01 -
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan thoroughly, then flour it lightly or line with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
02 -
Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly mixed.
03 -
Using a mixer, beat softened butter with granulated sugar in a large bowl for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
04 -
Add eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract to flavor the batter.
05 -
Slowly blend in blue gel food coloring until the desired shade is reached, then mix in the milk until the batter is smooth and consistently colored.
06 -
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet batter, folding gently until just combined to avoid developing gluten and toughening the crumb.
07 -
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 -
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Optionally dust with powdered sugar or drizzle vanilla glaze before serving.