Fluffy Vanilla Cake Recipe: Sweet Homemade Bliss in Every Bite

Sweet vanilla cake enhances ordinary moments into delightful celebrations with its irresistible aroma and comforting texture.

Bakers treasure this classic dessert for its versatile charm and ability to elevate any gathering.

Soft, tender crumbs promise a mouthwatering experience that delights both young and mature palates.

Home kitchens come alive with the warm, inviting scent of this beloved treat that feels like a culinary hug.

Simplicity meets elegance in this timeless recipe that requires minimal ingredients but delivers maximum satisfaction.

Subtle yet sophisticated, the cake serves as a perfect canvas for creative decorations and personal touches.

Each slice promises a moment of pure, unadulterated joy that connects people through shared culinary love.

Vanilla Cake That’s Soft, Sweet, and Timeless

• Indulge in Effortless Elegance: This vanilla cake recipe offers a sophisticated dessert that looks professionally made but comes together with surprisingly simple techniques.
• Textural Triumph: Enjoy a perfectly moist, tender crumb that melts in your mouth, complemented by a silky smooth buttercream that creates a luxurious eating experience.
• Celebration-Ready Showstopper: Designed to impress at birthdays, parties, or any special occasion, the festive sprinkle decoration transforms this classic cake into a vibrant, joyful centerpiece that will delight guests of all ages.

Key Ingredients to Bake a Classic Vanilla Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and foundation for the cake's tender crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a soft, moist texture.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and contributes to the cake's tender consistency.
• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide structure and moisture.

• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and creates a light, fluffy texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides classic vanilla flavor and aromatic depth.

• Buttermilk, Whole Milk: Adds moisture, tenderness, and subtle tanginess to the cake.

Buttercream Ingredients:

• Egg Whites: Creates stable, glossy meringue base for buttercream.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the meringue.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates smooth, creamy texture and rich flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds classic vanilla flavor to the frosting.

• Confetti Sprinkles: Adds colorful, festive visual appeal.
• Nonpareils: Provides additional decorative texture and color.

Step-by-Step for a Perfectly Baked Vanilla Layer Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pans

Warm up the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lovingly coat two 8-inch cake rounds with butter and flour. Nestle parchment paper inside for easy removal.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Whisk until perfectly combined and set aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

Grab your stand mixer with paddle attachment. Whip butter and sugar on medium-high speed until they transform into a pale, fluffy cloud (about 3 minutes).

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients

• Eggs (one at a time)
• Vanilla extract

Ensure each egg is fully mixed before adding the next.

Step 5: Create Cake Batter

• Flour mixture
• Buttermilk

Start and end with flour (3 flour additions, 2 milk additions). Mix until just combined.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Slide into the oven and bake 30-35 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick- it should come out mostly clean.

Step 7: Cool the Cakes

Let cakes rest in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Gently turn out and cool completely.

Heavenly Vanilla Buttercream

Step 8: Prepare Meringue Base

• Egg whites
• Sugar

Whisk until blended.

Step 9: Heat Meringue

• Becomes hot
• No longer feels grainy
• Reaches 160°F (about 3 minutes)

Step 10: Whip Meringue

• Meringue forms stiff peaks
• Bowl feels cool

(About 5-10 minutes)

Step 11: Add Butter

Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add butter cubes, mixing until smooth.

Step 12: Finish Buttercream

Blend in vanilla extract. Continue mixing until silky and perfect.

Cake Assembly Magic

Step 13: First Layer Placement

Position first cake layer on stand. Spread generous cup of buttercream.

Step 14: Crumb Coat

Add second layer. Apply thin frosting layer. Chill for 20 minutes.

Step 15: Final Frosting

Cover entire cake with remaining buttercream. Use bench scraper for smooth finish.

Step 16: Decorate with Sprinkles

• Confetti sprinkles
• Nonpareils

Press along cake bottom. Toss randomly for playful effect.

Step 17: Final Flourish

Pipe delicate rosettes using 1M tip with leftover frosting.

Enjoy your spectacular vanilla cake creation!

Tips for Rich Flavor and a Fluffy Finish

• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, sugar, and other ingredients to ensure a perfectly balanced cake texture.
• Room Temperature Magic: Let eggs, butter, and buttermilk sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to create a smoother, more even batter.
• Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold ingredients until just combined to prevent a tough, dense cake that lacks the desired light and fluffy texture.
• Pan Preparation Trick: Create a non-stick surface by thoroughly greasing the pan and dusting with flour, then line with parchment paper for easy cake removal.
• Cooling Technique: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent buttercream from melting and ensure a clean, professional-looking finish.

