One Bowl Vanilla Cake
The simplest and easiest vanilla cake you can ever make. Just add all the ingredients to a bowl and give it a good mix and bake!.
An any occasion fluffy cake, perfect on it’s own or with your favourite frosting. The cake is very light and has a tender crumb so you can serve it for dessert too without it being too heavy.
The great thing about a vanilla cake is that you can add any flavor frosting, and everybody loves vanilla.
This is the recipe I always use when I need a cake in a hurry. These basic ingredients are usually in your cupboard and fridge, so you don’t need planning in advance.

The basics…

Preheat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F.
Grease two 20cm/ 8 inch round baking pans.
Line with parchment paper, grease again and I like to give them an extra dusting of flour. This will ensure the cake will come out completely without a trace left behind.
Measure all ingredients into a large bowl.
Mix until well incorporated and the batter is smooth.
Pour into your prepared baking pans.
Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes on the center rack or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Once baked, let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then remove and cool completely before frosting. If you’re in a hurry place them in a freezer while you make your frosting.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Cake:
1/2 cup/113gr/ (one stick), very soft unsalted butter room temperature
1 cup/200gr. White caster sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups/200gr. sifted all purpose flour
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
3/4 cup / 180 ml. Milk
2 tsp./10ml. vanilla extract

Vanilla Bakery Style Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup (225 g) butter (1 stick) unsalted, room temperature
2 ½ cups (300 g) Powdered sugar
1 tbsp. /15 ml. vanilla
Pinch of Salt
1 to 2 tbsp. milk to softer consistency

NOTE: at this point you can add flavorings for filling the cake, separate about half a cup of the frosting and add your preferred flavor, like instant coffee, some cocoa, caramel, strawberry jam. Just add in small amounts so that the frosting doesn’t become too thin. This can now be spread on the cake layers for filling.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cake:
Preheat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F.
In a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, place the butter and sugar and start beating on medium-high until fluffy.
Set mixer to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time.
Now add the flour, baking powder and salt. As it is mixing/combining pour in the milk and vanilla in a steady stream.
Mix until dry ingredients are well incorporated and no lumps remain.
Pour into your prepared baking pans. Bake for about 25-30 minutes on the center rack or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Once baked let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
Cream butter for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and combine well.
Finally, start adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time with the mixer on low.
Once all the sugar is in – whip the buttercream on a higher setting, for a good three minutes until light and fluffy. Add a little milk if you want the frosting softer.

Assemble:
Spread some frosting on each layer.
Use a spatula to frost the outside of the cake.
Pipe any leftover frosting if desired.
For a naked look – scrape off frosting from sides of the cake.