Nov

08

2012

Vanilla Birthday Cake with Old-Fashioned Vanilla Buttercream

Cakes, Pies & Tarts / Desserts  Posted by / 38 comments
vanilla-birthday-cake

My daughter is turning eight years old this week, and for months she’s been begging me for two things: a puppy and her favorite vanilla birthday cake. The puppy is definitely not going to happen — I already have my hands full with this big guy.

But the cake’s easy. I’ve made this simple vanilla cake every year on her birthday since she was two. The cake recipe is adapted from one of my favorite baking books, Perfect Cakes by Nick Malgieri, and the frosting recipe was handed down to me from my great-grandmother.

I know baking a cake from scratch can be intimidating, and I won’t lie: it can be tricky. But it doesn’t have to be. The key – as long as you have a solid recipe like this one – is to follow the instructions carefully. If the recipe says the eggs should be at room temperature, make sure they are; if the recipe calls for adding flour in four separate additions and scraping down the bowl in between, make sure you do it. Without getting into the science of it — which, in all honesty, makes my head spin — I can tell you that all these little steps are important to ensure your cake bakes up tender and delicious. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy and a good homemade cake puts all those boxed mixes and canned frostings to shame.

To begin, whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Next, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and milk. Be sure the eggs are at room temperature, otherwise your batter may curdle. To warm them up quickly, place them in a bowl of hot water before cracking them.

When the butter and sugar are creamed, beat in the vanilla and almond extract, then add one-quarter of the flour mixture and beat on low speed.

Then add one-third of the milk mixture.

Continue alternating adding the flour and milk mixtures, scraping down the bowl as necessary, then pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops. Note that this cake can be made in either 8 or 9-inch cake pans; the former will be higher and the latter will flatter.

Bake the layers for 30-35 minutes, until they are well risen and firm. Cool the layers in the pans for five minutes, then unmold onto racks to finish cooling.

While the cake cools, make the frosting. It’s easy: just cream the butter and cream cheese together, then add the vanilla and confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth.

When the layers are cool, frost the cake.

You can spread the frosting smooth, or swirl it casually with a butter knife like I do. Since it’s an all white cake, I like to scatter some festive nonpareils or confetti sprinkles on top for color. For a change, if you like coconut, try topping the cake with heaps of shredded sweetened coconut — it’s amazing.

That’s all there is to it. Enjoy!

Vanilla Birthday Cake with Old-Fashioned Vanilla Buttercream

Print Recipe
Servings: Makes one 8-inch layer cake, or 24 cupcakes
Total Time: 1 Hour

Ingredients

For the Cake Layers

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with back edge of knife
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

For the Buttercream

  • 12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup plus one tablespoon cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 6 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

For the Cake

  1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Spray two 8 or 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray (note: 8-inch cake pans will give you a much higher cake). Cut two 8 or 9-inch rounds of parchment or wax paper and line the bottom of each pan; spray the paper with nonstick spray. (To measure the parchment paper, just trace the bottom of the pan.)
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until very soft and light. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts.
  4. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and milk by hand in a medium bowl until just combined.
  5. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in one-quarter of the flour mixture, then one-third of the milk mixture, stopping and scraping down the bowl and beater after each addition. Beat in another quarter of the flour, then another third of the milk mixture. Scrape again. Repeat with another quarter of the flour and the remaining milk mixture; scrape. Finally, beat in the remaining flour mixture.
  6. Scrape the bowl with a large rubber spatula. Don't worry if the the batter looks a little grainy. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
  7. Bake the cakes for 30-35 minutes, until they are well risen and firm and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on rack for 5 minutes, then unmold onto rack to finish cooling right side up (keep parchment paper underneath cake layers so they don't stick to rack).

For the Vanilla Buttercream

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese until creamy and well combined.
  2. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat in the vanilla and salt. If the frosting is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream.