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Classic Vanilla Cake Recipe | How to Make Birthday Cake

Classic Vanilla Cake Recipe | How to Make Birthday Cake

2020-11-05
4 Stars (198 Voters)
...
Learn how to make the best vanilla cake – this cake is soft, moist, rich and covered with amazing cream cheese vanilla frosting. This vanilla cake is the best birthday cake ever! Perfect birthday cake for boys and girls, for kids and adults. If you are looking for a recipe for vanilla cake with confetti sprinkles, this is the recipe for you!
DIFFICULTY
Medium
YIELDS
12
PREP TIME
1½ Hours
WORK TIME
30 Minutes
RECIPE CUISINE
World
INGREDIENTS FOR YIELDS

For the cake:

  • 2 1/3 cups (290g) Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 cup (115g) Butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) Oil
  • 1½ cups (300g) Sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 cup (240ml) Buttermilk (more if needed)
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • 2/3 cup (150g) Butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) Heavy cream, cold
  • 1¼ cups (160g) Icing sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1¾ cups (400g) Cream cheese

Decoration:

  • Confetti sprinkles
DIRECTIONS

  1. Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line two 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans with parchment paper and grease bottom and sides.
  2. In one bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, add salt, stir and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs, one at the time, beating until combined after each addition. Add oil, vanilla extract and beat until incorporated.
  4. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning by adding 1/2 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk. Then repeat this process. Beat until fully incorporating after each addition.
  5. Divide the batter between prepared pans. Bake for about 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Allow the cakes to cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan, then release from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Make the frosting: in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl beat heavy cream to stiff peaks. Then fold into the cream cheese mixture.
  8. Assembly: Place one cake layer with flat side down. Spread a layer of frosting, place the second layer of cake on top of the frosting, flat side up. Spread evenly the frosting on top and sides of the cake. Decorate the edges of the cake with sprinkles.
  9. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes:

Why buttermilk?

The use of buttermilk in cakes and cupcakes helps the cake to get a moist and airy texture, in most of my recipes I use buttermilk and indeed you can feel the difference.

What can we use instead of buttermilk?

If you cannot find buttermilk in your country, you can make a home buttermilk: stir 1 cup (240ml) of whole milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, let stand for 10 minutes before use. If you still prefer not to use buttermilk you can use whole milk instead.

How to adjust to 9inch (23 cm) pan?

If you prefer to make the cake in a larger pan such as 9-inch, you should multiply all the ingredients by 1.33

Can we use other frosting?

There are many options of frosting that you can use in this vanilla cake recipe, one of my favorites are this chocolate frosting that you can find in this chocolate cake recipe.

Can this recipe be used for cupcakes?

This recipe is very similar to a cupcake recipe, but instead of adapting this recipe for cupcakes, I have prepared full and detailed recipes for you: Vanilla Cupcakes, Chocolate Cupcakes

How to store the cake?

The cake can be stored covered, in the fridge, up to 5 days.

More cake recipes:

MAKING THIS RECIPE?

Share it with us on Instagram and tag @thecookingfoodie so we can see your cooking adventures!
COMMENTS (24)
  • u
    uma
    12/3/2020

    Hi, thanks for the awesome recipe..... For butter...which butter we need to use un salted or normal salted butter for cake and frosting too. If I'm using salted butter can I omitted the salt.

    Reply
  • The Cooking Foodie logo
    The Cooking Foodie
    12/4/2020

    Hi Uma, I always use unsalted to control the saltiness. If you using salted butter, then omit the salt from the recipe.

    Reply
  • s
    stephanie
    12/9/2020

    Hello, i have a question- what kind of flour do we use? cake or all purpose? and is this cake sturdy enough to make layers?

    Reply
  • The Cooking Foodie logo
    The Cooking Foodie
    12/12/2020

    Hi Stephanie, You can use AP flour or cake flour in this recipe. Yes.

    Reply
  • A
    Amandeep Singh Rai
    12/29/2020

    Can you recommend a good replacement for eggs, that would be available in a mainstream North American(Canadian) grocery store?

    Reply
  • S
    Sehaj Johal
    3/16/2021

    You can use apple sauce since it makes it fluffy just like the egg would. I would totally recommend it. You can purchase it from Walmart.

    Reply
  • S
    Sehaj Johal
    3/16/2021

    You can use apple sauce since it makes it fluffy just like the egg would. I would totally recommend it. You can purchase it from Walmart.

    Reply
  • S
    Sehaj Johal
    3/16/2021

    You can use apple sauce since it makes it fluffy just like the egg would. I would totally recommend it. You can purchase it from Walmart.

    Reply
  • E
    Emma
    6/6/2021

    Hi cooking foodie, I wanted to ask how would I calculate if I wanted to make a 6" cake using this recipe. Also if I wanted to make a larger cake ie 12" how would I calculate that please?

    Reply
  • d
    dena
    8/5/2021

    hi, thanks for the recipe. but Can heavy cream be replaced with whipping cream?

    Reply
  • The Cooking Foodie logo
    The Cooking Foodie
    8/5/2021

    Yes, heavy cream and whipped cream it's the same thing.

    Reply
  • m
    moonie
    8/13/2021

    can we use a sqaure 8 inch pan?

    Reply
  • A
    Aminah
    10/20/2021

    Hi looks like a great cake. I’ll make it for mu husband’s bd but can i make the frosting one day ahead and store it in the fridge? and i have another question please is it too sweet like butter cream frosting or it’s closer to a cream cheese frosting? Thank you 😊

    Reply
  • A
    Anna M
    11/30/2021

    Hi Cooking Foodie! What flour is preferred here - cake or AP? I know you said in another comment we can use either, but I am wondering if you think one works best over the other :) Best, Anna

    Reply
  • T
    Tiffany
    12/12/2021

    So I’m going to be making this cake tomorrow and the only pans that I have is 9in and I see you said to multiply the recipe By 1.33 but I have no idea how to do that is there anyway you can help me please

    Reply
  • J
    JD
    2/11/2022

    Do you recommend cake flour or All Purpose?

    Reply
  • H
    Holly
    4/10/2022

    Hi, I've just made this cake. I used what we call 'plain flour' here in the U.K. and, from what I can tell, all purpose flour is what Americans call plain flour, so you could easily use all purpose. Hope this helps

    Reply
  • H
    Holly (U.K.)
    4/10/2022

    Hi, I've just baked this cake for my mum's birthday and am made up with the results. The recipe was so easy to follow, and tastes delicious. I used a wooden spoon to do all the mixing and beating, as I couldn't find my electric whisk. Also,I only have one round cake tin (no idea what size it is) so I roughly divided the mixture by eye, and left one half of the mix in the fridge while the first half cooked. I then relined the tin and stuck the other half in the oven. Worked perfectly. The m

    Reply
  • A
    Adamariz
    8/20/2022

    Hi! Awesome recipe, for the oil what did you use?

    Reply
  • T
    Theresa UK
    10/7/2022

    I made the Vanilla Birthday cake for my Husbands Birthday yesterday. Best cake I have every made thank you for the recipe.Going to make another next week just to practice. 🎂

    Reply
  • s
    sophia
    1/4/2023

    thanks for the recipe! can it be frozen?!

    Reply
  • M
    Michelle
    1/17/2023

    I froze one-half last night. We might eat it later this week. I can tell you how it tastes. My guess is that it will be great.

    Reply
  • M
    Michelle
    1/17/2023

    made this cake for my dad's birthday this month. It was tasty! We didn't put any frosting on it though. We ate one with whip cream and strawberries on it. Now, we have the other pan to think about haha. Thanks for the recipe! Next time, perhaps I can layer it and make it pretty.

    Reply
  • A
    Andy
    1/20/2023

    Hi, if I put one cake in the oven one at a time should I put it for 20 mins each instead of 40.? Asking because my oven fits only 1

    Reply
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