A vanilla cake recipe is a classic dessert loved by people of all ages. It’s light, fluffy, and filled with warm vanilla flavor. Whether you’re baking for a birthday, holiday, or just because—you can’t go wrong with vanilla cake. It’s simple, delicious, and versatile. You can enjoy it as-is or dress it up with frosting, fruit, or cream. Today, I’m sharing a trusted vanilla cake recipe that you can whip up with common ingredients and basic kitchen tools. Perfect for beginners and home bakers alike!
Quick Facts
| Course | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | American |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Servings | 8 slices |
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 30–35 minutes |
| Calories | Approx. 320/slice |
Equipment Needed
To make this vanilla cake smooth and stress-free, you’ll need the following:
- Mixing bowls (at least 2 sizes) – For dry and wet ingredients
- Measuring cups and spoons – For accurate ingredient amounts
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer – Makes mixing quick and easy
- Rubber spatula – For folding and scraping down the sides
- 8-inch round cake pans (2) – For even baking
- Parchment paper – To line your pans and prevent sticking
- Cooling rack – To let the cake cool completely before frosting
- Wire whisk – Helpful for blending dry ingredients evenly
- Oven thermometer (optional but helpful) – Ensures accurate baking temp
- Toothpick or cake tester – To check doneness
Having the right tools makes your cake turn out better and saves you time in the kitchen.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make a moist and fluffy vanilla cake:
- 2½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
Let’s bake this beauty step-by-step:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy—about 3–5 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla. Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
- Alternate mixing in flour and milk. Add the flour mix in three parts, alternating with milk. Begin and end with flour.
- Pour batter into pans. Divide evenly between the two pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Essential Note:
Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps the batter mix evenly and gives your cake a light, airy texture. Also, don’t overmix once you add the flour—mix just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing makes cake dense.
