Vanilla Buttermilk Cake Recipe

This Vanilla Buttermilk Cake Recipe from scratch is so moist, flavorful, and versatile! Sometimes I just crave a slice of good old fashioned vanilla cake, don’t you?

This is a great recipe to have on hand as it can be dressed up or paired with just about any filling or frosting you can think of! After all, everything goes with vanilla cake!

How to make the BEST Vanilla Buttermilk Cake

• We are using the traditional method of mixing for this recipe (rather than the Reverse Creaming Method), which makes for fluffy, flavorful cake layers (or cupcakes)!

• Start off by whisking together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and salt for 30 seconds so that everything is well combined.

• In another bowl, add your buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. I love recipes with buttermilk not only for the hint of tanginess, but also because it’s acidity interferes with gluten formation, yielding a softer, more tender cake.  We’ve added a tablespoon of vanilla extract to the recipe to ensure that we have plenty of vanilla flavor. You can’t skimp on the vanilla in a vanilla cake!

• Next, let’s add some buttery goodness. Mix the butter until nice and smooth, then add your sugar until it lightens and becomes fluffy! Although our recipe also calls for vegetable oil which is wonderful for the moistness of the cake, I love the boost of  flavor that the butter gives us. Next, add the eggs one at a time.

• Almost done! Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Be careful not to over-mix the cake batter as that can toughen up the texture.

• Once ready, divide the luscious vanilla cake batter between three prepared 8 inch cake pans. You could make two cake layers if you would rather, you’ll just need to bake them a bit longer.

Pro Tip! You may have heard me say this before, but we love to freeze our cake layers to maximize the moistness of the cake!

Cool your freshly baked cake layers (still in the pan) on the cooling rack for about 10 minutes, and then flip them onto cake boards, individually wrap the warm cake layers tightly with plastic wrap, foil, and freeze!

When ready to use, thaw on the countertop still wrapped, until condensation forms on the wrapping. Then unwrap and decorate! (I often begin assembling and filling my cake layers while the layers are partially frozen. They are less fragile this way!

We frosted our cake with our Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting but so many frostings would be perfect with this cake!  Other great options are: Classic Chocolate Buttercream,  Cream Cheese Frosting, Strawberry Buttercream Frosting, Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting, and more! 

Don’t miss our full collection of favorite cake and frosting recipes in our Recipes Section! If you are interested in learning more about cake decorating, definitely check out our Free Cake Tutorials Section (which includes a category of Free Cake Videos).

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Vanilla Cake from Scratch (Printable Version Above)
1 1/2 sticks (170g) unsalted butter
2 cups (400g) sugar
4 eggs
3 cups (342g) cake flour (spooned into measuring cup and leveled off)
2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (3g) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
1 1/4 cups (296g) buttermilk — if you do not have buttermilk, see substitution below

1/4 cup (54g) vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon (12g) vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour three 8×2 inch round pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds. Set aside
In another bowl, add the buttermilk, oil and vanilla.  Set aside..
In the bowl of your mixer, add the butter and mix at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and continue to mix on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes until lightened in color and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time mixing until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of liquid).
Do not mix above medium speed or over mix the cake batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just few crumbs attached. Let cool 10 minutes and turn out.