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Are you searching for that perfect cake recipe that’s both moist and delicious? Then be sure to try this fabulous Classic Vanilla Cake recipe!It tastes better than one you’d buy at a bakery.
Prepare a Classic Vanilla Cake from scratch with simple ingredients while following this recipe. The moist, flavorful cake will melt in your melt with every bite you take.
Vanilla Cake Recipe
If you’ve been on the hunt for a recipe for a cake that everyone in your household can enjoy, this Vanilla Cake Recipe is an excellent choice. Although it’s super simple, it’s loaded with flavor and tastes amazing with the homemade frosting spread on top of it. The next time you want to make a sweet homemade treat for your loved ones, give this recipe a try because it’s easy and delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Vanilla Cake Recipe
- You won’t need too many ingredients to make this cake from scratch. And, if you enjoy baking, you probably have most or all of the ingredients needed to prepare this delicious dessert.
- The Classic Vanilla Cake tastes amazing. It’s far better than any boxed cake mix that you can find at the store.
- You can easily customize this cake by using different types of homemade frosting and adding your favorite toppings to it. Use what you like to give this cake an incredible taste!
Ingredients Needed
Before your prepare this cake from scratch, you’re going to need the following ingredients:
- Flour – Start with traditional all-purpose flour as the base for your homemade cake.
- Baking Powder – Use this ingredient to ensure that your cake has the right texture when baked.
- Vanilla Extract – The best way to add that vanilla touch to your cake is with some tasty vanilla extract.
- Butter – Leave your butter out to soften before combining it with other ingredients.
- Granulated Sugar – Create a sweeter taste for this cake using some granulated sugar.
You’ll also need salt, milk, vegetable oil, and egg whites to finish making the cake batter. In addition to the ingredients for your cake, you’ll need more butter, powdered sugar, milk or whipping cream, and more vanilla extract to make your tasty vanilla frosting from scratch.
Common Questions
Can I make chocolate frosting instead?
Yes! If you want your vanilla cake to have a chocolate frosting, feel free to use this homemade recipe while adding some unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixture. You also have the option of adding other types of frosting flavors to your cake, such as strawberry or lemon.
Do I add the frosting to the cakes fresh out of the oven?
No, you’ll want to let your cakes cool down before you begin adding your frosting to them. Let them sit in the pans for around 10 minutes and then remove them from the pans, allowing them to finish cooling off on wire racks before you start applying your frosting to the layers of the cake.
Can I add extra ingredients to this cake?
Absolutely. If you want to make a funfetti version of the vanilla cake, toss some sprinkles in with your cake batter. If you want to make a chocolate chip version, you can toss a few chocolate chip morsels into the batter before you begin baking your cake.
What toppings taste best on this cake?
While the frosting pairs perfectly with this cake, you can add more to it, such as sliced strawberries, cherries, chopped nuts, shredded coconut flakes, and so much more. Use some of your favorite toppings to customize this cake even further.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- If you’d like to make cupcakes instead of a cake with this batter, you can do that instead, pouring the cake into slots of a muffin tin, baking in the oven, allowing the cupcakes to cool, and then frosting them.
- Make sure to place the cake top side down when you’re getting ready to frost it. Doing so will make it easy for you to apply a flat layer of frosting that will make your cake look even better.
- You can add decorative designs to your cake using your frosting and a piping bag with a tip of your choice, such as the star tip.
This classic cake can be used for so many different occasions and the flavor is sensational! So moist and the frosting is to die for!
If you want to make cupcakes using this recipe, they come out so delicious! Change the frosting colors for a different look, but the same perfect cake base.
More Recipes You Will Love!
Texas Sheet Cake
Very Cherry Cake with Vanilla Buttercream
Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake
Classic Vanilla Cake
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Servings 8 Servings
Are you searching for that perfect cake recipe that’s both moist and delicious? Then be sure to try this fabulous Classic Vanilla Cake recipe!
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup butter-softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 egg whites
Frosting:
- 2 sticks butter- softened
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar more for a sweeter frosting
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk or whipping cream For a more “whipped” frosting
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare 2 10” pans by rubbing generously with vegetable shortening and sprinkling with flour to cover the entire pan.
Add flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl, whisk and set aside.
Add the milk, vanilla, and vegetable oil into a large measuring cup and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, add the butter sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
Slowly add egg whites one at a time and mix completely after each addition.
With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding 1/3 of the flour mixture and ½ milk mixture. Be sure to start and end with dry ingredients.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and give another quick mix to make sure all ingredients are well combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting and assembly:
While the cakes are cooling, prepare your frosting by adding the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed for 3-5 minutes or until light and fluffy and there are no lumps.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar SLOWLY about ½ cup at a time. Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, and mix on high speed for 2-3 minutes.
Take one layer of cake and place top side down onto a cake stand or board and top with about ½ cup frosting and smooth evenly. Continue with each later of cake.
Once you have all cake layers assembled, smooth the remaining frosting around the outside of the cake.
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