An easy vanilla cake recipe

A simple vanilla cake recipe is the perfect introductory cake for beginners, as well as a versatile standby for more experienced bakers to have on hand. While there’s a whole, huge, hyper-calorific world of complicated cakes out there to explore, from red velvet cakes to lemon drizzle cakes, this easy cake recipe is where it all begins and it's worth mastering so you can get the basics of cake making under your belt before you start to jazz it up with flavour additions and decorating finesse. A simple vanilla cake recipe does what it says on the tin: provides you with a delicate, moist and flavourful cake that can serve as a base for something more elaborate, please a host of children clamouring for something sweet or provide a simple sugar fix. This is a cake recipe that works splendidly for birthdays, special occasions, or just that celebrated English ceremony, afternoon tea. We also believe that you never need a reason to make or eat a simple vanilla cake, so have it whenever the urge to bake takes you. It’s the most basic possible combination of eggs, flour, butter and sugar – practically the Platonic ideal of a cake – baked in the oven for 45-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when it’s golden on top, and a skewer inserted into its side comes out clean.

Once the cake has cooled, slather it with buttercream frosting, pile fruit on top of it, or simply dust it with icing sugar, and it’ll be delightful any way you choose to slice it. You could even turn it into a Victoria sponge by cutting it in half laterally once cool, adding a layer of jam and sticking it back together again – though we also have a very good Victoria sponge recipe to follow for more specific instructions.

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If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, we have all sorts of cake recipes to try: we recommend moving on to our easy chocolate cake if you’re a fan of this cake, or chocolate fairy cakes make a nice treat and are fun for kids to make. Or try this easy gluten-free chocolate cake which uses the ever-versatile ganache in two ways.

Tips

If you fantasise about being a star baker but find the whole process a little intimidating, this is the perfect easy cake for you. It’s infinitely variable and incredibly simple to make. Simply place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat until combined. You can mix with a wooden spoon, a hand-held electric mixer or by using the pulse action of a food processor, for varying levels of manual difficulty.
Using margarine rather than butter works really well for this cake and saves you the bother and time of having to soften the butter before you start.
Don’t be tempted to open the oven before 40 minutes – you’ll regret it.
Once the cake has cooled, put it in an airtight container and it can be stored for up to two days.

Can you use plain flour to make cakes?

You need a raising agent to help your cake rise, which is why cake recipes often feature self-raising flour. If you only have plain flour, make sure to include a rising agent to go along with it or the cakes and pastries will stay flat. A popular rising agent can be baking powder.

By Blanche Vaughan

8 June 2023