Description
Homemade vanilla cake delights with its classic, melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich, creamy frosting. Bakers can create this beloved dessert with simple ingredients and precise mixing techniques to ensure a perfect, tender crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk or whole milk, room temperature
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ tsps baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
Buttercream Ingredients:
- 2 cups (454 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 6 large egg whites
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
Assembly Ingredients:
- confetti sprinkles
- nonpareils
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter and flour two 8-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper.
- Dry Ingredient Blend: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl to ensure even distribution.
- Butter Creaming: Use stand mixer to cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base.
- Egg Integration: Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly incorporating each. Mix in vanilla extract for aromatic depth.
- Batter Development: Alternately fold flour mixture and buttermilk into the base, starting and ending with flour. Mix minimally to maintain cake’s tender texture.
- Baking Process: Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Test doneness with a toothpick – minimal crumbs indicate perfect baking.
- Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
- Buttercream Foundation: Combine egg whites and sugar in stand mixer bowl, creating a meringue base over simmering water until smooth and reaching 160°F.
- Frosting Technique: Whip meringue to stiff peaks, then incorporate butter cubes gradually. Blend in vanilla extract for silky consistency.
- Cake Assembly: Place first layer on serving plate, spread buttercream. Position second layer and apply a thin crumb coat.
- Frosting Refinement: Chill cake for 20 minutes, then generously frost entire surface using a bench scraper for smooth finish.
- Decorative Touches: Optional texturing with decorating comb. Combine confetti sprinkles and nonpareils to embellish cake edges and top.
- Final Embellishment: Pipe decorative rosettes using 1M tip with remaining frosting for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Temperature Precision: Ensure oven is accurately calibrated at 350°F for consistent cake texture and even baking.
- Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing batter to prevent tough, dense cake; blend ingredients just until combined for tender crumb.
- Buttermilk Magic: Room temperature buttermilk helps create smoother batter and enhances cake’s moisture and softness.
- Frosting Finesse: Whip meringue to stiff peaks and cool completely to prevent butter separation and achieve silky buttercream texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg