• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GreedyEats
  • About
  • Recipes
  • contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • contact
×

Home » Cakes Recipes » Simple Vanilla Cake Recipe

Simple Vanilla Cake Recipe

Published February 6, 2021 Last Modified February 15, 2021 By GreedyEats

Sharing is caring!

310 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Easy and simple Vanilla Cake that bakes fluffy, soft and oh-so-moist. Baked in 6 inch pans, this cake is super easy to decorate and is perfect for small gatherings!

Try my single layered Mini Vanilla Cake next! Find all recipes from Greedy Eats here.

If stick to the fork moist is your kind of Vanilla Cake, you have come to the right place. Topped with smooth and creamy Vanilla Buttercream this cake is perfect for Birthday Parties, Valentines Day or any small get together! 

Taste and Texture:

  • Melt in your mouth soft
  • Stick to the fork moist
  • Fluffy and flavor packed
  • Topped with creamy Vanilla Buttercream

Easy Vanilla Cake with creamy Vanilla Buttercream baked as 6 inch cake.

What do you need to make a vanilla cake from scratch?

Ingredients like flour, eggs, butter and sugar used to make vanilla cake batter

  • Butter: Remember to take butter out of refrigerator at least half an hour before you want to make cake batter.
  • Leaveners: Both baking soda and baking powder will be required to lift the cake.
  • Vanilla: There can never exist a vanilla cake without some good vanilla flavor. And for that flavor to be good, you need to use pure vanilla extract. If you have vanilla beans on your hands, even better! 
  • Buttermilk: Use room temperature buttermilk because it will mix well with other ingredients to create a homogenous cake batter. If you don't have buttermilk on hand simply add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then add enough whole milk until it reaches ¾ cup.
  • Flour: Cake flour is the base of this recipe. Cake flour makes the cake crumb super soft. I don't recommend replacing it with homemade cake flour!

How to make Vanilla Cake:

Beaten butter and sugar in a mixing bowl for cake batter.
Mixing dry ingredients in wet to make cake bater.
Buttermilk added in the mix to form smooth cake batter.

Vanilla cake batter poured in 3 6-inch pans.
Layering cooled vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

  1. Prepare your pans: by greasing them and and lining them with round cut parchment papers.
  2. Beat butter and sugar: Butter must be at room temperature before you start beating it. Beat for good 2-3 minutes to incorporate some air into the batter.
  3. Add Egg and egg whites: Beat them well to combine.
  4. Next add in dry ingredients: I sift my dry ingredients over wet to save an extra bowl. 😉 Add in buttermilk and beat gently to form batter.
  5. Pour batter in pans: Scoop out the batter in cups and pour into pans to get even cake layers. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 deg f until done.

Simple Vanilla Cake Recipe made with buttermilk, egg whites and cake flour.

How long does cake take to bake?

This cake will need around 23-26 minutes in the oven. Usually a cake is done baking when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. 

What makes a cake moist and fluffy?

A combination of leaveners and buttermilk makes the cake fluffy. And believe me buttermilk will make it super moist.

3 layered Vanilla Cake frosted with smooth vanilla buttercream and topped with sprinkles.

Is there a difference between white cake and vanilla cake?

Both are vanilla flavored cakes. The difference lies in the fact that a yellow cake uses egg yolks along with whites. That is where yellow cake gets its flavor from. While white cake uses only egg whites to get that pristine white color!

Tips to make Perfect Vanilla Cake:

  • Always start with room temperature ingredients
  • Never skimp on the beating time of the cake
  • Do not overmix the batter after putting dry ingredients in
  • You can bake this cake in 2 6-inch pans instead of three, if you prefer thicker layers. Keep an eye on the cake after 24 minutes in that case. Same room temperature.

A slice of homemade Vanilla Cake with creamy layers of Vanilla Buttercream frosting!

More Cake Recipes you will love:

Berry Swirled Vanilla Bundt Cake

Easy Chocolate Cake

Lemon Chiffon Cake

Pistachio Cake

3 layered Vanilla Cake on a white cake stand piped with vanilla buttercream and topped with sprinkles.

