If you are looking for the best Vanilla Cake Recipe, this is the one you need! Moist, fluffy layers with oil and a velvety cream cheese frosting: so delicious!
This cake is a heavenly experience and an unforgettable treat that can be prepared easily at home.
What is special about this cake
I haven't met yet a person who doesn't like the flavour of vanilla and I doubt that I would ever meet such. Vanilla is what makes this cake extraordinary even though it is also the most common ingredient in almost any dessert. And I promise you, this cake is going to impress you!
The layers are incredibly fluffy and naturally moist. How to accomplish that?
First the mixing technique starts with a long beating of eggs which helps the texture to become very fluffy, similar to sponge layers. But unlike sponge cakes, this one also contains quite a good quantity of fat, which helps the texture stay super moist.
This is absolutely one of the most successful recipes to ensure naturally moist and fine layers!
What ingredients you need
For the layers you need:
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- milk
- vegetable oil
- baking powder and salt
- vanilla extract
- optional: pink food coloring, if you want to make the layers colorful
Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting:
- cream cheese
- butter
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
Ingredients for the Chantilly Creme (a.k.a. Whipped Cream):
- whipped cream
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
The optional ingredients for the decoration are dulce de leche, ground nuts, cookie crumbs, colorful marshmallows and sprinkles.
👉The complete ingredient list is below the post, in the recipe card!
About the frosting
This cake is made with two kinds of frosting and both have vanilla taste as well: one is a simple Creme Chantilly (or sweetened whipped cream) and the other one is a combination of cream cheese and butter.
Surely you know that cream cheese always adds an extra deliciousness to any homemade food! In this case its taste is not predominant but it is enough to give the frosting a velvety texture and softness.
Decoration ideas
The last little touch in this cake are the dulce de leche truffles. Certainly they are not mandatory here so you can even skip them. Nevertheless the taste contrast between the truffles and the rest of this fantastic cake is remarkable so the extra efforts to make them are worth it.
The marshmallow decoration is quite pretty and an easy way to add colour and make the cake even more impressive! Of course, you can also use other decorations like fruits or pipe some frosting, but the current one is the easiest that guarantees impressive look.
Is this recipe easy
This is not the simplest recipe but not really the most challenging either. It is a bit more time consuming but the preparation is very straight forward. If you follow the detailed instructions below, you would be able to make the cake without issues!
Why did I make this cake
The Moist Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting was my birthday cake in 2017! One of the best cakes I have ever prepared and it was highly appreciated by my guests.
It has become a tradition in the last several years for me to bake a birthday cake for myself. Below you will find my birthday cakes for several consecutive years:
- Low Carb Cashew Cake- 2020
- Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling - 2019
- Tender Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting and Berries - 2018
- Naked cake for a special birthday - 2016
- My sweet golden September - 2015
- My birthday cake & cookies - 2014
📝 Recipe
Moist Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- Electric mixer
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 cups/ 360 g all purpose flour
- 1,5 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups/ 400 g sugar
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup/ 180 ml sunflower oil, or other vegetable liquid oil
- ⅞ cup/ 200 ml milk
- 4 eggs
- pink food colouring
For the Cream Cheese Buttercream frosting:
- 7 oz/ 200 g cream cheese , room temperature
- ⅞ cup / 200 g butter, softened
- 3 ⅓ cups/ 400 g powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extact
For the Creme Chantilly :
- ⅞ cup/ 200 ml whipping cream, cold
- ⅓ cup / 50 g powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Dulce de Leche truffles:
- 10,5 oz / 300 g dulce de leche
- ⅔ cup / 80 g ground walnuts
- ¾ cup / 70 g ground hazelnuts
- ¾ cup / 70 g cookie crumbs , + more for coating
For decoration:
- Dulce de Leche truffles
- Marshmallows
- Colourful sprinkles
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Grease two 18 -20-cm (7-8 inch) cake pans after lining their bottoms with circles of parchment paper.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and whisk gently.
- In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla at high speed for about 10 minutes. The mixture should thicken and should increase its volume.
- Add oil and continue beating for few more minutes, until smooth.
- Lower the speed of the mixer while adding the dry ingredients and the milk. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth.
- Pour half of the batter into one pan. Add some pink food colouring and mix gently with a spatula until the colour becomes uniform. Pour the pink batter into the second pan.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for 15-20 minutes in the pans before removing them (this cake is fragile when hot). Remove from the pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. When the cakes reach room temperature, refrigerate them for at least 1-2 hours in order to make the assembly easier.
Cream Cheese Buttercream frosting:
- With a mixer on medium speed beat the butter until creamy. Add vanilla and cream cheese and continue beating until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar with the mixer on low speed. When the sugar is completely absorbed, increase to high speed and beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy.
Creme Chantilly:
- Before starting to prepare the frosting insert the mixing bowl and the beaters of the mixer in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
- Beat the heavy cream with the mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla and continue beating until very thick.
