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Fluffy Vanilla Birthday Cake Delight with Easy Creamy Buttercream

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A light, airy vanilla cake with a soft crumb paired with a smooth, creamy buttercream frosting. Perfect for birthdays and celebrations, this recipe is quick, easy, and uses simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) heavy cream
  • Pinch of salt (for buttercream)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round pans or line them with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, then stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Alternately add the dry ingredients and whole milk in three additions, starting and ending with the dry mix. Mix just until combined after each addition.
  6. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans and smooth the tops.
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  9. For the buttercream: Beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  10. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud.
  11. Add vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add more cream if needed for spreadable consistency.
  12. Assemble the cake by placing one layer on a serving plate, spreading a thick layer of buttercream on top, then adding the second layer and covering the entire cake with remaining frosting.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and milk for best results. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to keep the cake tender. Rotate pans halfway through baking for even browning. Chill buttercream if too soft before frosting. Slice domed cake tops for flat stacking. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend; for dairy-free, use plant-based butter and milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: vanilla cake, birthday cake, buttercream frosting, fluffy cake, easy cake recipe, celebration cake

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/fluffy-vanilla-birthday-cake-delight-recipe-with-easy-creamy-buttercream/