Vanilla Cake Recipe (VIDEO)
An easy Vanilla Cake with a soft and moist crumb and great vanilla flavor. We used our popular Buttercream Frosting here but it’s also fantastic with a Chocolate Frosting. This Vanilla cake recipe is the perfect base for a birthday cake or any special occasion.
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Watch the Easy Vanilla Cake Recipe Video:
This cake really is easy and can even be made ahead. Watch the video tutorial for how to make the perfect vanilla cake and best Buttercream Frosting (which isn’t overly sweet like most American buttercreams).
Why we Love this Vanilla Cake!
Everyone needs a great vanilla cake base and I hope this becomes your new favorite! It’s made from scratch and the combination of ingredients gives it amazing texture and flavor. We used the same base as our famous Vanilla Cupcakes and made this stunning cake. You’ll love the perfectly level cake layers – there’s no need to trim them.
How to Make a Vanilla Cake from Scratch:
Here is a quick visual reference for homemade vanilla cake. Get the full print-friendly recipe below.
- Butter and flour two 9″ cake pans and preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Whisk together dry ingredients.
- With an electric mixer, beat Butter and Sugar 5 minutes.
- Beat in eggs 1 at a time then beat in vanilla.
- Add flour mixture in thirds alternating with buttermilk and mixing between each addition.
- Divide between 2 cake pans and bake at 350˚F for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes then transfer cakes (we use this cake release tool) to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
How to Frost a Cake:
Frosting a cake is the fun part. Once your cake is fully at room temperature, make your Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. We love the vintage vibe of waves in the frosting like we did with our chocolate cake but you can also crumb coat the cake and pipe the frosting onto the cake.
- Place the first cake layer on a cake platter.
- Spread a generous layer of frosting over the top, going to the edges.
- Cover with the second cake layer with the top side down for a perfectly level cake surface.
- Coat the top and sides of the cake with remaining frosting and use an offset spatula or spoon to create waves in the cake.
Add sprinkles if desired. Sprinkles are the easiest way to turn a plain cake into a birthday cake!
Our Best Baking Tips:
- Room temperature ingredients are critical so your batter blends well without separating or becoming grainy.
- Avoid Substitutions! We always recommend trying the recipe as written before experimenting.
- Measure Correctly – check out our post on how we measure ingredients for baking.
- Weigh your pans – we use a digital food scale to make sure the layers are evenly divided.
How to Keep Leftover Cake Moist:
If you have sliced your cake and want to refrigerate leftovers for later, cover the cut side of the cake with plastic wrap, placing it directly onto the cake. This will prevent moisture loss and keep your cake from drying out.
More Top-Rated Cake Recipes:
These are the best-loved and best-reviewed cakes on our site. These are the ones we make most often.
- Chocolate Cake – rich, moist and decadent
- Tiramisu Recipe – coffee-infused Italian dessert
- Tres Leches Cake – the moistest cake you’ll try
- Perfect Cheesecake – with irresistible cherry sauce
- Pumpkin Cake – with the best cream cheese frosting
Vanilla Cake Recipe
An easy Vanilla Cake with a soft and moist crumb and great vanilla flavor. This Vanilla cake recipe is the perfect base with Vanilla Buttercream for a birthday cake or any special occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, or plain kefir, room temperature
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter and flour two 9" cake pans, tapping out excess flour.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set flour mixture aside.
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In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer (or stand mixer), beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until thick and fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
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Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well with each addition then scrape down the bowl. Add 4 tsp vanilla extract and beat to combine.
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Reduce mixer to medium speed and add the flour mixture in thirds alternating with the 1 cup of room temperature buttermilk, allowing the flour and buttermilk to incorporate with each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed and beat until just combined and smooth.
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Divide batter evenly between 2 prepared cake pans and spread out the batter into the pans smoothing out the tops with a spatula. Bake on the center rack at 350˚F for 28-30 minutes. Rest in pans for 10 minutes then run a knife or thin spatula around the edges to loosen and turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before applying Vanilla Frosting.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I made this recipe for a 24″ x 16″ 2 layer slab cake for a 80 person corporate event with the vanilla butter cream frosting.
Huge hit! I used vanilla custard and whipped cream between the layers. Needless to say, there was no cake left!
Thank you for this amazing recipe! Best vanilla cake recipe I have ever used in 50 years.
Wow! That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Susan! I’m so glad this was a hit with a crowd!
Hi Nathasha, love your recopies, But I find it hard to measure the ingredients in cups. It would be super helpful if you had your ingredients in grams.
Hi Su! If you click on “metric” in the recipe card, it will convert the ingredient list to grams for you.
Vanilla cake recipe
My first time making a cake from scratch. I followed the directions exactly as in the recipe
My oven temperature was confirmed at 350 degrees
I was disappointed the height of each cake is a little over 1 inch. I was hoping for more height in the cakes.
Hi Natasha – My son wants a chocolate chip cake for his birthday. I have made this cake many times with rave reviews. Would you recommend adding the chips at the end? And if so, how much?
Hi Angela, I haven’t tried that myself, but I bet that could work. Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Your are the BEST !! I love watching you cook and bake !! You have amazing recipes!! Thank
You !! 🌸♥️
Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Sofia! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi
I love love love your recipes!!!
Have you ever made a surprise cake? I want to make a surprise cake with confetti filling inside. Will this cake be suitable for that?
I’m happy that you’re enjoying my recipes! I have not tried making a surprise cake yet but here are some of my Cake recipes that you can try.
Ha ha
I have tried every one of your cakes and I LOVE them
Thank you
So glad you enjoy them. Thank you!
This cake was so delicious and easy to make. It turned out very moist! The layers baked evenly as well. It was a huge hit at my mom’s 82nd birthday party!
