Banner's Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Cake

Ingredients:

Cake

• 2 cups sugar

• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups milk, at room temperature

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs, at room temperature

Frosting

• 16 tablespoons unsalted butter

• pinch of salt

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3 1/2 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar

• 2 to 4 tablespoons milk

(Cake) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease (but don't flour) the bottom only of three 8 inch round pans.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the butter and beat with an electric mixer at low speed, until the mixture looks sandy.

Combine the milk and vanilla and add, all at once. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.

Scrape the bottom and sides of the mixing bowl.

With the mixer running at low speed, add 1 egg. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.

Repeat this procedure with the second egg. Continue adding the eggs, scraping after each addition, until all 4 are added.

After the last egg is added, scrape the bowl once more, then beat at medium-high speed for 30 more seconds.

Take 1/3 of the batter and put it into a separate bowl. Take another third of the batter and put it into another bowl.

Color one of the portions blue and another red.

Transfer the batter into the three separate pans.

Bake for 24-27 minutes. While the cake is baking, make the frosting.

(Frosting) Beat the butter until smooth. Then beat in the salt and vanilla.

Add the confectioners' or glazing sugar and 2 tablespoons of the milk, and beat until smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Adjust the consistency of the frosting as needed by adding more confectioners' sugar or milk.

Test that the cakes are finished baking by sticking a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, they are done. Allow the cakes to cool completely

(Assembling) Cut the tops off of each cake to make them flat on each side.

Place a small amount of frosting on a cake platter and place the first cake in the center.

Evenly apply a layer of frosting on top of the first layer.

Repeat this with the rest of the layers and finish applying the frosting around the rest of the cake.

Decorate as desired.