Fauzia's Kitchen Fun

Vanilla Cake

429

Vanilla Cake

Everyone needs to have a GOOD vanilla cake recipe that always turns out fantastic. This is my favourite one!!
Servings 24 Cupcakes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature (225gm)
  • 1 3/4 cup sugar 350gm
  • 5 eggs room temperature
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour 360gm
  • 1 tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla extract or essence
  • 1 1/4 cup non-fat buttermilk 250ml

Instructions
 

  • You can bake this in a 9×13 pan or use two 9″ pans then layer your cakes with frosting or ganache. You can even make cupcakes out of this, it would yield about 24 cupcakes.
    Preheat oven to 180C.
    Grease and put some parchment in your pans. Then grease the parchments as well and dust with a bit of flour.
    Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
    Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl every few minutes using the whisk attachment or a rubber spatula. This is crucial. Otherwise you’re going to be left with chunks of butter in your finished batter. So make sure you cream it well and don’t rush! 🙂
    Add eggs one at a time. Making sure each egg is perfectly incorporated before you add another. If you skip too quickly past this stage, you will have a cake that smells of eggs because the bits of egg that aren’t fully beaten in will bake separately in the cake and it will be like having scrambled eggs cooking in your cake, eww! So incorporate the eggs whenever you reach this stage for any cake recipe!! Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl after every few eggs. Add vanilla.
    Add flour and buttermilk in three alternative pours, starting and ending with flour. Mix on slow speed and scrape the bowl during the process. I know, it’s a pain in the butt. It’s worth it. At this stage do NOT over mix, just combine until the batter is incorporated. Over mixing can ruin your cake.
    Once everything is well incorporated, use a plastic spatula to fold the batter a few more times to make perfectly sure you’ve got everything will mixed.
    Divide the batter between your cake pans. Bake in preheated oven for twenty-five to forty minutes. Check for doneness by pressing gently on the cake. If you leave an indent, not done. If it bounces back gently without leaving a mark, done. You can use a toothpick to check also. Don’t over bake the cake! 🙂
    Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes then turn it out onto a rack to finish cooling completely.
    Enjoy!!

Notes

You can make buttermilk at home. Take 1 cup room temperature milk and add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Let this stand for 5-10 minutes and then use accordingly.

Join the Conversation

  1. Asalaamalikum, where can i get parchment paper from? a stationery store or a store selling baking goods?

    1. W/Salaam, it is easily available on the baking isle of most supermarkets.

    1. Use the electric beater to cream the sugar and butter, and to beat the eggs in. When combining the milk and flour, best to use a spatula or wooden spoon to avoid over-mixing. You can use the electric beater if you like but be careful not to over-mix otherwise the cake will turn hard.

    1. Just use long round strokes to gently mix the flour into the cake batter.

  2. Assalamualikum..
    First of all many many congratulations on completing 1yr of FKF 🙂 May Almighty Allah give u success in every step of your life inshaAllah..
    I just want to know does it make any difference in using d hand whisk instead of electric beater?bcz i dont have d latter one..thanks

    1. W/Salaam and thank you! Yes you can use a hand whisk, it will take a little longer of course but otherwise there is no problem at all using it.

  3. assalamu alaikum, i want to know how many pound cake is this? if i want to make 1kilo how shall i calculate? jazakallah..

    1. W/Salaam, I think the only way to know for sure is to bake then weigh the cake. Have never weighed it.

  4. can i just ask what if i dont want to use buttermilk.will it ruin the cake and is buttermilk as same as yoghurt.thanks for your help.

      1. Jazaakallah.I tried it and the results were fantastic.oh and I did use buttermilk.never really understood what butter. milk was.may Allah always keep you happy and well.

    1. Hi, yes you can although you can check for the pineapple upside down cake recipe in this folder.

  5. Hi Fauzia,
    I want to try this cake by replacing vanilla essence with almond essence and add some almond powder. I think it will taste super yummy. Will it make the cake weird or something?? Also, could u plz tell me the exact ratio of the almond essence and almond powder?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi, that is fine. There is actually an almond cake in the folder if you care to try that one. Otherwise about quarter cup almond powder and quarter tsp almond essence is good enough. Almond essence tends to be very strong so add it sparingly to your choice!