That’s great, Sheryl! I’m so glad it was a huge hit! Happy Birthday to your mom. 🙂
Hi! I want to try this cake out for my family and I was wondering if I could use salted butter instead of unsalted and some salt. Would that work too? And my other question is would I be able to use whole milk instead of buttermilk? Thanks for this recipe!
Hi Anna, buttermilk is what really adds the flavor profile and texture to this recipe. You can make your own buttermilk using 1 cup of milk and 1 tbsp white vinegar, stir and let is sit for 5-10mins and its ready to use. I think salted butter would be fine if you omit the salt. I have tested it and it may be a bit on the salty side but could possibly work just fine.
Hi, I’m super excited to make this cake for a surprise party, but I was wondering how long I could store it (unfrosted) before the party? I’ve got a really busy week ahead of me and wanted to make it early.
Hi Averia, this cake can be made ahead; I have made it up to two days in advance. After it is assembled, you want to refrigerate the cake (covered with a cake cover or large inverted pot). It will be softer at room temperature, so let the cake sit out a little before serving.
Hi Natasha,
This is a wonderful cake! I use, what I don’t eat, it in trifle. I only need an 8×8 cake. Do you think I should half the recipe?
Hi Jacki, I have not tested this recipe in a different pan size. I used 2 pans that are 9”x2”. You may try looking up a cake pan conversion chart to help.
Hello, Natasha
I love this recipe, it was hit when I made it for my mom’s birthday 2 years ago. I want to make it again in either a 6 inch or a 8 in pan, but I want to do 4 layers do I need to increase my ingredients?
Hi Brittney, it might be difficult to layer this cake as 4 layers since it is fairly heavy. I haven’t tested that so I can’t provide specific advice. It would be very tall if you doubled the recipe. You might be able to do 1 1/2 times the recipe and bake in 4 separate cake pans. As a 4-layer cake, the buttercream will be a safer bet or Swiss Meringue Buttercream as a whipped cream-based frosting might not hold up well under the weight of the cake layers.
Ok thank you so much, I will definitely give that a try, and maybe I can us my 6 inch pans
Hi Natasha,
I tried this recipe. It came out perfect. Thank you very much. Is there an email address that I can send you the cake I made? Unfortunately I’m not on Instagram.
Hi Ronali, you can use the contact form on my website or if you have a Facebook account, you can share the photos on our Facebook page or group!
Wow!… I tried this recipe this morning with a couple of adjustments, I used Clover instead of butter & sour cream that I had left over,and I baked it in 3 x 6inch tins & 6 cupcakes…. the most beautiful sponge ever,although in one of my tins,the sponge came away from the sides, but next time I’ll use butter to see if that makes a difference. Absolutely beautiful.
Thanks for the awesome feedback, Debra! I’m happy to hear that you loved the result of this recipe.
Hi Natasha, here in Mexico we don’t have buttermilk. what happens if I use regular milk?
Hi Laura! You can make your own buttermilk by mixing 1 TBSP white vinegar with 1 cup milk, see my recipe notes.
I made this cake for my family! They loved it. Have outride cake flour?
I’m so glad they all loved it, Roylene! I can’t say this will work with cake flour to advise. With baking being such a science it may not work. If you happen to experiment please let me know how you like that.
Hi Natasha One of your reply comments was Recommend conventional bake mode not convection why is this
Hi Cynthia, we use conventional bake mode so the recipe is based on that. You will need to make adjustments to the recipe and bake time/ temp using convection.
Hi Natasha
If I would like to turn this into a baby gender reveal cake, how much colouring is required for each cake, and would I need to eliminate any ingredients as a result of adding the colouring?
Hi Alyson, I haven’t experimented with food coloring in this recipe, but I imagine gel would work best. If you happen to test that, I would love to know how you like it.
Question: Can I use low-fat buttermilk for this vanilla cake recipe?
Hi Maria, I haven’t tried this with low-fat buttermilk. Any substitutions may hinder the outcome of the recipe but if you experiment, please let us know how it works for you.
This has been my go to yellow cake recipe since I first seen it on YouTube. I love that it just uses 4 eggs( a lot of others use more), also 1 and a half cups of sugar( some others use 2). This comes out perfectly also. Thank you SOOOOOO much for this one!!!!
You’re very welcome, Carolina! Thank you for the excellent review.
Hi Natasha!
If i wanted to make this in smaller cakes for a birthday smash cake do i need to adjust temp/time for cooking?
And also, would adding sprinkles like your confetti cake work in this recipe?
Hi Alice, I haven’t tested that with sprinkles, but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hello Natasha,
can I replace the buttermilk with
milk as I do not have the buttermilk or kefir?
Tx!
Plain kefir will also work well instead of buttermilk. You can also make your own buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle then stir and use.
Hi Natasha!
I’m planning to make this cake for my daughter’s Confirmation that it will be in 2 weeks.
I have two questions can I substitute vanilla extract with almond extract? And it is ok to double the recipe?
Thank you very much! Your recipes are amazing!
Hi Paola, I haven’t tried it with almond extract, but I bet that could work! I haven’t tested doubling this so I can’t provide specific advice. It would be very tall if you doubled the recipe. You might be able to do 1 1/2 times the recipe and bake in 4 separate cake pans.
I’ve tried so many vanilla cake recipes and I’m so grateful for this absolutely wonderful recipe it tastes sooooo delicious thank you so much Natasha. The pictures throughout the recipe are really great and also helpful for people who aren’t confident when baking 🙂 if I could I would give more stars. I love watching all your recipes so delicious.
Thank you, Antonia! That is very kind. So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for the wonderful review.
I made this cake with chocolate icing. I followed the directions exactly as written. The layers are dry! I don’t know why. I bake cakes all the time so I’m not new at this. Do you know what may have happened?
Hi Angela, could it have been over-baked? Not all ovens are created equal and I highly recommend the toothpick test to check for doneness. Also, make sure not to bake on convection mode.
Hello Natasha,
How much one cup of butter in oz or in grams?
Hi Amani, If you scroll down to our printable recipe card, most of our recipes have a metric conversion option on the printable recipe card. We are currently working on adding metric measurements to all of our recipes, but it is taking some time to add them one at a time. Thank you so much for being patient! In the meantime, check out our post on measuring which should help.
Love love love this cake recipe! It’s worth all the effort and definitely having all the ingredients at room temperature.
I accidentally left the cake uncovered in the refrigerator after cutting some pieces though and was wondering if there is anything I can do to make it more moist again. I feel awful that I didn’t cover it because it was so incredibly soft and fluffy!
Hi Melanie! I’m sorry to hear that. I do not know what can be done to fix the dryness now. If you leave it out to come to room temperature before eating, that may help it not feel so dry.
Hi Natasha,
I am thinking of using this vanilla cake recipe and frost it with the mascarpone frosting from your strawberry layer cake recipe, and add fresh berries in between the layers. Do you think the flavors will work together? Thanks so much. Love all your recipes.
Hi Marg! Yes, I think that would work very well. This vanilla cake is so versatile.
Hi Natasha,
I wanted to let you know that the cake was a huge hit. The slightly tangy frosting paired beautifully with the vanilla cake and berries. My husband, who normally is not a cake guy, said “What a great cake. I love the texture and it’s not too sweet. Is it Natasha’s recipe?” 🙂 THANK YOU ❤ I am trying your chicken marsala recipe next.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Marg!
Hi Natasha!
I am looking forward to making this cake in the next couple of weeks! I was wondering if you have ever tried this cake with a raspberry compote filling in the layers? I am wanting to add some freshness to the cake and wondering if its possible with this recipe!
Hi Jordan, I have not but I think that would work and be yummy.
Hi natasha do you think I could just use egg whites to make the cake be white?
Hi Sabrina, I have not tested that. Using only egg whites will affect the texture of the cake and it may even come out tough or dry. It would need a source of fat replaced if it’s too dry. You’d have to experiment with it. Please let us know how it works out if you try it.
Love what Hong all your recipes and I have tried a few with great results.
I was trying to find your vanilla recipe for making your cakes ?
I don’t seem to be able to find it?
Thank you!!
Hi Debbie, my Vanilla Extract recipe turned out great! I hope you love it!
hi i was wondering if i dont have store bought buttermilk could i make my own (getting one cup of milk and adding one tablespoon of vinegar) ?
Hi Mylisa, yes that will work. You can make your own buttermilk at a 1 cup whole milk ratio to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle, then stir and use. I hope that helps.
I used with gluten free flour and 1/4 cup less sugar and it turned out great. I also used almond milk instead of buttermilk but I added vinegar to it. Awesome!
That’s fantastic! I’m glad that turned out well, thank you for sharing that with us.
Can you please tell me what GF mix you used? Was it still it still light and fluffy?
Hi! I would love to make this cake for my grandpa’s birthday. Can I use Salted butter instead of unsalted butter for the cake?
Hi there, that sounds like a good plan. Yes you may use salted butter but lessen or omit the salt in the recipe.
Hi,
I followed the recepie exactly how it was written and followed the video. The cake was delicious, but When I cut the cake, noticed it was dry and hard. What do you think I did wrong?
Hi Myri, It’s hard to say without being there but a dry cake is usually due to overbaking. I wonder if it was due to baking for too long?
Hi Natasha, I made your Vanilla Cupcake recipe and Loved it and now I would like to make your Vanilla Cake recipe. I always measure my ingredients using metric. Is the metric amount stated for sugar in your recipe correct as it states 354.88g? Should it be 300g instead? Thanks so much!
Hi Nona, thank you so much for pointing that out. I have no idea why it showed incorrectly but you are absolutely correct. It should be 300 grams. Maybe there was a glitch in our system the first time we ran the numbers. I’m sorry about that and thank you so much for asking! I have corrected it to be 300 grams of sugar.
In the video it says the recipe for vanilla is in the notes but I’m not seeing it?
Hi Patty, if you click Jump to Recipe at the top of the post that will take you to the printable recipe card, you will see the vanilla ingredient is highlighted in red. You can click that link to see the recipe. You can also find it HERE. I hope this helps!
Hello,
Can powdered buttermilk be used in this recipe?
Thank you and I can’t wait to make this!!
Hi Lindsay, I haven’t tried it with powdered to advise on the outcome. I imagine you will need to make a few adjustments.
Can I use 2 x 8 inch pans instead? Do I need to reduce the amount of ingredients to it better? I don’t have any pans bigger than 8 inch 🙁 love the cupcakes recipe btw!
I have no tested it in 8″ pans but that should be fine. Just make sure you do not overfill the pans. I am not sure how deep your pans are but you may have some leftover batter but I cannot say what adjustments need to be made to avoid this. As far as baking time, you may need to check a few mins early but it shouldn’t make too big of a difference in baking time. Hope that helps!
Hi!! If I want to use this recipe for 7” cake and to make a 3 layer what would the ratio ingredients be then? Or should I just double the recipe fill the 3 pans 2/3 of the way and have left over batter for cupcakes etc?! Also to make the cake easier to work with, without breaking apart do I leave it in the cake pan until cool then remove to chill more and refrigerate for 20mins before frosting? Or take them out of the pan immediately once out of the oven to cool on pan? I don’t want it to break apart again. It’s so frustrating! Thank you!!
Hi Sabrina, without testing that myself, you would need to experiment on timing, but I would keep the temp the same and do your best to fill the pans the same as you would for two pans. It might work to divide them into three 7-inch pans.
I’m going to try this cake recipe for my Caramel Cake! I love all your recipes!!!!
Thank you, I hope you love it!
Aw man, this is a dangerous recipe! I made this in a 9 by 13 pan and baked it for about 35 minutes at 350. I couldn’t wait until it was all the way cooled before trying it, so I cut a piece for myself and frosted it with Natasha’s vanilla frosting. Wowza!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
What do you think was the reason my cake(Bundt type) of this recipe came out so dense?
Hi Pat, check that your leavening is working and not expired. Also, see our post on how we measure dry ingredients since too much flour can be a culprit.
Of all the cake recipes on the internet, this one is the most practical with excellent results! No need to go purchase expensive cake flour and no separating your egg whites – what a relief! My 2 year old loves to bake with me and we were able to quickly make delicious cupcakes with this recipe (baked at 350 for 19 minutes). I especially love that this produces such soft cake that isn’t overbearingly sweet. You can slightly taste a hint of butter and to me that is the hallmark of homemade, from scratch. Thank you, Natasha! We are long-time fans beginning with your jello and pretzel layered dessert years ago!
Thank you for your great review, Amy! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Hi there!!
Can I make this the night before and store in an airtight container once cooled? I’m hoping it won’t dry out. I have made your vanilla cupcakes several times and they are amazing.
It’s always better to make it on the same day so it will really be fresh but making it ahead shouldn’t be a problem too, just let it thaw after from the fridge before serving.
Am eager to try this recipe. Thank you for all your great recipes, videos and tips. I tried the link to the cake pans, but it did not come up with the same type seen in your video. Could you cite the source for the gold pans? Thanks.
Hi Maria, you can find our favorite kitchen tools in our Amazon Affiliate Shop HERE.
Baked it on our wedding day and on Christmas eve. It’s now my husband’s favorite cake. Thanks natasha
Wow, that’s wonderful!
Natasha this cake is perfect, I was worried about baking a whole cake for the first time but this recipe was so easy. The video helped a lot as well. I also tried the cupcakes my children love them, Thank you love from Trinidad..
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you all enjoyed it, Trini!
This cake is delicious – did not use an electric mixer but it was easy enough to do “the old fashioned way”. Made it for my son’s 5th birthday and we all loved it. Thank you so much for this recipe
You’re most welcome! I’m glad that you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi! I want to make this for my daughter’s first birthday. I was wondering if I could make one layer of cake in a 9 x 13 pan? If so, do you have baking times? Thank you!
Hi Sarah, I haven’t tested that yet to advise of the baking time. You may check the other comments at the bottom of the recipe if others have tried it.
Made this and the frosting. Followed the instructions carefully and exactly. Turned out perfect and tasted great for a basic vanilla cake. I am a tragic baker – so this recipe must be pretty foolproof. Thank you so much for posting this and the video!
Wow, that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing that with us, I’m glad it was a success!
Hi Natasha- what is your elevation where you bake? Wondering if I need to adapt for high altitude. We’re about 5,000 feet here.
Hi Anne, we’re at about 2500 feet here. I don’t have experience with high-altitude baking but you can find more tips on High Altitude Baking HERE.
Hi Natasha! I love your recipes. I specially like how they’re not as sweet as their American counterparts. I want to use this vanilla cake recipe as a base for a coconut cake with coconut buttercream. What changes do you suggest I make to get a coconut cake? Thank you!
Hi Dayelis, I haven’t tried this with coconut substitute to advise on the amount, but I think that could work in place of vanilla. If you happen to test this out, I would love to know how you like that.
I love this cake so much! I use this recipe multiple times (birthdays, celebrations, etc.). Every time I bake this cake it turns out wonderful. Everyone I have baked this cake for has loved it! Thank you for providing this cake recipe!!
Aww, I’m so glad you found a favorite on my site, Rakhi! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I have made this vanilla cake on multiple occasions, especially on birthdays. Every time this cake turns out wonderful! Everyone I have baked this for has loved it!! Thank you so much for providing this recipe.
Can I use a 6 inch cake pan instead of 9 inch. If yes then how long do we have to leave it in the oven?
Hi Crystal! I bet this could work in a couple of 6″ pans. Depending on how deep your cake pans are, that may alter the total time they need to be cooked.
Hi Natasha! I love, love your recipes and videos but I have a question. If I were to make a 3 layer cake with the same measurements of a 9 inch pan how would I add to your recipe to acquire that. Hope you see this and thanks in advance
Hi Lauchele, this recipe makes a two-layer cake, making 1.5 times the recipe may allow for the 3 layers. I haven’t tried that myself to advise, I hope that works for you!
Thank you very much Natasha this really helped a lot. I love your cake recipe☺️
You’re so welcome!
Hi Natasha I love your recipes 😋. I want to make 3 layers 10″ pans. Can I double the recipe?
Hi Victoria, this recipe makes a two-layer cake, making 1.5 times the recipe may allow for the 3 layers. I haven’t tried that myself to advise, I hope that works for you!
This is hands down a cake to remember!! I use vanilla bean paste for a deep vanilla flavor and I get lovely butter sugar fluff before I start. I made this once and served it as a single layer fresh for my father and the crumb was so light it almost melted. I used my now pasted grandmothers frosting recipe on it and he nearly cried. Since that day I have played with layering the cake and adding Ermine filling and which has lead to refrigerator time before serving it. The cake is still out off this weld and everyone loves it, but it lost that original beautiful fluffy texture.
My question is.. Can I restore that after its been in the fridge? Or should I serve room temp? I love your channel 💞
Yum! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Rebecca! Thank you for that wonderful review! I bet this is so good with vanilla bean paste! It’s always better to make it on the same day so it will really be fresh but making it ahead shouldn’t be a problem too, just let it thaw after from the fridge before serving.
Can you make a chai cream cheese buttercream please? Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for your suggestion, Ruby.
Just made this cake today. Turned out beautifully! My family loved it😊
Great to hear that they loved it!
