

Add a generous amount of frosting to the top and spread it out. Then repeat with the next layer of cake. Make sure to add frosting to the sides.

Smooth out the frosting with a spatula.

Use a damp paper towel and wipe around the bottom of the cake to clean it up and make it more presentable.

Add some sprinkles on the top, or cake crumbs on the sides, oreo crumbs, frosting designs, flowers, fondant creations, candles, etc.! Enjoy!