  6. hii fauzia..i tried this vanilla cake and it turned out perfect..i made pineapple upside down cake and nutella cupcakes wid ths recipe.thnx alottt fr such great recipes 🙂 i jus had to ask if v cn make the batter a night before we bake it.or evn 2 dayz before.is it possible if v cn refrigerate it for smtym for later use?

    1. Hi and thanks! Batter should always be made no more than 2-3 hours or so ahead of time. The longer a batter sits the less active the baking powder and eggs in it get, so you may end up with cakes that do not rise well.

  7. Assalamu Alaikum sister Fauzia,I tried diz
    Vanilla cake and it was sooo yummy,my hubbie
    Liked it so much,thanks for the good job.
    Jazakallahu khairan.I wich I can c u some time.
    Wassalam.

  8. Salam fauzia. Plz tell me can I bake it on stove top like marble cake and which other cake of yours I can bake on stove top???

  9. hello can i use the same recipe to make marble cake like add cocoa pwd in half or it will spoil it plzzzz reply soon as want to bake my daughters birthday cake thanx in advance

  10. Can v use vegetable oil instead of butter…. Coz i hav tried recipes with butter nd we dnt like da taste it gives out.

    1. I would not recommend oil in place of butter for this recipe. You can try if you like though.

  11. Hi,
    I made this cake today, infact now.
    It turned out perfect, everyone liked it.
    No cracks
    Soft
    Eatable
    The batter was looked good
    But, i feel the taste wasnt okay, it was buttery nd the smell was buttery too.
    Why?????? 🙁

  12. Hi, thanks for the feedback, could be the brand of butter used is too buttery in flavour. Try experimenting with a different brand and see if that helps.

  13. Asalam Alakium

    i was just checking your site so you made so many of my Favorite recipes & kindly want to ask you that v dont hve oven so can you tell me the easy way of baking

  14. hi fauzia,ur cake receipe is perfect..the taste is great but their was one prob my cake was soft till mid but at its base it was v hard to cut..can u plz tell me why is this

    1. Hi and thanks. Maybe the heat from the bottom was too much. Make sure you bake on the center rack of the oven and take care that the heat is evenly distributed. 🙂

  15. hi fauzia , i try ur this vanilla cake and chocloate moist layered cake …. the taste is prefectly gud but i got one prob in both the cakes ….. my cake is crack from upward n the crack part is hard otherwise the whole cake is soft n tasty ….. i see ur cake mistake page where it is written tht the oven temp is high or baking powder is excessive but i careful make this vanilla cake n temp is exact the same n everything is done so careful ,,,,,i did’nt understand tht why my cake is crack from upward it does;nt looks gud…… kindly tell me the reason of it

      1. Assalamualaikum !
        Assalamualaikum !
        I need a suggestion, what could i put on a simple vanilla cake as a birthday party theme ??

    1. Yes you can, although I also have a lemon cake which uses zest if you want that. Recipe is also in this folder.

  16. hi…..u r doing a great job. thanks. will u pls tell me the measurements of making cake with using one egg only? my daughter is 5 yrs and she loves cake…sothat i can make them often.

    1. thanks a lot…. i really appreciate it…… but badluck my daughter doesn’t like chocolate cake 🙁

  17. Since flour is lighter than most other ingredients, 1 cup of flour is actually 4oz instead of the usual 8oz. A cup of flour is equivalent to 120 gm.

  18. Assalamualaikum, I made this
    Assalamualaikum, I made this cake as per instructions but it did not turn out good. It looks uncooked in the middle. I placed it in the middle rack of the oven. The color on the out side of the cake is just right but looks uncooked inside. I baked it @ 170 for 40 min. I also inserted the toothpick. It came out clean. Where did I go wrong

    1. W/Salaam, was the baking
      W/Salaam, was the baking powder fresh? Did you preheat the oven before baking?

  19. this is amazing! so simple to
    this is amazing! so simple to make….although the sugar was too much so i used 1 1/4 and it was great

  20. salam, love ur recipes… i
    salam, love ur recipes… i have wanted to always make cakes.. but trying for the first time now… the problem is i just have one 8 x 8 x 2 inch square pan… what measurements should i take for a basic vanilla cake? please help

    1. W/Salaam, you can make two
      W/Salaam, you can make two layers of the cake, they will be thin layers but you can sandwich them using ganache or frosting.

  21. Hi fauzia in this recipe can
    Hi fauzia in this recipe can I use margarine instead of butter am making cakes for business purpose and also need some tips on how to make a fluffy and soft cake.im new to the business and my cakes Dnt turn out very well

    1. Hi, yes you can use margarine
      Hi, yes you can use margarine. Never overmix the batter once the flour goes into it and do not overbake.

  22. Also with these amount of
    Also with these amount of ingredients how much does the cake weigh??please help!!

  23. Hey fauzia … can i use
    Hey fauzia … can i use plain salted butter instead of unsalted one. should i omit the salt then. plz help

  24. Salaam. The parchment paper u
    Salaam. The parchment paper u use in tins, is it necessary to have it on the inside edges of the tin? Or just the bottom of the cake? I’ve always had it up above the edges and over the tin. Pls advice, thinking of making this cake today. JazakAllah.

    1. W/Salaam, just the base is
      W/Salaam, just the base is enough. Run a knife around the cake before turning it out and it will not stick on the sides.

  25. Jazakillah for your help. I
    Jazakillah for your help. I also wanted to ask, if I use just milk instead of buttermilk, what would change in the flavour and texture of cake? Also, does it have to be non-fat? Or would full-fat be ok too?

    1. Yes you could use just milk
      Yes you could use just milk or make the buttermilk at home. It doesn’t have to be non-fat. 🙂

  26. I’m a 15 yr old frm Delhi….
    I’m a 15 yr old frm Delhi…..New member 2 this site …I tried d vanilla cake recipe and I want 2 know that do we switch on both side heaters(up and down) and also while mixing d sugar,eggs and butter the mixture got tattered and i threw it and once again made a new mixture …i dont think it is a usual thing …plz help..

    1. Hi, Sorry I do not use an
      Hi, Sorry I do not use an oven that has separate heating elements. I would suggest you start off with the bottom one then midway turn on the top to even out the baking. But you would need to practice and adjust/adapt to your oven. As for the ‘tattered’ effect you mentioned, that is perfectly normal. If you kept on with the recipe the batter would have turned out perfect in the end. Never throw it out again, just keep going.

  27. Assalamualaikum sister. I
    Assalamualaikum sister. I just love ur site, its fantastic.i have very poor cooking knowldge. Can u please explain why some cake recipe tells to bit the egg white and yolk seperately ?? In ur recipe u tell to give whole 1 egg at a time. What wil be the difference ??

    1. W/Salaam, it is just
      W/Salaam, it is just different types of cakes. The one with separated egg white and yolk are called chiffon cakes, an example is my orange cake recipe. The ones using whole eggs are regular cakes.

  28. Today I have tried orange
    Today I have tried orange cake and it was wonderful but I failed to make whipped cream frosting. I use slow speed and chilled the bowl n mixture attachments but as u tell butter comes out. One confusion I have that is I kept the whipped cream packet in deep freezer and it becomes frozen as ice then I keep it out from freezer to be melt, then I took 1 cup which becomes like small small broken part and i use this to make frosting. Is this the problem ?? If yes please tell me something to be maid from rest of my whipped milk as I dont want to waste it.

    1. Yes that was the problem,
      Yes that was the problem, whipping cream should never ever ever be frozen, ever.

  29. Thanks a lot sister. Can I
    Thanks a lot sister. Can I use rest of my whipped milk to make some thing like semai, firni , halwa ??

    1. Yes absolutely, you can make
      Yes absolutely, you can make kulfi with it. It is not spoilt, it is just curdled…so it should be fine for using in dishes that don’t need the cream to be whipped. 🙂

  30. Hi..after the lemon drops in
    Hi..after the lemon drops in milk .. It wil leave water and curdle
    Apart… So which one should I use in this cake
    Both water and curdle
    Ir take out the water just curdle

    1. W/Salaam, did you mean pyrex
      W/Salaam, did you mean pyrex bowl? If so then yes. As long as the bowl is ovenproof.

