Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the cake pan with a little butter or non-stick spray.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, whisking them together until evenly distributed.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract, mixing until just incorporated.
Combine Ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Gently fold the sour cream into the mixture until the cake batter becomes uniform and smooth.
Prepare to Bake: Transfer the smooth batter into your greased cake pan, leveling off the top to ensure an even bake. Place the cake in the oven and bake it for about 25-30 minutes. It’s ready when a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean without any residue.
Cooling Process: After baking, let the cake sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Afterwards, move it to a wire rack to cool off entirely.