Vanilla Cake

A soft, fluffy vanilla cake with a delicate crumb, simple pantry ingredients, and classic homemade flavor for any celebration.

This vanilla cake is soft, light, and full of classic flavor. It uses simple ingredients, mixes easily, and bakes into a tender cake that is perfect for birthdays, afternoon tea, or a simple homemade dessert. Finish it with your favorite frosting, fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup neutral vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan or two smaller pans.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the softened butter and mix until the mixture looks sandy and evenly combined.
4. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil until smooth.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until the batter is smooth and no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.