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Vanilla Buttermilk Cake, sliced, on a glass pedestal.
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4.54 from 381 votes

Vanilla Buttermilk Cake Recipe

This Vanilla Buttermilk Layer Cake is so moist and flavorful! The buttermilk in the recipe makes the crumb so tender and soft. This is a wonderful go-to vanilla cake!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9 servingss

Ingredients

Vanilla Buttermilk Cake Recipe

  • 1 ½ sticks (170g) unsalted butter, softened. (Holds it shape but dents when pressed)
  • 2 cups (400g) sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature (If in a hurry, place eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.)
  • 3 cups (342g) cake flour (If not using a digital scale, lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off.) See notes for substitution.
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) salt
  • 1 ¼ cups (296g) buttermilk (If you do not have buttermilk, see substitution below)
  • ¼ cup (54g) vegetable oil (We use canola 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.
  • With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of liquid). After the last addition, mix just until combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
  • 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.

Notes

Substitute for Buttermilk: No Buttermilk? Here is a substitution: To a measuring cup, add 1 Tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to the 1 ¼ mark, stir. Wait 5 minutes and it is ready to use.
Substitution for Cake Flour: Using all purpose flour (plain in UK) to make Cake Flour: For each cup of flour in a recipe, remove 2 Tablespoons of flour and replace with 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (cornflour in the UK). This recipe has 3 cups of flour so you will measure out 3 cups of all purpose flour, remove 6 Tablespoons and replace with 6 Tablespoons cornstarch, whisk to blend
Recipe makes 7 ½ cups batter