Best French Vanilla Cake

This homemade vanilla cake recipe from scratch is the one. Incredibly moist and tender, the taste is perfect - pure vanilla.

Here's a tip for this cake recipe: If the butter is not completely soft, you will have to beat it for several minutes to get the light and fluffy texture. From misshomemade.com.

Best Homemade French Vanilla Cake


Ingredients:

Cake
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
2-3/4 cups all purpose flour, sifted
2-1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
2 TBS pure vanilla extract

Buttercream Frosting
1-1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups high ratio solid vegetable shortening
5-6 cups sifted powdered sugar, depending on how sweet you want it
5-6 TBS evaporated milk or cream
1 tsp butter extract
1 TBS pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt


Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9 inch cake pans and dust the inside with flour and tap out excess. Line the bottom of the pans with wax or parchment paper. Put the cake pans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy clean up.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together; set aside.

Beat the butter for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat another 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat thoroughly after each addition.

Start adding the flour mixture one cup at a time, and alternate with the milk; ending with the flour mixture. Add the vanilla, mix well and pour into prepared cake pans.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or when a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a rack and cool for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature, right side up. (These cooled cakes may be wrapped airtight and stored at room temperature overnight or frozen for up to two months.)


FROSTING:
Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat with the high ratio vegetable shortening for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and add the salt and mix. Add the powdered sugar and start out on low until combined. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Add the butter and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy; another 5 minutes.