🎂✨ Classic Vanilla Cake — Soft, Moist and Perfect for Every Celebration!
Every home baker needs a reliable Vanilla Cake recipe, and this one is soft, fluffy, moist, and full of classic vanilla flavor.
It works beautifully for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, cupcakes, layer cakes, or simply as a homemade dessert with coffee.
The crumb is tender, the flavor is buttery and rich, and the simple vanilla buttercream turns it into a bakery-style celebration cake.
⏱️ Prep Time: 25 minutes
🔥 Bake Time: 28–32 minutes
❄️ Cooling Time: 1 hour
🕒 Total Time: About 2 hours
🍽️ Servings: 12–14
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3–4 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.
Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar
Beat softened butter and sugar for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy.
This step adds air and helps create a soft cake.
4. Add Eggs
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix in vanilla.
5. Combine Milk and Sour Cream
Whisk milk and sour cream together.
6. Finish the Batter
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk mixture to the butter mixture.
Begin and end with the dry ingredients.
Mix only until combined.
Do not overmix.
7. Divide the Batter
Divide evenly between prepared cake pans.
Smooth the tops.
8. Bake
Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Cool
Cool in the pans for 10–15 minutes.
Turn onto wire racks and cool completely.
Buttercream Instructions
Beat butter until creamy.
Gradually add powdered sugar.
Add vanilla, salt, and enough cream to reach a fluffy spreading consistency.
Beat for another 2–3 minutes.
Assemble the Cake
Place one cake layer on a serving plate.
Spread buttercream over the top.
Add the second cake layer.
Frost the top and sides.
Decorate with sprinkles, berries, flowers, or additional piping.
Tips
✅ Use room-temperature ingredients.
✅ Do not overmix the batter.
✅ Measure flour correctly.
✅ Cool cakes completely before frosting.
✅ Add vanilla bean paste for stronger vanilla flavor.
Variations
Funfetti Cake
Fold in ½ cup rainbow sprinkles.
Lemon Vanilla
Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest.
Strawberry Vanilla
Add strawberry preserves between the layers.
Chocolate Chip Vanilla
Fold ¾ cup mini chocolate chips into the batter.
Cupcake Version
Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full.
Bake at 350°F for 18–22 minutes.
Makes approximately 24 cupcakes.
Storage
Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
📌 Save this classic cake recipe for birthdays, parties, and family celebrations!
👇 Would you top yours with vanilla buttercream, chocolate frosting, or fresh strawberries?
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