Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 175 °C (350 °F). While it's warming up, prepare your baking mold by greasing it with butter and dusting it with flour.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mixing the dry ingredients together ensures an even consistency throughout the cake.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until you achieve a light and fluffy texture. This step is essential for creating a tender cake.
Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs, adding them one at a time. Make sure they are well mixed before moving on to the next.
Flavor Addition: Now, stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. The aroma will be intoxicating, so take a moment to enjoy it!
Combine Mixtures: Gradually alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined—do not overmix!
Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared mold and bake for 30-35 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean when it's done.
Cool and Serve: Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely before serving. You can decorate it with a simple lemon glaze or powdered sugar, if desired.