A perfectly plush, soft, classic vanilla cake recipe made entirely from scratch! It’s so simple to make, and tastes much better than a box mix! Recipe includes a how-to video.
A Classic Vanilla Cake, Made Entirely From-Scratch
Every baker needs a solid vanilla cake recipe in their repertoire, and today’s recipe is just that.
It’s soft, plush, and perfectly moist. Not to be confused with my white cake, this recipe is a beautiful pale golden color and distinctly vanilla flavored. It pairs beautifully with any frosting, although a traditional chocolate frosting is my favorite finish!
Like my chocolate cake, this has been one of my most popular recipes for years (and you may recognize it as the base for both my pineapple upside-down cake and my marble cake). Itโs a simple, classic, and incredible vanilla cake. So many of you have tried and loved this recipe, and while the recipe remains exactly the same, I thought it was about time for a facelift with new photos and a new video.
The flavor and texture of this cake is so much better than box-mix, and the preparation is almost as easy. I’ve included a few tips below to help you be successful, so make sure to read all the notes before you get started.
What You Need
After testing many versions and combinations of ingredients, I’ve found that a good vanilla cake needs the following ingredients:
- Oil AND butter. A blend of these two ingredients gives the cake the best possible flavor and texture. Butter provides flavor while oil adds moisture and keeps it from being too dry. A cake made with all oil would be moist but lacking in flavor, and an all-butter cake may have a more buttery taste, but would be more dry. Any neutral cooking oil will work here, but I typically recommend using either vegetable or canola oil. For the butter, unsalted is best so we have maximum control over the flavor of the cake
- Sugar. Plain granulated sugar works best. Brown sugar would add moisture, but would detract from the classic vanilla flavor and even weigh down the cake a bit.
- Eggs. You’ll need four eggs, and it’s best if you bring them to room temperature before adding them (this helps them incorporate into the batter more evenly).
- Vanilla. You can’t have vanilla cake without vanilla! I recommend using a good quality vanilla extract, so if you’ve got a batch of homemade vanilla extract, use it here!
- Flour. I developed this vanilla cake recipe to be work with all-purpose flour and thatโs what I always use. However, you *could* use cake flour instead. To substitute by weight, you would use the same amount, but if you are using measuring cups you will need to substitute your flour properly.
- Baking powder. I know a tablespoon of baking powder may seem like a lot, but that’s not a typo. Always make sure your baking soda is fresh and avoid using a generic brand, which I’ve had mixed results with in the past.
- Salt. You can just use plain table salt.
- Buttermilk. I strongly recommend using full-fat buttermilk for the best flavor and texture. While I do have a buttermilk substitute, it doesnโt really make this vanilla cake quite as moist and flavorful as I like it to be, so now I strictly recommend using real buttermilk. And no, you do not *need* to have baking soda in a recipe in order to use buttermilk; weโre using it for its moisture and flavor here!
SAM’S TIP: One of the biggest mistakes you can make with this recipe is neglecting to measure your flour properly. If you over or under-measure your flour, your cake will not turn out right! Use the right method, be as precise as possible, and use a kitchen scale if you have one.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Vanilla Cake
- Cream the butter, oil, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, add your vanilla and stir to combine.
- Combine your dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add about โ of the mixture into your bowl. Use a spatula to gently stir until just combined. Follow this with about ยฝ of your buttermilk, and stir again until just combined. .
- Add ยฝ of the remaining dry ingredients stir, and then add the remainder of the buttermilk. Finish with the final portion of dry ingredients and use your spatula to make sure the batter is smooth–do NOT overmix!
- Divide the batter evenly into two greased baking pans.
- Bake, then use a toothpick to test for doneness. Let the cakes cool in their pans a bit before inverting onto a cooling rack, where they’ll need to cool completely before frosting.
SAM’S TIP: While a toothpick that comes out clean indicates a fully baked cake, an over-baked cake will also yield a clean toothpick. Itโs best to pull your vanilla cake out of the oven when a toothpick shows moist crumbs!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This vanilla cake recipe will make 24 vanilla cupcakes. I’ve included instructions for cupcakes in the recipe notes.
A cake that has been over-baked or one in which too much flour was used will be crumbly when cut into. If you invert the cake too soon or try to handle it while itโs too warm, this could also make it break.
