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Soft Vanilla Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 120 reviews

This Soft Vanilla Cake recipe yields moist and tender vanilla-flavored cake layers, perfect for any celebration or casual dessert. The cake features a balanced blend of all-purpose flour and cornstarch for softness, enriched with butter, oil, and buttermilk for moisture. Paired with a creamy vanilla buttercream frosting, this classic cake is simple to make and guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

Vanilla Cake

  • 2¼ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour (see note 1 for cake flour option)
  • ¼ cup (25 g) cornstarch
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup (105 g) unflavoured vegetable oil (canola recommended)
  • 1⅔ cups (332 g) white granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1¼ tbsp vanilla essence/extract
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1½ cups (337 g) buttermilk, room temperature (see note 6 for homemade substitute)

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • 1½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar (icing/confectioners’ sugar)
  • 1½ tsp vanilla essence/extract
  • 1½ tbsp milk (heavy cream or whipping cream also okay)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 165 °C (330 °F) with the fan on. Grease and/or line two 8-inch cake tins using cake release or your preferred method for an easy cake removal.
  2. Sift and combine dry ingredients: In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk or fork them until well combined, then set aside.
  3. Cream butter, oil, and sugar: In another bowl, combine the room temperature unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream the mixture for 2 minutes until it becomes light and creamy.
  4. Add eggs: Add the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition for about 10-15 seconds to ensure they are fully incorporated.
  5. Add vanilla, vinegar, and buttermilk: Mix in the vanilla essence, white vinegar, and half a cup of buttermilk until well combined. After this step, set the mixer aside as the rest will be mixed by hand.
  6. Fold in dry ingredients and buttermilk: Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and gently fold it in with a spatula until just combined. Then fold in the remaining 1 cup of buttermilk, followed by the remaining dry ingredients, folding gently each time. Be careful not to overmix to maintain cake tenderness.
  7. Divide batter and bake: Evenly distribute the batter into the prepared two 8-inch cake tins. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cake layers: Once baked, let the cake layers cool in their tins for 15-20 minutes. Then, carefully turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
  9. Prepare vanilla buttercream frosting: In a bowl, beat the room temperature unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and continue beating. Mix in vanilla extract and milk (or cream) and beat until smooth and fluffy.
  10. Frost the cake: Once the cake layers are completely cooled, frost with the prepared vanilla buttercream or your choice of frosting.

Notes

  • Note 1: You can substitute all-purpose flour with cake flour to achieve a lighter crumb if desired.
  • Note 2: Both hand mixers and stand mixers work well for creaming.
  • Note 3: Folding the batter gently is essential to avoid overmixing which can cause a dense cake.
  • Note 4: The buttercream recipe provided pairs perfectly with this cake, but alternatives can be used based on preference.
  • Note 5: If your oven does not have a fan function, increase the temperature slightly or bake longer, monitoring doneness.
  • Note 6: For homemade buttermilk substitute, mix 1½ cups milk with 1½ tbsp lemon juice or vinegar, let sit for 5-10 minutes.

Keywords: soft vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream, homemade cake, moist vanilla cake, classic cake recipe

Find it online: https://heutigemahlzeiten.com/soft-vanilla-cake-recipe/