Keeping Vanilla Cake Fresh from First Slice to Last

• Refrigeration: Store cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or place in a cake carrier to prevent drying out.
• Room Temperature: Keep frosted cake at cool room temperature for 1-2 days if serving soon. Place under a cake dome or covered container to maintain freshness.
• Freezing: Wrap unfrosted cake layers individually in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before frosting and serving. Buttercream can also be frozen in an airtight container for 2-3 months.

Drinks and Sides to Serve with Vanilla Cake

• Pair with Creamy Beverages: Complement the vanilla cake's sweet, light texture with rich hot chocolate, smooth chai latte, or classic cappuccino for a delightful flavor harmony.
• Match with Fresh Fruit Accompaniments: Serve alongside fresh strawberries, raspberries, or passion fruit to add a tangy contrast and brightness to the cake's smooth buttercream.
• Enhance with Dessert Wine: Elevate the cake experience by pairing with a delicate moscato d'asti, sweet sauternes, or light port wine that will highlight the vanilla's subtle sweetness without overwhelming the delicate cake.
• Combine with Smooth Ice Cream: Top or serve alongside vanilla bean, salted caramel, or classic cream ice cream to create a decadent dessert that amplifies the cake's creamy texture and flavor profile.

Flavorful Frosting Ideas to Reinvent Vanilla Cake

• Lemon Zest Celebration: Incorporate fresh lemon zest into the cake batter and replace vanilla extract with lemon extract for a bright, citrusy flavor profile that adds refreshing notes to the classic vanilla cake.
• Chocolate Chip Comfort: Fold semi-sweet chocolate chips into the vanilla cake batter before baking, creating delightful pockets of melted chocolate throughout each slice.
• Coconut Dream: Mix shredded coconut into the batter and replace buttermilk with coconut milk, then coat the frosted cake with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical-inspired dessert experience.
• Lavender Elegance: Infuse the buttercream with dried culinary lavender and add a small amount of lavender extract to the cake batter, creating a sophisticated and fragrant version of the traditional vanilla cake.

Vanilla Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Classic vanilla cake brings pure comfort with its moist crumb and delicate sweetness. Bakers can craft this timeless dessert easily, creating a delightful treat that welcomes celebration and warmth at any gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Ingredients:

Main Dry Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt

Main Wet and Binding Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk or whole milk, room temperature
• ¾ cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Buttercream Ingredients:

Main Base Ingredients:

• 6 large egg whites
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 cups (454 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

Flavor Enhancers:

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Assembly Ingredients:

Decorative Ingredients:

• Confetti sprinkles
• Nonpareils

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F (175°C). Coat two 8-inch cake pans with butter and dust with flour, then line with parchment paper.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
3. Cream butter and sugar using a stand mixer until the mixture becomes light and airy, approximately 3 minutes.
4. Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring complete integration after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
5. Gradually alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the batter, beginning and concluding with flour. Blend each addition until just incorporated.
6. Distribute batter equally between prepared cake pans and transfer to preheated oven.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge with minimal crumbs.
8. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
9. For buttercream, combine egg whites and sugar in a stand mixer bowl, creating a base mixture.
10. Position bowl over simmering water, whisking continuously until mixture becomes smooth and reaches 160°F.
11. Return bowl to mixer and whip at high speed until meringue forms stiff peaks and cools completely.
12. Switch to paddle attachment, gradually incorporating butter cubes until frosting becomes silky and uniform.
13. Blend in vanilla extract, ensuring smooth consistency.
14. Position first cake layer on serving plate and spread generous layer of buttercream.
15. Carefully place second cake layer on top and apply thin crumb coat of frosting.
16. Refrigerate cake for 20 minutes to set initial frosting layer.
17. Generously frost entire cake, using bench scraper to create smooth surface.
18. Optional: Use decorating comb to texture cake sides.
19. Combine confetti sprinkles and nonpareils in small bowl.
20. Gently press sprinkle mixture along cake bottom edge and randomly scatter across top and sides for playful decoration.
21. Pipe decorative rosettes using 1M tip with remaining frosting for final embellishment.

Notes

• Precision matters when measuring ingredients, as baking is a science that requires exact proportions for perfect texture and rise.
• Room temperature ingredients like eggs, butter, and buttermilk blend more smoothly and create a more uniform cake batter.
• Whisk dry ingredients thoroughly to prevent lumps and ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
• Using a stand mixer helps achieve the right consistency when creaming butter and sugar, creating a light and fluffy cake base.
• Always test cake doneness with a toothpick – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs, not completely clean or wet.
• Chilling the cake between crumb coat and final frosting helps create a smoother, more professional-looking finish.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 525
• Sugar: 44 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 23 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg