Easy Vanilla Cake Recipe From Scratch (2024)

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This vanilla cake recipe is so easy, just mix ingredients in one bowl and bake! Once you try a homemade vanilla cake from scratch, you’ll never want to have one from the mix!

This homemade vanilla cake is so fluffy, tender and delicious! Every time you take a bite, the tender crumbs just melt in your mouth! It tastes so fresh and smells amazing, this is the only vanilla cake recipe that you’ll ever need!

Homemade from scratch vanilla cake tastes so much better than the one from the boxed mix, there is no comparison! Also, homemade vanilla cake has only natural wholesome ingredients, while the box mix has artificial flavors, colorings and preservatives. Just say “No” to the chemicals and make this amazing vanilla cake from scratch! This recipe is so easy, even the absolute beginners can make it!

What is the difference between “white cake”, “yellow cake” and “vanilla cake”?

Most of the boxed mixes for this type of cake are called “yellow cake mix”, but when you order a cake from the bakery you are usually given the choice between “chocolate cake” or “vanilla cake”. So that prompts the question – what’s the difference between yellow cake, white cake and vanilla cake? Those terms are used interchangeably for a sponge cake that’s light in color and is not chocolate :)

So it turns out there are differences between white cake, yellow cake and vanilla cake. The white cake is made with only egg whites (no yolks), so it’s very light (almost truly white) in color. The yellow cake is made with whole eggs plus several extra egg yolks, therefore its color is more yellow. Since both white and yellow cake have the addition of vanilla extract, they can both be classified as vanilla. However, classic vanilla cake is made with whole eggs (no extra whites and no extra yolks, just the whole eggs), and that’s exactly what this particular recipe is – just plain old-fashioned easy vanilla cake made from scratch!

How to make vanilla cake from scratch

This easy vanilla cake recipe uses very simple common ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, milk and vanilla extract. Chances are you already have all this stuff in your pantry and refrigerator! If you’ve got all this stuff on hand, make this delicious cake today – you’ll be amazed how easy it is to make and how yummy it tastes!

Making vanilla cake is very easy – just mix all ingredients in one bowl, pour into non-stick baking dish and bake for 40 minutes. Common ingredients, 5 minutes prep and just one bowl to wash – that’s my kind of a recipe! For the exact instructions and ingredient quantities, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article.

This recipe makes a 9×13 rectangle sheet cake. If you want to use make a 2-layer round cake instead, divide the batter between two round 9-inch baking pans and reduce baking time to 30 minutes.

Ready to frost? Check out my recipe forvanilla buttercream frosting – perfect homemade frosting for this homemade vanilla cake!

Also, check out my other recipes for easy homemade cakes:

• Cinnamon roll cake
• Pineapple upside-down cake
• Orange bundt cake

See also:

• Applesauce cake
• Cookie cake
• Flourless chocolate cake
• Truffle Cake