Vanilla Cake

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This moist and tender, two layer Vanilla Cake is a classic choice loaded with double the vanilla flavor: a vanilla cake batter and the fluffiest, creamiest vanilla buttercream frosting to boot. It's absolutely the perfect cake for birthday parties, anniversaries, and any special occasions. You may as well print out the recipe and stick it on the fridge — you'll be making this recipe again and again!

This moist and tender, two layer Vanilla Cake is a classic choice topped with the fluffiest, creamiest vanilla buttercream frosting. Perfect for birthdays! | aheadofthyme.com

Vanilla has a reputation for being plain or boring, but that's definitely not true! This homemade vanilla cake recipe is ultra moist with that classic birthday cake flavor you'll be thinking about for days. It's also made with the simple two-bowl method, so it's much faster and easier than recipes that call for the traditional creaming method. Easy, delicious, and endlessly customizable — what's not to love?

Why You'll Love This Vanilla Cake

So moist and flavorful. Thanks to a little butter, vegetable oil, eggs, and buttermilk, each layer of cake is packed with tons of flavor and the most wonderfully moist yet fluffy texture. You certainly won't have a crumbly, dry cake on your hands!
Very easy to make. To make this classic vanilla layer cake, you mix the wet ingredients in one bowl, the dry ingredients in another, and then gently mix them together. This is the two-bowl method and it is the all-time easiest way to make the best homemade cakes. Fantastic for beginners!
Easy to customize. The delicious cake and creamy vanilla buttercream frosting can be enjoyed on their own, or you can go wild with different frosting flavors and topings. Think of it as a blank slate ready to make your own. This perfect vanilla cake tastes especially wonderful with fresh berries or sprinkles on top, but the options are endless!

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Vanilla Cake, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

all purpose flour - weigh out the flour with a kitchen scale, if possible, or scoop and level the flour into the measuring cup.
baking powder - Sift out any clumps for the best rise.
salt
unsalted butter - let the butter come to room temperature for 1.5 - 2 hours first.
vegetable oil - this is key to making the cake extra moist and tender.
white sugar
vanilla extract - for the strongest vanilla flavor, use pure vanilla extract.
whole eggs - room temperature is best.
buttermilk - use full-fat buttermilk for the best texture and flavor.

Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients

softened butter - this frosting is an American buttercream, which requires fully softened butter.
confectioners' sugar - to thicken the frosting and add sweetness.
vanilla extract
heavy cream - add small amounts as needed to get the right texture.
sprinkles - these are totally optional, but they make the best birthday cake!

Baking Tools and Equipment

You will also need the following baking tools and equipment:

measuring cups and spoons (or a kitchen scale)
two 8-inch round cake pans lined with parchment paper
baking spray
large and medium mixing bowls
whisk
electric mixer (hand mixer or stand mixer)
wire cooling rack
cake stand
icing spatula and bench scraper
piping bag with preferred tip (optional if wanting to pipe extra frosting on top)

How to Make the Best Vanilla Cake

Step 1: Make the vanilla cake.

Combine dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, until well-combined. Set aside.

Combine wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric hand mixer until pale, creamy and slightly volumized, about 3 minutes. Add in the eggs, then beat again until smooth and well-combined.

Alternate adding ingredients to batter. Add ⅓ of the dry mixture into the batter, then beat to combine. Add ½ of the buttermilk, then beat again to combine. Continue alternating adding and beating the dry mixture and buttermilk, finishing with the dry mixture.

Bake. Prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and baking spray Divide the cake batter into the two prepared baking pans. Place both into a 325F preheated oven to bake for 35-40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Cool. Allow the cakes to cool for 20 minutes. Then, remove the cakes from the pans, and transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 2: Make the vanilla buttercream frosting.

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl, beat the butter until creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla, and beat until well-combined and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. If the frosting seems too stiff, add in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

Step 3: Assemble and frost the cake.

When ready to frost, place a cake layer onto a cake stand and top with frosting.
Use an icing spatula to spread the icing over. Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Frost the cake on the top and sides with the remainder of the frosting. Smooth out the sides of the cake using a bench scraper.
Add sprinkles on the top of the cake (if desired) and on the sides.

Recipe Variations

Amp up the vanilla flavor. If you want an even stronger vanilla flavor, replace the extract in the cake with vanilla bean paste. This will also add those little black specks! You can also use a double or triple-fold vanilla extract.
Make vanilla cupcakes. This recipe makes enough for two round 8-inch pans, or you can bake approximately 18-24 vanilla cupcakes. Be sure to reduce the baking time to 18-20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Add sprinkles to the batter. For a really playful option, fold colorful jimmies (not regular sprinkles) into the cake batter right before baking.
Try a different frosting. Vanilla cake pairs perfectly with many different flavors. Try using Nutella Buttercream, the strawberry buttercream from my Strawberry Cupcakes, Swiss meringue buttercream, chocolate buttercream frosting from our Moist Chocolate Cupcakes, etc.

How to Serve

This Vanilla Cake is a delicious dessert served on its own as a single treat, or pair it with other sweets as part of a larger dessert spread including:

For more recipes, see our 50 Easy Baking Recipes.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use a scale. It's always best to weigh out ingredients with a kitchen scale. Measuring cups and spoons can vary and affect your results.
Use room temperature ingredients. Temperature is a key factor in baking. Use room temperature butter, eggs, buttermilk, and heavy cream for this white cake recipe.
Level the cakes. If your cake layers are domed after baking, use a serrated knife to trim them flat before assembling and decorating.
Let the cake cool completely. your delicious buttercream icing will melt right off your cake is you start decorating too soon. The fluffy cake layers should be fully cooled to room temperature first.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Leftover cake can be stored on a plate wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for 2-3 days. If you add heavy cream to the frosting, it's best to refrigerate instead for 5-7 days. Cake always tastes best at room temperature, so it's bring it out for an hour or so to warm it up before serving.

How to Freeze

Chill the cake first to firm up the frosting, then wrap it well in several layers of plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

FAQ

What's the best type of vanilla for vanilla cake?

If you want to really let the vanilla flavor shine, use pure vanilla extract. It has a real vanilla flavor and tastes much better than imitation extract. There are many different types of vanilla extract to choose from, including single-origin varieties, etc. You'll get the strongest flavor from a double or triple-fold extract, which is made with two or three times as much vanilla per batch. These do tend to be more expensive, but they're worth it for special recipes like this. It's also totally okay just to use whatever you have on hand!

Can you use vanilla bean paste in cakes?

Yes, vanilla bean paste is a fantastic way to add lots of vanilla flavor and those yummy little black flecks. However, be aware that the darker color of the paste can affect the final presentation. The cake layers will have tiny little flecks here and there, and the frosting can take on a slightly beige color. It's best to use regular extract for the frosting instead.

What makes vanilla cake moist?

It really depends on the recipe. There are plenty of vanilla cake recipes out there, and some of them are much more light and airy. I'm a big fan of moist cakes, which have so much more flavor! To make a moist cake, you need to use a good mixture of fats and liquids. For the the best vanilla cake recipe, you'll want to use both butter and vegetable, as well as full-fat buttermilk and eggs.

More Cake Recipes

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