Love all your recipes I have tried but this Vanilla Cake was so dry and heavy. Did not look at all like your pictures I followed the recipe directions to the T The only thing different was I used Low-fat Buttermilk and baked in a 9x 13 cake pan for about 30 min. Had good flavor tho. Probably won’t make it again however your salmon and meatloaf recipes I make all the time.
Hi TK, a dry cake is usually due to overbaking. I wonder if it was due to baking in a 9×13 pan and then baking for too long? I’m so glad you enjoy the salmon and meatloaf!
I made this cake and found it to be extremely dense. What did I do wrong? frosting was yummy.
Hi Lou Ann, check that your leavening is working and not expired. Also, see our post on how we measure dry ingredients since too much flour can be a culprit.
Thanks Natasha. I used two 6″ pans because I wanted a smaller cake, and some bonus cupcakes. Maybe because it took longer to bake in those pans. Tastes good though.
Natasha
We don’t have butter milk here
What can I substitute it with?
Thanks
Hi Paulette, You can make your own buttermilk at a 1 cup whole milk ratio to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle, then stir and use. I hope that helps.
Hi Natasha, do you think this recipe would be enough for a one layer 12in cake pan? If so, do you think 35 mins would be ok?
Hi Brandie, without testing that through, it is difficult to guess.
Hi Natasha,
I made this cake today with the vanilla buttercream frosting and both were delicious. I used 4 – 6 inch Wilton pans and made a 4 layer cake. I some times have trouble with white cakes being too gummy – maybe I over mix. But this was perfect! Thank you!
Lovely to hear that, Mattie! Thank you for your good comments and feedback, glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi ! Did you just make the original recipe ? Or did you double the batch ?
Hey Natasha! Can I cream the butter and sugar using a simple whisk? I don’t have a stand mixer or electric hand mixer at the moment.
Hi Sindhu, it would definitely be more difficult to do that by hand, You might try pressing the butter into the sugar with a spatula first and then take over with a whisk when they are combined.
Hi Natasha, absolutely love this recipe, everytime I make this, people find it impossible to believe that it’s been baked by a young teen! I wanted to ask that approximately how much batter goes into each pan (in grams)?
That’s just awesome, Anusha! I wish I measured it to know the amount per pan. I try to get it as even as possible!
Hi Natasha.
I want to make this cake for my daughters birthday.
How can I make it eggless?
Can you pls suggest what can I use instead of eggs?
Thanks in advance
HI Richa, I haven’t tried this without eggs, but we do have an eggless chocolate cake and eggless chocolate cupcakes (essentially the same recipe).
Hi Natasha, your chocolate cake is eggless but your chocolate cupcake has eggs. Is that correct? Just want to ensure I am following the right recipes
Hi Kruti, this Easy Chocolate Cupcake Recipe is also eggless. I hope this helps!
I need a good lemon cake recipe. I’m planning to experiment with this recipe to make it lemon rather than vanilla, but that might backfire. Also going to try to get one 10″ and one 6″ layer from the recipe. Do you have a good lemon cake recipe tho, that uses zest?
ps you are my favorite cooking dot-com lady!
Hi there, I don’t have a recipe for that yet but if you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!
Hi Natasha ,
Have you tried this recipe with 6 inch cake pan ?
Hi Anu, without testing that myself, it’s hard to say. It might work to divide them into three 6-inch pans.
Hi Natasha, how do I make sure my layers are even if I don’t have a kitchen scale?
Hi Matt! Do your best to get it as close as you can by seeing how full the pan is!
Just an FYI… made this cake today… used a 11×15 sheet pan. Made triple batch. Put 1.5x in each pan (so 4.5 lbs) and baked for 30 minutes at 350 on convection setting. And tooth pick inserted center came out clean so so far so good… Batter tastes delicious so I know the cake will too.. made her vanilla cupcake recipe a couple months ago.. amazing recipes!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cho! Thank you for the great feedback!
Hi Cho
Did you use two pans or one?
Hi
I just want to say I really like you recipes and how you give directions.
I am for sure a rookie at baking but I just tried your vanilla cake recipe and it looks great but it seems to be very dry. I think I may have baked it too long. I took it out just over 28 minutes. Is there something else I need to watch out for?
Thanks
Hey Phil! It’s hard to say without being there, but if nothing was altered in the recipe, I recommend ensuring your oven is calibrated and doesn’t run too hot!
Hi can I use a Bundt pan for this recipe
Hi Iman, I haven’t tested that so I’m not sure how it would fit or what adjustments need to be made to the timings
What if I try the recipe with 8 inch cake pan?
Hi Pk, I haven’t tested it that way, and unless it’s a very tall walled 8″ pan, it will overflow the pan. If you experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Can I buy some vanilla cake please
I don’t sell these cakes but you can surely try them at home. I’m sure you can do it too!
Awesome foolproof recipe..tired it for the 1st time..halved the recipe as i was making it as a tea time snack..and without the frosting…couldn’t wait till it cooled..and half the cake vanished..really soft and yum..thanks
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Rohini!!
Hi Natasha, can I put color on the frosting? Thanks
Hi Mitch, I haven’t experimented with food coloring in this recipe, but I imagine gel would work best. If you happen to test that, I would love to know how you like it.
Do you think this cake would work in a trifle?
Hi Jacki, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
I made this and I loved it!! It’s so soft, moist, and buttery!! The amount of sweetness is just right! Thank you, Natasha, for this recipe!
You’re welcome! Glad you loved this recipe.
Hi Natasha! I’ve made this quite a few times.. my go to vanilla cake! Yummy!
Wondering if I can bake the cakes then freeze individually until ready to frost a few days later?
Or any suggestions to make ahead??
Going on vacation but need to make cake before we go to enjoy while away.
Thank you!
