Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it heats up, grease two 8-inch round cake pans with butter, ensuring to coat both the sides and bottoms.

For extra non-stick assurance, line the bottoms with parchment paper, this guarantees easy removal of your cakes.

In a medium bowl, thoroughly sift the self-rising flour, baking powder, and salt. Sifting eliminates any lumps and ensures the dry ingredients are evenly distributed for a light, airy cake.

Next, beat together softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl on medium-high speed for about 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffy. This is the base of your cake, giving it that rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

After the butter and sugar are fully creamed, add the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition.

Scrape down the bowl to ensure everything is fully incorporated. Then, add 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract and whole milk, beating until smooth and fully combined. 

With your mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the batter. Mix until just combined, aiming for a thick yet smooth consistency.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and use a spatula to level it out. This ensures your cake layers bake evenly.

Bake the cakes for 25–30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown, spring back when pressed, and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Once baked, let the cakes cool in the pans on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Afterward, carefully remove the cakes from the pans and peel off the parchment paper. Allow them to cool completely before assembling.

While the cakes cool, whip up the filling! In a medium bowl, combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat until soft peaks form, this will give you a light, airy whipped cream.

To assemble, set the first cake layer on a cake stand. Spread a generous layer of strawberry jam, followed by the whipped cream. 

Top with the second layer of cake, and for the final touch, dust the top with powdered sugar. This adds an elegant finish to your delicious cake!