Best Vanilla Cake [with Chocolate Leaves]

This vanilla cake recipes comes from the amazing Donna Hay. I paired her beautiful light cake with a creamy vanilla icing and festive chocolate leaves. Last week, however, I used this cake, topped with cookies in the shape of "21" to surprise my friend for his birthday. So as you can see, this brillant cake can form the base of any baking need - from festive cakes, a birthday surprise or an elegant afternoon cake.

Ingredients for Cake
125g butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp bicarbornate of soda
1/2 cup milk

Ingredients for Icing
2 cup icing sugar
50g butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp milk, depending on consistency

Method
Preheat oven to 150 degrees (fan-forced) and grease and line a round baking tin. Place butter, sugar and vanilla together and combine on low speed until they are just combined. Add all eggs and, on low speed, beat until well combined. Sift powder, soda and flour and add milk over the mixture and on medium speed bring the batter together until completely smooth. Pour into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Test with a skewer. Leave to rest in tin for 5 minutes, before turning out onto a rack to cool. To make icing, beat together the butter and vanilla. Sift the icing sugar in gradually, and on medium speed, beat until combined. Pour milk over, and on medium speed, beat the whole mixture until smooth and spreadable consistency. Decorate your cake accordingly eg. chocolate leaves, sprinkles, coloured icing, smarties, sugared flowers or chocolate moulds.