This moist and fluffy vanilla cake recipe is the perfect homemade treat for any occasion! Made with cake flour, a blend of oil and butter, and rich vanilla bean paste, it’s soft, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced baker, this simple, crowd-pleasing cake will quickly become a go-to favorite!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened unsalted works too
- 4 eggs + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1 ½ tbsp vanilla bean paste
- ⅔ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 6 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour three 6-inch or two 8-inch round cake pan.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer using the paddle attachment, mix the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the softened butter to the dry ingredients and mix until the texture resembles small crumbs.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla bean paste.
- Add half of the wet mixture to the flour mixture and mix on medium-high until lighter in color and smooth about 1-2 minutes. Add the remaining wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Video
Notes
- Try These Frosting Recipes: Whipped Vanilla Frosting, Easy Vanilla Buttercream, Chocolate Buttercream, Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure all your ingredients, especially butter, eggs, and buttermilk, are at room temperature. This helps them combine more smoothly and creates a better texture in the cake.
- Measuring Flour: Be careful not to over-pack the flour when measuring. The best method is to spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This prevents too much flour, which can lead to a dense, dry cake.
- Don’t Overmix: When mixing the batter, especially after adding the wet ingredients, be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake due to excess gluten formation.
- Baking Times May Vary: Every oven is different, so it’s important to check your cake a few minutes before the recommended baking time is up. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Vanilla Bean Paste vs. Extract: If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, you can use pure vanilla extract as a substitute. However, the vanilla bean paste adds a richer flavor and those pretty flecks of vanilla seeds throughout the cake.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
The Best Vanilla Cake: Moist, Fluffy, & Easy to Make
Serving Size
1 slice
Amount per Serving
Calories
193
% Daily Value*
Fat
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
3
g
Cholesterol
43
mg
14
%
Sodium
152
mg
7
%
Potassium
32
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
23
g
8
%
Fiber
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
16
g
18
%
Protein
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
228
IU
5
%
Calcium
25
mg
3
%
Iron
0.3
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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