1-First Step: Start by pulling together all your ingredients 150 grams of all-purpose flour, 75 grams of sugar, 50 milliliters of vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt on your counter. This mise en place step keeps everything organized and prevents mid-recipe scrambles (you’ll thank me later!).

2-Second Step: In a large bowl, combine the 150 grams of all-purpose flour, 75 grams of sugar, 50 milliliters of vegetable oil, and 2 large eggs. Use a whisk to mix until the batter is smooth and lump-free, which should take about 2-3 minutes (this is where the fun begins, watching it all come together!).

3-Third Step: Add in 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the mixture, stirring gently to incorporate without overmixing. This helps activate the baking powder for a nice rise, and aim for a total mixing time of 1 minute to keep the batter airy (tricky, right? But you’ll get it!)

4-Fourth Step: Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and grease a cake pan. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top for even baking. Pop it in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (set a timer so you don’t forget!).

5-Fifth Step: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes more, before frosting or serving (patience is key here for the best texture!).

6-Sixth Step: For the final touches, prepare a simple cream cheese frosting by mixing cream cheese with a bit of sugar and vanilla, then spread it over the cooled cake. Slice and serve immediately, garnishing with nuts if desired it’s that easy to impress your guests (who knew a traditional Italian cream cake could be so straightforward?).