Hi Kim, this whole cake can be made ahead. After it is assembled, you will want to refrigerate the cake (covered with a cake cover or large inverted pot). It will be softer at room temperature so let the cake sit out a little bit before serving. I haven’t tried freezing this yet though to advise.`
Perfect!
Thank you for your response Natasha. Take care.
You’re welcome!
I have made this using two round pans and was very good Wondering if I can make this using a 9×13” pan.
Hi Gwen, I honestly haven’t baked it in a 9×13, so I don’t have an exact baking time. You will have to watch for visual cues and go by the toothpick test. I would guess it’s at least the same bake time and probably longer.
Can I use Vegetable oil instead of Butter?
Hi Salman, I haven’t tested using oil with this specific recipe. If you experiment, please let me know how it goes.
all the recipe I baked from your channel are amazing!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing =)
Hi Fides! Thank you for this lovely comment! I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes!
Hi Natasha! I’m so excited to try this recipe! I was wondering if you have ever done strawberry filling inside the cake or if you think it would be good for it.
Hi Russell, I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how that goes!
Hi Natasha,
What will be the weight of the cake with 14 servings?
Hi Jenna, I never weighed it that way so I don’t know.
Hi Natasha,
God Bless you for honestly sharing your successful recipes with us. My family just enjoyed the night with this Vanilla cake.
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Mary. I’m all smiles
Hi Natasha!! First off I love your recipes! Everything I’ve tried so far has been amazing. I want to make this cake and I was curious if this will work with a 9 x 13 pan? Sorry if I missed that in the earlier comments. Thank you!
Hi Katie, I honestly haven’t baked it in a 9×13, so I don’t have an exact baking time or adjustments. I would guess it’s at least the same bake time and probably longer.
HI Natasha, I really want to make this for my daughter’s birthday, but I don’t have 9-inch pans, only 8 inch ones. Would that work? Thanks!
Hi Alina, I haven’t tested it that way and unless it’s a very tall walled 8″ pan, it would overflow the pan. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
hii i want to do this recipe but i’m afraid it could turn out very sweet both the buttercream and the cake, how much sugar should i decrease in both if i don’t really wanna affect the results? thx for the answer 😉
Hi Ari, we don’t like overly sweet recipes and believe we found the perfect balance with this recipe! I haven’t test with less sugar or a substitute to advise on outcome or impact.
I made these couldn’t first because no powdered sugar but they were cloud like and so fluffy. My granma is not easy to please with food BUT she loved it and asked the recipe thanks Natasha
You’re welcome and glad your grandma enjoyed it!
Delicious cake and frosting recipe with simple ingredients! Didn’t change or substitute anything and it turned out perfect. My husband wanted a coconut cake for his birthday so half the cake was dusted on the outside with coconut. For the rest of the family I kept it plain with a few sprinkles dotted on top. Fun to make and everyone said it was delicious! Thanks and hope to try the chocolate buttercream soon!
That sounds wonderful, Joan. Dusting it with coconut is an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing that with us and I’m glad you all loved the cake.
Natasha,
I have a question. Can the cake layers be made 1 day in advance and apply the buttercream the day it will be served?
Hi Emily, the cake layers would hold up ok left covered at room temperature overnight. You would want to cover them to prevent drying out. If longer than that I would store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Yo prepare esta receta y me encanta mis tortas salen deliciosas me encanta
Glad you loved the cake!
It was brilliant! I made this on my dad’s birthday! My dad was impressed!
That’s perfect! Great to hear that your father loved this recipe! I’m sure you made him extra happy on his Birthday.
Hi Natasha!!! I’m planning on making this cake for my birthday, but every time I make a vanilla cake, the next day it’s dry. And it’s very hot where I live so I always have to refrigerate the cakes, so do you think can I make it the day before or would it be better the same day? Thanks!
Hi Paty, it’s always better to make it on the same day so it will really be fresh but making it ahead shouldn’t be a problem too, just let it thaw after from the fridge before serving.
How long does the vanilla cake keep fresh?
Hi sheila, this cake can be made ahead; I have made it up to two days in advance. After it is assembled, you will want to refrigerate the cake (covered with a cake cover or large inverted pot). It will be softer at room temperature, so let the cake sit out a little bit before serving.
Hi Natasha! Can I substitute the butter with oil in this recipe? If yes, what is the measurement? Thank you in advance!
Hi Nessa, I haven’t tested using oil with this specific recipe. If you experiment, please let me know how it goes.
Hi dear, if I wanna bake this in one pan, then which baking pan should I use and how long should I bake it? Please answer my question ❤
Hi Sheena, I haven’t tested that so I’m not sure how it would affect the rise on the cake.
I made this cake recipe for my kids . It didn’t last 1 day. It was great!!! We loved it.Im on to the chocolate cake next.
I’m glad it was a hit! Thank you for sharing that with us, Yolanta.
I’ve tried 3 different vanilla cake recipes today, and your’s was perfect! Tender, fluffy and flavorful. This is my new favourite vanilla cake recipe.
Wow, that is awesome feedback. Thanks for sharing that with us!
I made this cake today with my 7 year old cousin and it was a huge hit! Easy to follow instructions, the cake was super moist and delicious and we added colours to make a rainbow cake! The vanilla buttercream iced and piped beautifully and I added a bit more powdered sugar for my liking! Highly recommend and the whole family enjoyed 💯
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Hi I was just wondering how many cups of batter this recipe makes 🙂 I am planning on making a sheet cake using this recipe and im not sure if i should double or triple these meaurements. Please let me know! Thank you so much 😊
Hi Sharlene, gosh, I wish I measured it that way to let you know the cup amount. I haven’t tried this as a sheet cake, so I don’t have specific instructions for that. If you happen to experiment, I would love to know how it goes!