Cakes made from scratch require a bit more care and technique than those that come from a box-mix. When making any cake from scratch, take care to not over-mix, over-bake, or use too much flour, or the cake can end up tasting like cornbread. This applies to any cake that is made from scratch, not just this recipe!
What causes dry cake?
Dryness is typically the biggest complaint bakers have when making a cake from scratch, so I thought this FAQ deserved its own space. There are three main causes for a dry cake: over-measuring the flour (addressed above), over-mixing, and over-baking.
- Do not over-mix your batter! Mixing the batter properly can be tricky and this is often where most mistakes are made with homemade cakes. To avoid over-mixing, thoroughly cream together the wet ingredients, particularly the butter, sugar, oil, and eggs. I highly recommend using an electric mixer for this step! However, once you get to the point of combining your wet and dry ingredients, you need to be gentle and fold by hand using a spatula. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk, folding thoroughly, but not aggressively. The batter will be smooth and mostly cohesive; there may be some small lumps remaining, but that’s fine! Also, remember that while over-mixing can make your vanilla cake both dry and dense, under-mixing has its own risks and should be avoided as well!
- Do not over-bake your cake! Even a minute too long in the oven can cause a cake to be too dry and dense. When baking, place your cake pans on the center rack of your oven and always make sure your oven is running at the proper temperature (most ovens do not, so keep a thermometer in yours!). Donโt check your vanilla cake too early (that can make it sink!), but do keep an eye on it. When your cake is ready to come out of the oven, the center should spring back if lightly touched–it should not deflate or appear jiggly. You can also use the toothpick test to check for doneness. To do this, simply insert a toothpick in the center of your cake; it’s done if the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Once your vanilla cake is done, let it cool in the pan for only 10-15 minutes before running a knife around the edge and inverting it onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
SAM’S NOTE: Under-mixing your cake batter, not baking the cake for long enough, or opening the oven door too frequently while the cake bakes can cause the cake to sink as it cools.
Enjoy!
Letโs bake together! Iโll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
Vanilla Cake
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup (113 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ยฝ cup (120 g) avocado, canola or vegetable oilยน
- 1 ยฝ cup (300 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flourยฒ
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 1 ยผ cup (300 ml) buttermilk room temperature preferred
- 1 batch Chocolate Frosting click link for recipe, or use one of the other frostings recommended in the notes below
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and prepare two deep 8" round cake pansยณ by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing the sides. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using an electric mixer) cream together the butter, canola oil and sugar until creamy and well-combined.ยฝ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, ยฝ cup (120 g) avocado, canola or vegetable oilยน, 1 ยฝ cup (300 g) granulated sugar
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating until thoroughly combined after each addition.4 large eggs
- Stir in vanilla extract.1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flourยฒ, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, ยฝ teaspoon salt
- Using a spatula and gently hand-mixing, alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture and mixing until just combined after each addition.ย The batter should be thoroughly combined, but there may be some small lumps in the batter and avoid over-mixing (and do not use your electric mixer or stand mixer for this step).1 ยผ cup (300 ml) buttermilk
- Evenly divide batter into your prepared cake pans, and bake on 350F (175C) for 30-35 minutes. When the cake is done, the surface should spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean with few moist crumbs (no wet batter).
- Allow cakes to cool in their cake pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Frost cake using my chocolate frosting (or see notes for other favorite frosting options) and decorate with sprinkles (if desired).1 batch Chocolate Frosting
Notes
ยนCooking oil
You may use any neutral cooking oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. I generally don’t recommend olive oil, which is heavier and has a distinct flavor that could affect the end taste result of your cake.ยยฒCake Flour
You may substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour. Use 3 โ cups or 375g of cake flour.ยณDifferent size baking pans
- 13×9″ pan: This recipe makes enough for one 13×9″ baking pan. Readers have reported the approximate bake time is 30 minutes.
- Two 9″ pans:ย Readers have reported this cake takes approximately 25 minutes to bake in 9″ pans.
- Bundt pan: Readers have reported this cake takes approximately 40-45 minutes to bake in a bundt pan
Vanilla Cupcakes:
This recipe will make approximately 24 vanilla cupcakes. Fill cupcake liners no more than ยพ of the way full. Bake on 350F for 17-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs or clean.ยFrosting Options
The chocolate frosting I linked to in the ingredients is my favorite pairing with this cake, but here are some other great options:Video note
In the video I mistakenly say to add more buttermilk than is necessary. The written recipe is correct with 1 ยผ cups of buttermilk.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Kim
This was exactly the cake I was looking for! Made as cupcakes. Used half cake flour (I didn’t have enough for all), otherwise followed recipe.