  31. assalamualaikum…
    assalamualaikum…
    i am a big fan of urs…i have a doubt..my oven is small and can hold only a single 9″pan in one tray. so should i bake twicw seperately or can i place 2pans in two trays one above th other,in which case ,since its not exactly in th center,should i switch them halfway thru baking? will th cake spoil if i do that?
    one more doubt, if i wnt to halve this recipie how many eggs should i use?
    pls reply soon…want to make it as a surprise for my dad

    1. W/Salaam, best to bake one
      W/Salaam, best to bake one after the other so they get an even temperature during baking. For half the recipe use 2 and half eggs or 3 small ones.

  32. is it important for sugar to
    is it important for sugar to dissolve completely in the butter while creaming?

    1. Yes it is quite important to
      Yes it is quite important to have a very nice creamy combination of butter and sugar. You can always grind the sugar first before using it if you have very grainy kind of sugar.

  33. aoa, i want yo try cupcakes
    aoa, i want yo try cupcakes wid this recipe. Kindly guide bake time will b same??
    And my gas oven has nmbr 1 to 8. At which nmbr i can bake cakes or cupcakes?
    Thnks

    1. No, with cupcakes bake time
      No, with cupcakes bake time will ALWAYS be less than with a whole cake. It would take about 15 minutes for them to be done (use a toothpick to check at that point). Temp remains the same, 180 C. Please check online to see what gas mark that will convert to. All the best! 🙂

  34. Thanks for the recipe. For
    Thanks for the recipe. For how long does the vannila cake stay without refrigeration.

    1. About 3-5 days depending on
      About 3-5 days depending on the weather (warm weather is never good for foods with dairy products) and also depends on how you store the cake.

  35. If i use a 9×9 tray, will the
    If i use a 9×9 tray, will the batter quantity be too much?

    1. Yes the batter will be a bit
      Yes the batter will be a bit too much for that size pan.

  36. Hi if i use half quantity
    Hi if i use half quantity how many eggs i want to use?

    1. 2 and a half eggs, or if you
      2 and a half eggs, or if you do not want to waste half an egg, use 3 small ones.

  37. Hi witch measuring cup did u
    Hi witch measuring cup did u use in this 200ml or250ml?

  38. i tried vanila cake…but i
    i tried vanila cake…but i failed..after baking ,oil is floating above the cake..i don’t know y. plz give me solution madam..i have succeded in blackforest and white forest cakes in ur recipe..plz help me..i want to make a good vanila cake .

  39. Hi Fauzia, can i use self
    Hi Fauzia, can i use self raising flour the one for baking a cake instead of a regular flour.

    1. Hi, SR flour usually has one
      Hi, SR flour usually has one a half tsp baking powder per cup of flour. Sometimes this is more than what the specific recipe needs. So just check the recipe you want to make and see if the baking powder will end up being too much.

  40. My husband and I made this in
    My husband and I made this in the middle of the night, as I had a mad craving! Haha. Turned out well alhamdulillah, even though I was a bit short on vanilla essence!
    Thanks <3

  41. HI dear …
    HI dear …
    Hope ur doing well
    I made this ale today it turned nice and soft the problem is it was crumby
    When the time of cuting or eating the cake the small tiny tiny pieces of it falls (crumby )type
    We couldn’t enjoy the whole piece I hope u got me what I’m trying to say
    Why is it so

    1. Hi, did you make any changes
      Hi, did you make any changes to the amounts or measurements? If not then it could be that you overbaked the cake.

  42. No changes same measurements
    No changes same measurements
    I have tried several times it happens same not even over baked the cake it was soft while eating and colour too was not luking like I have baked
    I dnt know what goes wrong here

  43. After making so many recipes of urs just made an account today. Ur recipes never fail for me alhamdulillah. Always a hit😍 thankyou so much🤗

  44. Hello. I tried this for 250g and the cake was a little bit dry. A little dry inside. Can I please know the reason for this? Can it be because I added too much baking powder or what? For 250g I used around a tsp of baking powder. Can u please send recipe for 250g flour ? Thanks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating