Name: 1-2-3-4 cake
Yield: Makes one 3-layer cake; 12 servings
Ingredients: Softened butter and flour, for the pans; N/A and flour; 3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising); 4 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon plain salt; 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 2 cups sugar; 4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature; 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

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This layer cake was a standard in our house. This recipe is a very old one that people could keep in their heads because of the utter simplicity of the formula that gave the cake its name—1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, and 4 eggs. The juice mixture will give the cake a lovely, fresh, fruity flavor and it is not rich like an icing.

Recipe notes

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