How to Bake an Election Day Cake

Baking an Election Day Cake can be a fun and tasty way to celebrate the democratic process. Here's a recipe and some tips to help you get started:

Ingredients:

- 2 cups all-purpose flour - 2 tsp baking powder - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature - 1 cup granulated sugar - 2 large eggs - 1 tsp vanilla extract - 1/2 cup whole milk - Red, white, and blue sprinkles (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer if you have one.

4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.

5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined.

6. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth.

7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

8. If desired, sprinkle red, white, and blue sprinkles over the top of the batter to make a patriotic design.

9. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

10. Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes in the pan, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. Once the cake is cooled, you can decorate it with frosting or whipped cream, and top with more sprinkles if you like.

12. Serve your Election Day Cake with pride and enjoy!

Tips:

- Be sure to measure your flour carefully, as too much flour can result in a dry and dense cake.

- Room temperature butter will mix more easily with the sugar and eggs, resulting in a smoother batter.

- Don't overmix the batter once you've added the flour, as this can result in a tough cake.

- If you don't have a round cake pan, you can use a square or rectangular pan instead.

- You can also bake the cake in cupcake tins to make individual Election Day Cupcakes.

- You can experiment with different frosting flavors, such as cream cheese or lemon, to add variety to your cake.