I made the cake using this recipe…its very moist n soft but it sticked to the pan from the bottom…i buttered the mould but i dont understand wat went wrong
Hi Anna, did you make sure to butter and flour the mold? I haven’t had it burn before. I recommend making sure your oven settings are for conventional bake mode (not convection). I hope that helps.
Hi!
First of all, I totally love your recipes! They are all equally amazing.
I want to bake this cake for my mom’s birthday. But due to a lockdown situation, I only have salted butter. Can I use it instead of the unsalted?
Also, can I substitute lime for lemon to make buttermilk at home?
Thank you!!!!!
Hi Janani, salted water will work too just omit or lessen the salt in the recipe. I haven’t tried using lime yet to advise.
Can you share please “Zebra “cake recipe. Our favorite childhood Zebra . Thanks
Hi Armine, I don’t have a recipe for that yet but thanks for your suggestion. I’ll try to add that to our list.
I made your vanilla cake and it was spectacular.
Yay! Thanks for your great feedback Denise.
I made your chocolate buttercream frosting for a vanilla cake the frosting was light fluffy and delicious.
Perfect, glad you loved it, Denise!
Great recipe
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha!
I was wondering what I should do if I don’t have butter milk?
Can I just use normal milk.
Hi Sydney, regular milk alone won’t work. You can make your own buttermilk at a 1 cup whole milk ratio to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle, then stir and use. I hope that helps.
Hey Natasha,
Tried this cake for the 1st time and was a big hit!! at home. I love all your recipe videos. Thanks for sharing such great and easy recipes.
I’m so happy you love our recipes! Thank you so much for the fantastic review and your encouraging words. I am smiling big reading your comment
Heyy, Can I divide this batter into 3, 6 inch pans? Also, can I double the recipe?
Hi Hiba, without testing that myself, you would need to experiment on timing, but I would keep the temp the same. It might work to divide them into three 6-inch pans.
Hi,
Natasha I was wondering what I did wrong because my mixture curdled after I added the egg and I’m thinking that the eggs weren’t fully room temperature.
Hi, adding cold eggs can cause that.
Hey..im planning to make this on Saturday for my MILs b-day and just have one 8 inch pan. can i use just one pan and cut the cakes into layers later on you suggest i make two batches? Can i keep the batter in fridge while one bakes or is it ok to be left on the counter?
Hi, I haven’t tested it that way and unless it’s a very tall walled 8″ pan, it would overflow the pan. I’m not sure if it would rise the same baking in a single pan since I haven’t experimented. I would probably make two half batches.
This cake was delicious. My family loved it. I tested it out before my kids birthdays and this will definitely be our new birthday cake. I love all your recipes. Thank you Natasha!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Linda!
I have done this before and it was great! I am making this for my birthday and something I am making uses 5 egg yokes. Do you think I could use 4-5 egg whites instead?
I honestly have not tested that substitution with egg whites so I can’t say if it would work or not. If you experiment, let me know how it goes.
Good day…. Mrs Natasha… do you know the ingredients to making my own buttermilk? I can’t find buttermilk at times and I would love to know how to make my own… please and thank you….. cammy
Hi Cammy! Yes, You can also make your own buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle then stir and use.
Good day…. Mrs Natasha… do you know the ingredients to making my own buttermilk? I can’t find buttermilk at times and I would love to know how to make my own… please and thank you….. cammy
Hi Camille, You can also make your own buttermilk at a ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Combine and let it sit 10 minutes to curdle then stir and use.
Hi Natasha! 2nd time making this scrumptious cake ..Coming out of oven now!
Question I’d like to frost them in a couple of days .. how would you store them until then? Freezer or fridge?
Planning on your buttercream (which I love as its less sweet then most) and adding coconut after frosting. Yummo!
Thx!
Hi Kim, this whole cake can be made ahead. After it is assembled, you will want to refrigerate the cake (covered with a cake cover or large inverted pot). It will be softer at room temperature so let the cake sit out a little bit before serving. I haven’t tried freezing this yet though to advise.`
Hi Natasha I’m making ur cake but I’m making it in different size pans so one is bigger than the other? Will that work? Pls answer quickly thanks!
Hi there, it might work however I haven’t tried using different sizes yet to advise of the timing and measurements. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes. You may also check the other comments below if others have already tried that.
can you substitute anything else besides buttermilk
Hi Frances, we have a buttermilk substitute in the recipe, but without testing other substitutions for other ingredients, I can’t make those recommendations.
Thank You
I used 2% milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice
went to use the buttermilk and it was very clumpy think it was bad.
Hey Frances,
When you make your own buttermilk, curdling is fine and is actually wanted. So no, it was not bad. Even though it may have looked very clumpy, it’s fine. 🙂
Hello Natasha,
Can’t wait to try your vanilla cake. Can I bake it in a tube pan. I do not have the layer pans but could buy them but prefer not to buy. Thank you, Lorraine
Hi Lorraine, I haven’t tested this in a tube cake to advise. If you happen to advise I would love to know how you like that
Hi Natasha ,
I love all your creation ,
Have a quick question how do I replace eggs ?Since I am vegetarian.
TIA
Suman
Suman, I honestly haven’t tried any substitute for eggs for this recipe to advise.
made the cake it wasn’t Moist at all, don’t know what I did wrong follwed the recipe to a tee?
Hi Arline, make sure to measure the dry ingredients correctly ( pushing a measuring cup into the flour bin can result in 25% too much flour) and also make sure not to overbake which can make the cake layers dry.
Will this cake be good with whipped cream frosting and filling. planning to do two tier cake.. I always make your sponge cake.. but im not brave to try for the 2 tier cake. so thought to try this vanilla cake recipe?
Hi Jance, it’s best to have a nice sturdy frosting if layering. I bet this cake will work well layered.
Hi I tried vanilla cake with stabilized whipped cream frosting. it turned out good. also did two tier. thanks a lot for the recipe.
You’re welcome! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I use cake strips all on my cakes, that takes away the dome. Maybe you should try it.
Thanks for your suggestion, Amy!
Hi Natasha,
This cake looks great and I was really excited to make it. I followed your recipe completely and while baking the cake rose beautifully. But on cooling it collapsed n became dense. I baked it for 30 minutes and after taking it out, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then put it on the cooling rack. Do you know why it could have collapsed? Thanks!
Hi Suhaas, it should normally be soft in the center and not dense like a pound cake. Make sure the ingredients are all at room temperature, which helps to form the correct texture. Also, be sure to measure dry ingredients by fluffing the flour first with a spoon, then spoon it into a dry ingredient measuring cup and scrape it off the top. If you push your measuring cup into a flour bin, you will get up to 25% too much flour. Also, do not tap the flour down in the measuring cup.
Hi! Can I use this recipe to make cake pops?
Hi Hannah, I honestly haven’t tested that to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
can I use margarine instead of butter
Hi Melissa, I haven’t tried that to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!
Hi Natasha,
I am so excited to make your Vanilla Buttercream cake for my 5 year old niece, I am sure she will love it! The look captured me instantly and I can just image how divine it tastes.
I am planning to make 3 layers of 6” cake pans, will this recipe work? I wonder about the baking time too since it’s smaller. I would love to hear your advise on this.
Thank you and will be waiting for your reply.
Regards,
Cara
Hi Cara, without testing that myself, you would need to experiment on timing, but I would keep the temp the same. It might work to divide them into three 6-inch pans.
I used and halved this cake recipe yesterday. I divided it equally into 2 6″ tins. I baked it at 180c for 18mins and it turned out lovely 😊. Just be sure to check with a skewer after 15 minutes as all ovens are different.
Thank you so much for sharing your results making a half batch and baking in smaller 6-inch tins!
Hi natasha, i love your cake but its a lil bit too sweet for me, if i want to reduce the sugar how much i should reduce the sugar?
Hi, I think there is some room to experiment but since baking is so much of a science, I can’t make that recommendation without testing it through first.
Hi Natasha🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️ My icing looks in color light yellow, how can I get white like you? Thank you so much 🥰
Hi Liz, I found that using inexpensive butter (the one that is lighter in color and less yellow) will give you an overall lighter-colored frosting.
Hi, Natasha!
Can this cake layers be made the night before and then add the frosting the day it’s served?
Thank you!
Hi Lena, yes, that will work well! Make sure to wrap and store them properly!
This is hands down the best cake I’ve ever made. It is now the staple cake in our house for every celebration!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jessie!
Hi Natasha! I love your recipes and use so many! I’m looking to make this cake for Easter with either your lighter cream cheese frosting or your buttercream (love that it’s not so sweet like regular buttercream)
My question.. I’d like to add coconut extract to the cake and add coconut flakes to the icing (presses on after iced).
How much coconut extract would you add to cake and should I decrease the vanilla? Should I add coconut extract to icing?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Kim, I haven’t tried this with coconut to advise on the amount, but I think that could work in place of vanilla. If you happen to test this out, I would love to know how you like that.
Hi, Natasha, can I substitute sugar into stevia sweetener? Thanks a lot!
Hi Love, I haven’t tried that substitution to advise.
Hi Natasha, would this quantity work in one 10” round cake pan instead of 2×9” round pans? If yes, how long and at what temperature should I bake ?
Better to use fan force or conventional oven setting?
Love your real strawberry cupcakes, yum!
Hi Helen, I haven’t tested it that way so I can’t give you precise instructions for baking it in a 10″ round pan. I’m not sure how it would rise, but the bake time would need to be increased. I always share my recipes in regular conventional bake mode rather than convection since not everyone has that option.
Hi Natasha, I made your vanilla cake it was amazing but once I kept it in the refrigerator, the cake became really dense n was not spongy at all. Even though I kept the cake out at room temperature for couple of hours before eating.
How do I maintain the sponginess of the cake?
Hi Dareena, it should normally be soft in the center and not dense like a pound cake. Make sure the ingredients are all at room temperature, which helps to form the correct texture. Also, be sure to measure dry ingredients by fluffing the flour first with a spoon, then spoon it into a dry ingredient measuring cup and scrape it off the top. If you push your measuring cup into a flour bin, you will get up to 25% too much flour. Also, do not tap the flour down in the measuring cup.
Hi! Can I stack the Vanilla cake and Chocolate cake or will the cake collapse? Thanks!
Hi, I honestly haven’t tried that but it might be a little too heavy to get it 4-layers high. If you try, you definitely need a sturdy buttercream in between layers.
Can I use a 8 inch cake tin
Hi Chole, I haven’t tested that but it should work, Here’s what one of our readers wrote “The cake and frosting were delicious! I used 2 – 8 inch pans and it worked perfectly well. I also added coconut on top of the frosting because I love coconut! Went very well with the cake/frosting! Thank you!!” I hope that helps
Can I use 2×8 inch cake tins. There around 7cm deep
Hi Emily, yes that should work. I hope you love this recipe.
I’m baking this recipe but doing it a day ahead, what’s the best way to store this in the fridge? and should I take it out of the fridge 2 hours before serving so it comes to room temperature without the buttercream messing up?
Hi Salma, this cake can be made ahead. After it is assembled, you will want to refrigerate the cake (covered with a cake cover or large inverted pot). It will be softer at room temperature so let the cake sit out a little bit before serving.
Hi Natasha!
I tried baking this cake a few weeks ago and it worked perfectly. I’m going to do it again today for a party. I have one question regarding food coloring. Is it okay to add food coloring to this cake, and how much? Anyways, thank you your recipes help me so much with my baking experience.
I’m glad it was a success! I haven’t experimented with food coloring in this recipe, but I imagine gel would work best. If you happen to test that, I would love to know how you like it.