If you liked this recipe give it a star review. Also, tell me in the comments below, how did this turn out for you! And don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at #greedyeatsblog Seeing your creations make my day! Are we friends yet? Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook! ♥

Simple Vanilla Cake Recipe

Easy and simple Vanilla Cake that bakes fluffy, soft and oh-so-moist. Baked in 6 inch pans, this cake is super easy to decorate and is perfect for small gatherings!
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
US Customary - Metric
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes
2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 41 minutes
Servings 12 Slices
Calories: 462kcal
Author: Neha

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Cake Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Baking Soda
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ¾ Cup Butter (at room temp)
  • 1 Cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 large Egg + 2 additional egg whites (at room temp)
  • 1 ½ tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • ¾ Cup Buttermilk (at room temp)

Vanilla Buttercream:

  • ¾ Cup Butter (at room temp)
  • 3 Cups (360 gms) Confectioners' Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream (or full fat milk)
  • ¾ tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Pinch Salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 6-inch cake pans, flour and line them with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Using a handheld or stand mixer beat butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in the egg, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract on high speed until combined (for about 2 minutes). Mixture will look curdled as a result of the egg liquid and solid butter combining. Do not worry it will come together when you will mix dry ingredients in!
  • Sift dry ingredients over wet. Now pour in the buttermilk and mix just until combined. You can also fold the batter with hands using a spatula at this stage. Pour batter in the prepared pans evenly. Bake for about 23-26 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center of cake should come out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. Cool the cakes completely before frosting.

To make Vanilla Buttercream:

  • In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt with the mixer running on low. Then beat for 2 more minutes increasing the speed. Frosting will turn creamy and fluffy at this point.

Assemble and Decorate:

  • Slice a thin layer off tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or cake turntable. Cover the top with frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with frosting again. Top with the third cake layer and spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides.

Notes

Storage Information:
Vanilla Cake stays good at room temperature for a day, covered tightly. If you are planning to store it for a longer period leftovers must be stored in the refrigerator, covered at all times.
Refrigerate before cutting:
After frosting the cake refrigerate it for about 30 mins to 1 hour to get slices that hold shape better!
Tips to make perfect Cake:
  • Always start with room temperature ingredients.
  • Never skimp on the beating time of the cake.
  • Do not overmix the batter after putting dry ingredients in.
  • You can bake this cake in 2 6-inch pans instead of three, if you prefer thicker layers. Keep an eye on the cake after 24 minutes in that case. Same room temperature.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice | Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 25g | Sodium: 273mg | Sugar: 75g
Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Mention @greedyeats or tag #Greedyeats!
« Chocolate m&m Cookies
Cakesicles »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Candace Hampton

    February 15, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    The cake you made looks and sounds absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing your simple recipe with us. I am definitely going to have to try it out. I have always been a fan of making it yourself versus store bought.

    Reply
  2. Mommy Sigrid

    February 15, 2021 at 8:12 am

    5 stars
    I love vanilla cake so I am saving this. By the way, your piping and decors made the cake look exciting without being gaudy. Love it! rating this 5 stars.

    Reply
  3. Nishtha

    February 11, 2021 at 3:13 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy cake and Vanilla is an all favorite at my home. Will try it, both my teens would enjoy it

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Rate this recipe




Primary Sidebar

Categories

About Neha

I'm Neha, baker, recipe developer, photographer and writer at Greedyeats.com I aim to create kitchen tested and quality recipes, accompanied by helpful process clicks and lots of tips & tricks along the way. I truly hope my recipes give you confidence to bake and cook from scratch! Read More…

Christmas Desserts!!!

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Candy Cane Cookies

Black Forest Cake Recipe

Cherry Dump Cake Recipe

Soft and buttery Pistachio Cookies topped with sweet lemon glaze and finished off with pistachio chunks.

Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

Orange Cranberry Cake

Cream Cheese Cookie Recipe

Cranberry Orange Cookies

More Christmas Desserts

More Popular Posts

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Rainbow Cake

Chocolate Banana Bread

Mini Cupcakes

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Chocolate Cake Pops

FREE Recipes for your Inbox!

Get 5 CHOCOLATE Desserts (Ready in 30 mins or less!)

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 GreedyEats on the Foodie Pro Theme