VANILLA WAFERS CAKE RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Position 1 oven rack in the top third of the oven and another in the bottom third. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and vanilla sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl after 1 minute. Add the egg and incorporate on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend on low speed for 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before scooping.
• Scoop the batter in teaspoon-sized balls and arrange them on 2 parchment paper-lined half sheet pans, approximately 35 cookies per pan. Use the heel of your hand to slightly flatten each ball. Bake, 2 pans at a time, rotating the pans halfway through the baking, until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pans to a cooling rack to cool completely before removing the cookies from the pan.

Steps:

• Prepare the Filling: Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Whisk together egg yolks and half-and-half in a bowl; gradually whisk into sugar mixture. Cook over medium, whisking constantly, until mixture just starts to bubble, 6 to 7 minutes. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 more minute; remove from heat. Whisk in butter and vanilla until completely incorporated; transfer to a medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on warm filling to prevent film from forming. Let stand 30 minutes; chill 4 to 24 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat butter with a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. With mixer running on medium speed, gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
• Stir together cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended after each addition. Spoon batter into 3 greased (with shortening) and floured 8-inch round cake pans.
• Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 19 to 23 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into chilled custard Filling.
• Assemble cake: Horizontally slice a very thin layer off the top of each Cake Layer with a serrated knife (to remove any dome). Place 1 Cake Layer, cut side up, on a serving platter; cover Cake Layer with half of sliced bananas. Spread about 1 1/2 cups Filling over top of bananas. Top with second Cake Layer, cut side up; repeat with remaining bananas and 1 1/2 cups Filling, ending with remaining Cake Layer, cut side down. Spread top and sides of cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting.
• Crush 20 vanilla wafers in a ziplock bag, and press crushed wafers gently around bottom of cake (about 2 to 3 inches up the sides). Garnish top of cake with whole vanilla wafers.