This had that velvety crumb I wanted, and remained moist. Baked evenly and the flavor paired perfectly with my dark chocolate frosting. Will continue to use this recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the vanilla cupcakes, Kim! Thanks for commenting. ๐
Erin
Can you use Cake flour, instead of All Purpose? Thanks
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Erin! Yes, cake four will work fine. ๐
Robyn
Is it possible to substitute yogurt for the buttermilk? Thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Robyn! I have not tried it myself, however, others have done so with success. I hope that it works well for you too. ๐
Alizeh
My family loved the cake
amazing recipe, highly recommended
Sam
Thank you so much, Alizeh! I am so glad everyone enjoyed the cake. ๐
Andrew Macmilan
I am going to try and make this vanilla cake for my wife๐๐
Sam
I hope everyone loves the cake. ๐
Kayla F.
I have attempted this a couple time and it always comes out quite dense. I am following the recipe to a T, and making sure I don’t over mix it as well. Is there something I could try adjusting to make it a bit more light and fluffy?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Kayla! I am sorry that the cake was dense. If you aren’t overmixing the batter, I wonder if it is possible that you have over measured the flour? This is the most common mistake in baking so I have created a guide on how to properly measure flour that can be used as a reference for next time. I hope that helps. ๐
Kate
An absolutely delicious, easy vanilla cake. Saved! And thanks for including the grams and Celsius info for those of us not in the US, made it so much quicker and easier.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the cake, Kate! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. ๐
Kristy
Iโve been looking for a โfrom scratchโ vanilla cake for FOREVER. Itโs either too dense, too dry, etc. Etc.
I was skeptical about the batter because it came out thick-ish (Iโm used to runny batter) BUT! THIS. RECIPE. WAS. AMAZING! Will definitely make again! Thanks for sharing!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the cake, Kristy! Thank you so much for the feedback, I appreciate it! ๐
Vanessa O'brien
Hi can you please tell me what ingredients I need for a 12×12 3inch deep square cake tin, to bake a moist sponge cake and to cover it all with white frosting iceing. Thank you vanessa
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Vanessa! I have not tried baking this in a 12″ x 12″ pan, however, others have used 9″ x 13″ pan just fine. With that being said, I think that you will be fine using the recipe as is to fill your 12″ x 12″ pan. Keep in mind that the baking time will vary. I hope that you enjoy the cake. ๐
Angela
Do you think this cake would work as 4 layers if I double the ingredients? Iโm thinking about using this for a wedding cake. Other vanilla layer cakes have been too dense. Thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Angela! Others have used this cake to create 4 layered cakes so you shouldn’t have a problem. Enjoy! ๐
Susanne
Hello! Can I bake this in a bundt pan, and if so, how long should it bake? Thank you!
Sam
Hi Susanne! This should be fine baked in a bundt pan, but I’m honestly not positive how long it will take as I haven’t tried it myself. It will take longer to bake than indicated in the recipe, for sure. If you do try it would you let me know how long it ends up taking to bake through?
Angela
My go-to vanilla cake every time, thanks.
Is it possible to use the chocolate buttercream before fondant icing
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Angela! I am not familiar with using fondant so I am not certain how the fondant will do applied on top of the chocolate buttercream.
Me
What did you substitute the buttermilk with?
Sugar Spun Run
Here is a link to my buttermilk substitute. ๐
Hilliary Heard
So delicious. Baked perfectly.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the vanilla cake, Hilliary! Thanks for trying my recipe. ๐
Syeda Zainab Abbas
I’m not one to make a lot of vanilla cakes, mostly because here in Pakistan, until recently we didnt have vanilla extracts. Only vanilla essence and i hate that. I have tried several different recipes in the past few months, but this is by far the best. Its moist, flavourful, and absolutely amazing. I substituted the buttermilk because, again, not easily available. But went amazing. I will definitely try more of your recipes
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the vanilla cake turned out well for you, Syeda. Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. I can’t wait to hear what recipe you try next. ๐
Taneka
What did you substitute the buttermilk with?