You’ll love this soft and tender Vanilla Cake made from scratch. This buttery vanilla layer cake is covered in a simple, creamy vanilla buttercream, making it perfect for parties, birthdays or celebrations.
Vanilla magic ✨
Today, I’m sharing my go-to vanilla cake with you. Three layers of buttery cake covered in a light vanilla buttercream. This cake is perfect for parties, celebrations and any time you need a vanilla cake fix.
Simplicity at it’s best!
Over the years, I’ve shared so many of my favourite chocolate cake recipes with you. From my super fudgy Chocolate Mud Cake to my light and fluffy Chocolate Olive Oil Cake and even my gluten free Flourless Chocolate Cake. But what about vanilla?!
Just a few weeks ago I shared my favourite Vanilla Cupcake recipe with you and I realised it was time for my go-to Vanilla Cake. It’s taken me years to get it just right. But I use it all the time for an easy go-to cake that pairs well with any frosting. Plus you can easily colour the batter if you’d like too!
This gorgeous vanilla cake is anything but plain. In fact, I can eat fistfuls of this cake without any icing or anything on it. Just fresh out of the oven. It’s buttery and sweet and just a little bit dense – making it perfect as a layer cake.
And of course, the only way to make it better, is to lather the middle, top and sides with homemade vanilla buttercream. Basically, it’s the magic of vanilla and butter 😉
So what makes this Vanilla Cake so special? Well it’s made with caster sugar for sweetness and good quality vanilla extract of course. We use full fat milk (whole milk) for moisture, as well as Greek yogurt. The yogurt is important as it ensures the cake is soft and tender.
I also use the reverse creaming method (just like my Coconut Cake), which gives the cake a tight, tender crumb. And by adding the dry ingredients first, then the wet ingredients, it helps prevent over-mixing. Dry cake? No thank you.
TIPS TO FOR MAKING PERFECT VANILLA CAKE
- This recipe can make a three layer 6-inch cake (as pictured) or a two layer 8-inch cake.
- We use the reverse-creaming method for this cake. It will ensure the cake is soft and tender with a tight crumb.
- Start by adding your dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and caster sugar. If you don’t have access to caster sugar, you can use granulated sugar instead. Read more about caster sugar HERE.
- Next, add your butter. Make sure your butter is at room temperature – and not fridge cold.
- Beat briefly, until your butter breaks apart and is coated with the flour mix. You can stop when the pieces of butter are roughly pre-sized.
- Next add eggs, one at a time, while mixing on low speed. Then pour in milk. Make sure you use full fat milk – not reduced fat milk.
- Add good quality vanilla extract. And then finally, add Greek yogurt. Also make sure you use thick natural Greek yogurt – not sweetened yogurt. If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use full fat sour cream instead.
TIPS FOR MAKING VANILLA BUTTERCREAM
- You will need a hand mixer or stand mixer to make this frosting.
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature. You don’t want it to be fridge cold OR melty by any means.
- Once you beat together the butter, you’ll add a few teaspoons of vanilla. Use the best quality vanilla extract you can.
- Then add 2 cups of icing sugar (powdered sugar), along with 2 tablespoons of milk. Continue to beat.
- Finally, add 2 more cups of sugar and continue to beat. The frosting should be smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, you can add a touch more milk.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more amazing recipe ideas.
Let’s Bake
Easy Vanilla Cake
Soft and tender vanilla cake covered in vanilla buttercream.
Ingredients
Vanilla cake
- 315 grams (2 and 1/4 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 250 grams (1 and 1/4 cups) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 and 1/2 level teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 230 grams (2 sticks or 1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, roughly chopped
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 240 ml (1 cup) full fat or whole milk
- 2 teaspoons good quality vanilla extract
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) full fat Greek yogurt
Vanilla buttercream
- 230 grams (2 sticks or 1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons good quality vanilla extract
- 500 grams (4 cups) icing or powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons full fat or whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line three 6-inch round cake pans with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk briefly. Add butter and beat with an electric mixer on low speed, until butter is broken into small pea-sized pieces and completely covered in flour.
- Next, add eggs, one at a time, while continuing to mix on low speed. Then, pour in milk and vanilla. Start to beat on low speed and then turn up to medium speed. Finally, add Greek yogurt. Mixture should be creamy and smooth.
- Divide cake batter between prepared pans. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Carefully transfer cakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, add butter to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla.
- Add 2 cups of sugar, along with 2 tablespoons of milk, and continue to beat. Add remaining 2 cups of sugar and beat briefly until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add an extra tablespoon of milk.
- Spread frosting on one cake layer, add the cake layer on top. Repeat. Then cover top and sides with frosting.
Sheila says
Could I substitute Buttermilk in place of the Greek Yogurt?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes that will work or you could use sour cream.
Tiara says
Jessica,
Will the cake be fluffy and not be too hard, Because of the egg quantity?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, yes this cake is soft and tender!
Steph says
Would you be able to do whipped cream and fresh strawberries with this cake recipe?
Jessica Holmes says
Absolutely! That would be divine!
Vanessa says
Hey Jessica! I’ve got one question. Is this cake heavy? Cos I’d like to combine it with steamed pears and a bit of a kinda caramel ganache … Do you think it’ll work out great?
Jessica Holmes says
I wouldn’t call it heavy, it’s fairly soft and tender. But combining it with pears and caramel sounds like heaven to me!
Vanessa says
Thank you so much for the answer!
Another and last question would be:
Is caramel ganache a good choice when you use a vanille ganache or buttercream for the sides? Or would it be too much?
Cos I’m not sure if the caramel ganache on the specific layers is too much in combination with the buttercream, or if I should just put it in small lines on the pears …
Sorry, if I’m asking so much but this cake is very special too me 🙂
Equals 60ml greek yoghurt 60g greek yoghurt?
Jessica Holmes says
Personally, I love caramel so I think a caramel ganache sounds lovely. And yes 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt is 60 grams.
Geneva says
Hey. Do the yogurt and almond milk if used have to be room temperature to make the vanilla cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Geneva, it’s not necessary but yes if you like, you can bring the milk and yogurt to room temperature too.
Grace says
Hey Jess, these layers (3x 6”) baked up perfectly but then they lost a lot of height once cooled, and ended up being less than an inch in height. I was wondering if maybe the addition of 1/4 tsp bicarb might help them keep their rise? What do you think?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Grace, cakes can often deflate ever so slightly when removed from the oven, but it should be very minimal. If they lost a lot of height or sank in the middle, that’s a sign something went wrong. I’ve written a whole post about cakes sinking that might be helpful. These cakes are designed to be fairly flat and even – perfect for stacking. I don’t recommend adding more raising agent, as they shouldnt need it – but you could always try it. Baking soda needs a neutralising ingredient to pair with it, but the yogurt will help with that.
Bec says
How far in advance can you make this
Bec says
And how do I make it with just two layers please
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Bec, yes you can use this recipe to make a two layer 8-inch cake if you like. If you want to make it more than a day or two in advance, I recommend freezing the cake once baked and cooled to maintain freshness.
Bec says
Thankyou! Does it change the cooking time with two layers?
Jessica Holmes says
No, the cook time will be about the same.
Victoria says
Hi! Can I not use the yogurt? Or substitute it with another thing? Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Victoria, don’t skip the yogurt! The next best thing would be full fat sour cream.
Jessica says
I use this as my base for my kids decorated birthday cakes, and it’s perfect every time! Everyone comments on how delicious it is, and it’s great for turning into whatever shape I’m using that year as well.
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Love that Jess! Thank you so much for your kind feedback!
Osleidys says
Hi Jessica! This cake is so delicate , soft and perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!