Go Back
vanilla cake recipe

Vanilla Cake

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: International
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups  all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons  baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon  salt
  • ½ cup  unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup  neutral oil
  • 1 ½  cups  granulated sugar
  • 3 large  eggs  room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon  vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk, room temperatur

For the Frosting

  • 1 cup  unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups  powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons  vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons  heavy cream or milk

Method
 

  1. Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Don’t skip the whisking — it breaks up clumps and gives the cake a lighter texture.
  3. In a larger bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until fluffy. The mixture should look lighter in color and soft in texture. 
  4. Pour in the oil and mix until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time. Mix gently after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Combine Wet and Dry

  1. Add half of the dry mixture to the bowl, then half of the milk. Mix gently. Add the remaining dry ingredients and the rest of the milk. Stir just until everything comes together. A few tiny lumps are fine; they disappear in the oven.
  2. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Tap each pan lightly on the counter to release air bubbles.
  3. Bake for 26–30 minutes, or until the cake tops spring back lightly when touched.
  4. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

Make the Frosting

  1. Beat the softened butter until smooth and slightly fluffy. This sets the foundation for the frosting to be silky and spreadable.
  2. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing slowly at first so it doesn’t scatter everywhere.
  3.  Stir in the vanilla and a tablespoon of cream. Adjust the texture by adding a bit more cream if needed.

Assemble the Cake

  1. If your cake layers have a dome, you can trim them gently to even them out. This makes stacking easier.
  2. Place the first layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the top.
  3. Place the second layer on top and frost the entire cake, smoothing the sides or swirling the frosting casually for a rustic look.
  4. Add sprinkles, fresh berries, or leave it simple — vanilla cake doesn’t need much embellishment.

Notes

Flavor Twists

Lemon-Vanilla
Add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the batter for a bright, citrusy flavor.
Almond Version
Replace one teaspoon of vanilla with almond extract.
Funfetti Style
Fold in ½ cup sprinkles before baking.
Berry Filling
Spread raspberry jam or sliced strawberries between the layers before frosting.