Homemade Vanilla Cake

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Homemade Vanilla Cake is a delicious loving hug to your family. Nothing beats homemade and this cake will become a family favorite.

Slice of Homemade Vanilla Cake on a white plate alongside a full cake.

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Homemade Vanilla Cake is the base for almost all your favorite cakes. It really is so easy and once you try it, you will be baking it all the time.

Where does vanilla come from? Find out here.

  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry and really easy to make.
  • Family Friendly: Who doesn’t love cake? Perfect for parties or any day.
  • Adaptable: Can make it into so many different cakes.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Yes!!! Leftover cake is amazing.
Close upp view of a slice of vanilla cake.

What You Need to Make Homemade Vanilla Cake

Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Granulated sugar
  • Salt
  • Butter 
  • Vanilla extract
  • Eggs
  • Whole milk
  • Vegetable oil
Ingredients in clear bowls for cake. Flour, oil, sugar vanilla. etc.

Equipment

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Cake- Step by Step

First three steps in making the vanilla cake. Adding ingredients and mixing.
  • Preheat: First, preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9X13 sheet pan.
  • Dry: Second, combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, then with the mixer on low, add chunks of butter slowly to the dry mix.
  • Wet: Then in a separate bowl whisk vanilla, egg whites, milk, and vegetable oil. 
  • Combine: Next, add 1/3 of the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients, scrape down the bowl. Continue process until all combined.
Vanilla cake after cooking, frosted and finally decorated.
  • Bake: Pour into prepared cake pan. Finally, bake for 50 minutes.
  • Cool: Lastly, allow the cake to cool completely and decorate. 

LOOKING FOR MORE CAKE RECIPES? TRY THESE FAVORITES:

Looking for more?  Check out all of the easy desserts on It Is a Keeper. And, check out this Mont Blanc dessert – a French chestnut cream cake.

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Common Questions About Vanilla Cake

HOW DO I STORE MY HOMEMADE VANILLA CAKE?

Air is the enemy. Store in an airtight container.

SUGAR SUBSTITUTE?

Of course, use one that can be switched out in equal measure.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE FROZEN?

Indeed, a great tip is to freeze the cake before icing. You won’t get those crumbs in your icing.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Absolutely, just make sure to keep the air out.

HOW TO DECORATE?

The fun begins here. Use your favorite type of icing, sprinkles, fresh fruit or even edible flowers to make this cake a masterpiece.

slice of cake on a white plate.

Expert Tips for Making Homemade Vanilla Cake

  • Add Vanilla Paste: To up the flavor try using fresh vanilla bean or vanilla paste.
  • More Moisture: Replace the oil with sour cream, yogurt or even mayonnaise.
  • Do Not Over Beat: Beat until just everything is combined for a feathery light cake.
  • Line: Take the time to line your cake pans. You can buy pre cut ones or here is a video that will show you how to cut them.
  • Oven thermometer: Use an oven thermometer to ensure that you are baking at the right temperature, they are inexpensive and can save a cake from being too done.
  • Dietary consideration tip: Use a gluten free cake flour. Like this one.

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Slice of Homemade Vanilla Cake on a white plate alongside a full cake.
5 from 8 votes

Homemade Vanilla Cake

Yield: 15 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Homemade Vanilla Cake is a delicious loving hug to your family. Nothing beats homemade and this cake will become a family favorite.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour, scooped and leveled
  • 2 ½ tsp Baking powder
  • 2 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 7 large egg whites, 7.25 oz
  • 1 ½ cup whole milk, room temp
  • 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9*13 sheet pan
  • Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt) in a mixing bowl *if using a stand mixer, use a paddle attachment not a whisk.
  • In a separate bowl or large glass measuring cup, whisk vanilla, egg whites, milk, and vegetable oil.
  • With the mixer on low, add chunks of butter slowly to the dry mix.
  • Mix until no lumps remain, the mixture will become crumbly
  • Add 1/3 of the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients (it will look like a thick brownie batter) scrape down the bowl.
  • And in another 1/3 or the wet and beat on medium high for 4-5 mins
  • Scrape the bowl down and add the final 1/3 of the wet ingredients and mix on medium speed for an additional 5 mins.
  • Pour into prepared cake pan.
  • Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean and sides have begun to pull away from the side of the pan.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely inside the pan. Decorate with buttercream or cream-cheese frosting.

Expert Tips

 
  • Add Vanilla Paste: To up the flavor try using fresh vanilla bean or vanilla paste.
  • More Moisture: Replace the oil with sour cream, yogurt or even mayonnaise.
  • Do Not Over Beat: Beat until just everything is combined for a feathery light cake.
  • Line: Take the time to line your cake pans. You can buy pre cut ones or here is a video that will show you how to cut them.
  • Oven thermometer: Use an oven thermometer to ensure that you are baking at the right temperature, they are inexpensive and can save a cake from being too done.
  • Dietary consideration tip: Use a gluten free cake flour. Like this one.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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3 thoughts on “Homemade Vanilla Cake”

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing vanilla cake recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply

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