How to Make the Perfect Vanilla Birthday Cake
American · Easy · 50 min · 12 servings
This classic Vanilla Birthday Cake is the ultimate kid friendly celebration cake loved by children of all ages. It features fluffy vanilla layers with creamy buttercream frosting and is easy to customize with sprinkles and colorful decorations.
Why this recipe works
This Vanilla Birthday Cake recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 50 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 420 calories with 5g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1.75 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 whole large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Mix the Cake Batter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time then mix in vanilla. Alternate adding flour and milk beginning and ending with flour.
Step 2: Bake the Layers
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 28 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes then transfer to wire racks.
Step 3: Make the Buttercream
Beat softened butter with powdered sugar vanilla and a splash of milk until the buttercream is light smooth and fluffy. Add more milk a tablespoon at a time to reach your desired spreading consistency.
Step 4: Assemble and Decorate
Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate and spread a generous layer of buttercream on top. Stack the second layer on top and frost the top and sides of the entire cake. Decorate with rainbow sprinkles and candles.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- whole milk → oat milk or almond milk for a dairy free version
- unsalted butter in frosting → vegetable shortening for a brighter white frosting
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Not bringing butter and eggs to room temperature which causes the batter to curdle and bake unevenly
- Frosting the cake while it is still warm which melts the buttercream and makes it impossible to decorate
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 420 calories, 5g protein, 58g carbs, 20g fat, 1g fiber.
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