Description
This recipe yields a soft, fluffy, and moist vanilla layer cake perfect for birthdays and special occasions, paired with a simple vanilla buttercream.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar, for frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, for frosting
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, for frosting
- 1–2 tablespoons milk, for frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the softened butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole milk and sour cream.
- Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, alternating with the milk/sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the wet. Mix until just smooth. Do not overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Once cakes are completely cool, frost and stack the layers.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs and milk for the best cake texture.
- For extra vanilla flavor, use clear vanilla extract or add a vanilla bean scraping to the batter.
- You can make the cake layers one day ahead and wrap them tightly before storing at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg