Homemade Vanilla Sheet Cake is an essential recipe every baker should know. This simple cake is extremely versatile, making it great for beginners or the most seasoned baker.
If you want even more easy and delicious cake recipes, try this white cake with raspberry filling and this vanilla strawberry cake. You will love them.
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Why this Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe is a Keeper
This easy cake recipe is full of sweet vanilla flavor. Use this recipe to make a birthday cake, and top with cream cheese frosting. It bakes well in a sheet pan, and is flavored with pure vanilla extract. If you need a delicious cake for an upcoming occasion, here are a few reasons why you’ll want to use this cake recipe today:
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for homemade vanilla cake can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store. Make sure your flour and baking powder is fresh for best results.
- Family Favorite: This vanilla homemade cake is perfect for birthday parties and special occasions. Once the cake is baked, decorate it how you like.
- Adaptable: Once you learn this basic vanilla cake recipe, you can easily customize it with your favorite flavors and toppings.
Why is My Cake Dry?
If your cake is dry, it may be because you used too much flour. This vanilla cake needs the right kind of flour; the cake is best made with all-purpose or cake flour. You’ll also want to measure and level it as well.
Ingredient Need to Make Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe
This is a cake recipe that’s easy to make, especially for beginners. Vanilla cake is a classic for parties and celebrations, especially due to its lovely vanilla flavor. Put a layer of frosting on top of your cakes, then stack two sheet cakes on top of each other. Just make sure to allow to cool fully before frosting. Here are some ingredients you’ll need to make vanilla sheet cake:
- Flour: This cake recipe uses all-purpose flour. If you’re looking to keep this cake gluten-free, use a cake flour substitute instead. You can also make it using cake flour.
- Butter: Use 2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature. Butter and sugar make this cake moist and sweet. You can also improve the texture of the cake with sour cream.
- Vanilla Extract: Give the cake its vanilla flavor with 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Add the vanilla in with the wet ingredients.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Vanilla Sheet Cake
- Bake in Advance: Make the cake a day or two in advance. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature.
- Freeze: For longer storage, wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frosting.
Pro Tip for Cake and Frosting
Buttermilk adds tanginess and moisture to the cake.
How to Make a Vanilla Sheet Cake
These are the basic steps for making vanilla sheet cake. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Combine the Ingredients and Prep Quarter Sheet Cake Pan
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a cake pan. Combine the dry ingredients- flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt- in a mixing bowl, or in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. In a separate bowl, beat in the vanilla, egg whites, milk, and vegetable oil.
2. Add the Butter
While the mixer is on low, slowly add in the butter; mix until smooth. Add 1/3 of the egg mixture into the dry mixture. Then, add another 1/3 and beat for 4-5 minutes. Add the last 1/3 while mixing on medium speed for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Bake the Cake and Frost with Whipped Buttercream Frosting
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread. Bake the baking pan for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges of the cake pull away from the pan. Once the cake is done, allow cake to cool completely before frosting. Frost the cake with whipped vanilla buttercream frosting.
How to Store Leftover White Cake in the Refrigerator
- Wrap the Cake: Store in an airtight container and refrigerate the cake. You can also cover the cake in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
- Using Leftovers: This cake will keep for up to 4 days.
Easy Vanilla Sheet Cake Variations and Substitutions
- Citrus: Add zest of lemon, lime, or orange to the batter or frosting.
- Spice: Incorporate spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom.
- Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to the batter or use chocolate chips.
- Nuts: Add chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the batter or frosting.
- Fruits: Top the cake with fresh or dried fruit.
Homemade Vanilla Cake Recipe FAQs
Serve this recipe with fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting, upside down strawberry vanilla cake, or 2 ingredient vanilla fudge.
If your cake sank in the middle, your oven may be too hot or cold. Check the temperature of your oven using an oven thermometer. You may have also underbaked your cake.
Expert Tips for Making Vanilla Layer Cake
This cake looks as good as it tastes. If you need a cake to wow your friends and family, this is the cake to make.
- Add Vanilla Paste: To up the flavor, try using fresh vanilla bean or vanilla paste.
- Vanilla Cupcake Recipe: This cake can be made into cupcakes instead.
- Do Not Over Beat: Beat until just everything is combined for a feathery light cake.
- Chocolate Sheet Cake: You can use this white cake recipe to make a cake with chocolate instead. Allow the cake to cool fully, then ice with chocolate frosting.
- Freeze: This quarter sheet pan cake can be frozen; just make sure to freeze before you add the whipped vanilla buttercream icing.
- 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.
Homemade Vanilla Sheet Cake
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with paddle attachment
- Dry Measuring Cup or another bowl
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Ingredients
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour, scooped and leveled
- 2 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- 2 ¾ cups Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoons Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature, 2 sticks
- 2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 7.25 ounces Large Egg Whites
- 1 ½ cup Whole Milk, room temperature
- 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.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Vanilla Paste: To up the flavor, try using fresh vanilla bean or vanilla paste.
- Vanilla Cupcake Recipe: This cake can be made into cupcakes instead.
- Do Not Over Beat: Beat until just everything is combined for a feathery light cake.
- Chocolate Sheet Cake: You can use this white cake recipe to make a cake with chocolate instead. Allow the cake to cool fully, then ice with chocolate frosting.
- Freeze: This cake can be frozen; just make sure to freeze before you add the whipped vanilla buttercream icing.
- 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.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Your cake recipe worked perfectly. My cake was the perfect texture and I loved the vanilla flavour too.
Yum. This vanilla cake recipe was perfect. Great flavor and nice and light.
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!