+1/2 Recipe

Preheat and prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper and set aside.

Whisk dry ingredients: In a medium bowl combine 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp fine salt. Whisk briefly to evenly distribute leavening and sugar.

Mix wet ingredients: In a separate large bowl whisk 1 cup whole milk, 1 large egg, 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter (cooled slightly), and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth and homogenous.

Combine wet and dry: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two additions, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix — a few small streaks of flour are fine. Scrape the bowl so there are no pockets of flour.

Optional: If using mix-ins, gently fold 1/2 cup fresh berries into the batter, taking care not to crush them and to keep the batter light.

Transfer batter to pan: Pour the batter into the prepared 9-inch pan and smooth the top with a spatula so it is even.

Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18–24 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Start checking at 18 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Cool: Remove from oven and set the pan on a wire rack. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto the rack to cool completely if you prefer the crumb to set before serving.

Dust and garnish: Once the cake is cooled (or slightly warm if you prefer), sift 1 tbsp powdered sugar over the top and sprinkle 1/2 tsp fresh lemon zest for brightness. If you folded berries into the batter, you can also scatter a few extra fresh berries on the top.

Slice and serve: Cut into 6 even slices. Serve plain, with a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream as desired.

Storage: Store any leftover cake tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. To refresh, warm briefly in a microwave or oven.