Preheat oven to 180 C / 350 F. Grease and butter well a 7 inch round pan. Line the bottom with parchment ( optional).
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Keep aside.
Heat milk and butter until the butter melts. Keep aside but keep it hot.
Beat with an electric mixer or whisk, the sugar, vanilla and eggs until light and fluffy (about triple in volume)
Whisk in the flour mixture and hot milk-butter mixture
Pour batter into prepared pan , tap against counter and bake for 30-35 minutes at 180 C/ 350 F until cake springs back when touched on top . The top will be browned and edges will come away from the pan.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then carefully invert out, remove parchment and cool right side up on a wire rack
Bake as soon as the batter is ready . Letting the batter stand will make it deflate and lose volume