I remember coming home from school to the comforting aroma of mom’s vanilla cake baking in the oven. The rich scent of butter and vanilla filled the kitchen, promising a treat that was both familiar and beloved. As I watched her mix the batter, I knew that this cake was more than just a dessert—it was a symbol of love and care, a recipe that had been passed down through generations. When the cake finally emerged from the oven, golden and inviting, we couldn’t wait to dig in. Each slice was a delight, with a tender crumb that melted in our mouths and a rich flavor that was perfectly balanced. We often enjoyed it simply dusted with powdered sugar, letting the cake’s natural sweetness shine through. Mom’s vanilla cake wasn’t just a dessert; it was a tradition, a taste of home that always brought comfort and joy. Even now, whenever I bake her recipe, I’m transported back to those cherished moments in the kitchen, surrounded by family and the scent of vanilla.
Why make this cake?
Rich and Moist Texture: The combination of butter, sugar, and heavy cream creates a moist and rich texture, making each bite delightful. Balanced Flavor: The use of vanilla extract enhances the cake’s flavor, providing a perfect balance of sweetness and vanilla notes. Tender Crumb: The cake flour and careful mixing technique result in a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. Versatile: This cake is versatile and can be paired with various fillings, frostings, or toppings to suit different tastes and occasions. Family Tradition: Recipes passed down through generations often come with a special touch of love and nostalgia, making them stand out. Simple Ingredients: The recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients, making it easy to prepare without compromising on taste and quality.
Ingredients and substitutes
Butter: Provides flavor, moisture, and richness to the cake. Margarine or vegetable shortening, but these may alter the flavor and texture slightly. Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps tenderize the crumb. Granulated sugar can be substituted with an equal amount of other granulated sweeteners, such as coconut sugar or maple sugar, but this will affect the flavor. Eggs: Provide structure, moisture, and help the cake rise. Alternatively, for each egg, you can use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana for a vegan option, but this may alter the texture. Cake Flour: Has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, resulting in a softer, more tender crumb. Substitutes: For 1 cup of cake flour, you can use 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cake rise. If you do not have baking powder, for 1 teaspoon of baking powder, you can use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup of buttermilk and reduce the other liquid in the recipe. Salt: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients. You can omit salt if necessary, but it may slightly affect the overall flavor. Heavy Cream: Adds moisture and richness to the cake. Alternatively, for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can use 3/4 cup of whole milk plus 1/4 cup of melted butter. Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor to the cake. You can use other flavor extracts, such as almond or lemon, but this will change the cake’s flavor profile. Whipped Cream Buttercream: Provides a light, creamy frosting for the cake. You can use other types of frosting, such as American buttercream or cream cheese frosting, but this will alter the flavor and texture of the cake.
Step by step: Mom’s vanilla cake
Prep – Preheat the oven to 350°F /175°C/ Gas mark 4 and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
Dry ingredients – In a separate bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Wet ingredients – In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Dry to wet – Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the heavy cream and vanilla extract, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Bake – Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool – Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the whipped cream buttercream, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the chilled heavy cream and vanilla extract and continue to whip until light and fluffy almost stiff peaks. To assemble the cake, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a layer of whipped cream buttercream over the top. Place the second cake layer on top until you have stacked all four layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining whipped cream buttercream. Decorate as desired and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tips for Success
Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and heavy cream are at room temperature. This helps them mix together smoothly and evenly. Creaming Butter and Sugar: Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This incorporates air into the batter, which helps the cake rise and creates a tender crumb. Sifting Dry Ingredients: Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together. This helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt, ensuring a uniform rise and flavor throughout the cake. Alternating Wet and Dry Ingredients: When adding the dry ingredients and heavy cream to the batter, do so in several additions, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. This helps prevent overmixing and ensures the batter is well combined. Do Not Overmix: Mix the batter until just combined after each addition. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Even Cake Layers: Ensure the cake batter is evenly distributed between the cake pans to achieve even layers. You can use a scale for accuracy. Proper Baking Time: Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This may take slightly longer than stated, depending on your oven. Cooling Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps prevent them from breaking apart. Chilled Whipped Cream: For the whipped cream buttercream, make sure the heavy cream is well chilled before whipping. A chilled bowl and beaters can also help achieve stiff peaks faster. Frosting Consistency: If the whipped cream buttercream is too soft, you can chill it in the refrigerator for a short time to firm up before frosting the cake. Decoration: Have fun decorating the cake! You can use additional whipped cream buttercream, sprinkles, or fresh berries to add color and flavor.
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Frequently asked questions
Microwave Vanilla Mug Cake Eggless Vanilla Cake Eggless Chocolate Cake See all vanilla cakes or see all layer cakes
Creative ways to decorate a layer cake
One easy and classic option is a naked cake! Simply dust the top with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream. If you’re looking for something a bit more unique, try layering sliced strawberries, raspberries, or peaches over the top of the cake for a fruity twist. For a more formal occasion, consider using a piping bag and frosting to decorate the cake with intricate designs or personalized messages. You can also add edible flowers or other decorations to give it a touch of elegance. Another fun option is to cut the cake into fun shapes and designs, such as squares or triangles, and serve on a platter with a variety of toppings and sauces. Whatever your choice for decorating and serving your vanilla cake, be sure to have fun and let your creativity shine.
Creative ways to serve layer cake
Mini Layer Cakes: Create mini vanilla layer cakes using a round cookie cutter to cut out small rounds from the cake layers. Stack them with layers of frosting in between for mini cake towers. Top each mini cake with a decorative frosting swirl, fresh fruit, or edible flowers. Naked Cake: Embrace the “naked cake” trend by frosting the cake layers thinly, allowing the layers to show through. Decorate with fresh berries, edible flowers, or a dusting of powdered sugar for a rustic and elegant look. Cake Push Pops: Serve the cake in push pop containers, alternating layers of cake and frosting. This makes for a fun and portable dessert that guests can enjoy on the go. Cake Parfaits: Layer chunks of vanilla cake with whipped cream, fruit compote, or chocolate ganache in clear glass containers to create visually appealing cake parfaits. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cake crumbs. Ice Cream Sandwiches: Slice the vanilla cake into thin layers and use them as the “bread” for ice cream sandwiches. Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream between two cake slices and roll the edges in fun toppings like mini chocolate chips or crushed nuts. Cake Truffles: Crumble the cake layers and mix them with frosting to create cake truffles. Roll the mixture into small balls, dip them in melted chocolate, and garnish with sprinkles, crushed nuts, or colored sugar. Cake Tiramisu: Substitute the traditional ladyfingers in tiramisu with layers of vanilla cake soaked in coffee and layered with mascarpone cheese mixture. Dust with cocoa powder for a delightful twist on a classic dessert. Cake Milkshakes: Blend chunks of vanilla cake with vanilla ice cream and milk to create cake milkshakes. Top with whipped cream and a mini slice of cake for a sweet and creamy treat. Cake Kabobs: Cut the cake into cubes and skewer them with fresh fruit pieces. Drizzle with a complementary sauce, such as caramel or chocolate, and serve as cake kabobs. Cake Fondue: Slice the cake into bite-sized cubes and serve with a warm chocolate or caramel fondue for dipping. Provide an assortment of toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, and shredded coconut for guests to coat their cake bites. Deconstructed Cake: Present the cake in a deconstructed form by serving cake cubes, frosting, and various toppings in separate bowls. Guests can build their own cake creations, allowing for customization.
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