Preheat oven to 350°F and grease three 9-inch round cake pans with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper circles. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture alternately with the sour cream and vanilla extract, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Fold in chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout batter.

Divide batter among prepared pans, spreading evenly to all sides of each pan. Bake cakes for 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before removing from pans; remove parchment paper circles before frosting cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting