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–+ servings
A slice of homemade vanilla layer cake recipe with fluffy white frosting and colorful rainbow sprinkles on top, served on a white plate. The cake has three moist layers with a light and airy texture, perfect for birthdays or celebrations.

vanilla cake recipe

A light, moist, and fluffy homemade vanilla cake recipe made from simple ingredients. This versatile recipe includes tips for making variations like lemon, chocolate marble, and birthday cake style.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cool Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 270
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups Cake Flour - Can substitute with all-purpose flour remove 2 tablespoon per cup
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder - Use fresh baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Fine Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter - Room temperature
  • 2 cups Sugar - Granulated
  • 4 large Eggs - Room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Whole Milk
  • ½ cup Sour Cream - Adds moisture and richness
  • ¼ cup Vegetable Oil - Adds moisture

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer (To cream butter and sugar)
  • 3 8-inch Round Cake Pans (For baking the cake layers)
  • 1 kitchen scale (For accurate ingredient measurements)
  • 1 Measuring cups & spoons (For measuring ingredients)
  • 1 Wire Cooling Racks (For cooling the baked cakes)

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter three 8-inch pans, then dust them with flour
    Three round cake pans filled with vanilla batter and flour on a kitchen counter, ready for baking.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar in a stand mixer for about 4 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy
    Butter and sugar creamed together in a stand mixer bowl with eggs and flour ready on the side.
  3. Add the flour mixture and milk in alternating portions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing just until combined
    Whipped vanilla cake batter in a mixing bowl with a whisk, smooth and creamy texture.
  4. Divide the batter evenly among the pans and bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean
    : Freshly baked golden vanilla cakes cooling in loaf pans, with sugar sprinkled on the surface.
  5. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely
    A slice of homemade vanilla layer cake recipe with fluffy white frosting and colorful rainbow sprinkles on top, served on a white plate. The cake has three moist layers with a light and airy texture, perfect for birthdays or celebrations.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 230mgPotassium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 335IUCalcium: 75mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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