Dulce de Leche truffles:
- In a bowl mix all ingredients. Stir with a hand whisk until homogeneous. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours. With your fingers make different size balls and coat them in the biscuit crumbs.
Assemble the cake:
- With a serrated knife cut each cake horizontally into three layers. Place one layer on a serving plate and cover with ⅓ of the Creme Chantilly. Place another layer on top, with a different colour, and cover with some buttercream frosting (about the same quantity as the ⅓ of the Creme Chantilly). Continue the same process alternating the layer colours and the frostings. After placing on top the last layer, use an offset spatula to spread the rest of the Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting on top and all around the cake. For best results use first half of it, then refrigerate and cover with the remaining frosting.
- Decorate with marshmallows, dulce de leche truffles and sprinkles.
Notes
- The layers recipe was adapted from Ricardo Cuisine
- You can make the layers in advance and freeze them, wrapped very well in cling film after completely cooled.
- Store the leftovers in the fridge, covered with cling film or in an airtight container.
- The dairy milk can be substituted with non-dairy.
Деми says
Здравейте, ще правя торта жираф с форма на цифра 2 за рожденния ден на синът ми.
Ще е с 2 блата, а третия ще е само главата на жирафа.
Формата за блатовете е правоъгълна с размери 21/33/2.
Интересува ме какво количество плодукти според Вас ще са нужни за 2 блата и половина? Ще е с маслен крем оцветен в жълт цвят отгоре, а крема от вътре - маскарпоне и сладко от малини.
Daniela says
Здравейте Деми,
Според този калкулатор продукти за кръгла форма 18 см (колкото е тортата в рецептата), преизчислени към правоъгълна форма 21/33 трябва да се умножат по 2,72. Аз бих ги закръглила на 2,5 или дори на 2, предвид, че 2 см височина е ниска форма, а при мен блатовете станаха доста високи. Тъй като блатовете в оригиналната рецепта са 2, а Вие искате да изпечете 2 блата и половина, бих добавила още 0,5 (защото 1/2 блат се равнява на 1/4 от двата блата) и така става 2,5 или 3, в зависимост как го чувствате по-правилно.
Реално височината на формата също играе роля при изчисляването на продуктите, но почти никога не я пълним догоре, а и не винаги един и същи блат се надига съвсем еднакво при печенето. Затова има известен момент на усещане на пропорциите, но се надявам по-горните изчисления да Ви ориентират 🙂
Поздрави
Даниела
Милена Ангелова says
Здравейте,
Впечатли ме Вашата рецепта за тази торта. Искам да я приготвя за рождения ден на дъщеря ми. Тъй като е алергична към прясно мляко, дали ще мога да го заменя с кисело или с нещо друго? Овесено например? Благодаря предварително за отговора!
Daniela says
Здравейте, Милена!
Благодаря за коментара 🙂
Не съм пробвала със заместители на прясно мляко, но мисля, че добре би се получила с айран/ мътеница, ако е приемлив вариант. Също и с повечето видове растителни млека, но предполагам, че до някаква степен вкусът ще се промени с тях. Аз бих препоръчала соево или бадемово, защото са по-меки като консистенция.
Ше се радвам да споделите впечатленията си ако я приготвите!
Поздрави
Даниела
Милена Ангелова says
Благодаря много за отговора! Ще пробвам да я направя с айрян, защото е алергична и към ядки и соя. Ще споделя тези дни какво се е получило :))) Хубав и слънчев ден :))
Милена Ангелова says
Здравейте. Приготвих тортата само с масления крем (без другите кремове, защото както споменах детето ми има доста алергии към много продукти). Блатът приготвих като вместо прясното мляко сложих 200 гр. кисело мляко и стана уникален :))) Пухкав, със страхотен вкус на ванилия :))) Страхотна торта се получи! Рецептата влиза веднага в семейната ни книга!
Daniela says
Много се радвам, че е била успешна. Благодаря, че споделихте! Весел празник 🙂
А. П. says
Много благодаря.
А. П. says
Здравейте. Страхотно изглежда тортата. Имам един въпрос. В крема Шантили се има предвид сладкарска сметана? Или тази за готвене?
Ще се радвам да ми отговорите. Благодаря предварително.
Daniela says
Здравейте,
Може да ползвате всякаква сметана, която става за разбиване. Аз лично купувам течна, с около 30% мазнина и я разбивам студена. Има специални сладкарски сметани, които могат да се разбиват във всякакви условия, но аз ги избягвам, заради съдържанието на консерванти и подобрители в тях. Някои от сметаните за готвене не стават за разбиване - трябва да проверите на опаковката.
Дано да съм била полезна.
Марияна says
Здравейте. Страхотна презентация на тортата. Нямам търпение да я направя за рожденият ден на дъщеря ми. Може ли да ми дадете рецепта за форма 26см.? Благодаря.
Daniela says
Благодаря Марияна!
За форма с 26 см диаметър ще трябва да удвоите продуктите.
Пожелавам прекрасен рожден ден на дъщеря Ви и ще се радвам да споделите резултата 🙂