Ditch the Box and Make Vanilla Cake From Scratch

NOTE: Use 1 1/4 cup buttermilk not 1 1/2 cup

This recipe makes a perfectly soft, classic vanilla cake entirely from scratch. It's so simple to make, and tastes much better than a box mix!

Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature (113g)
½ cup canola oil* (120ml)
1 ½ cup granulated sugar (300g)
4 eggs room temperature preferred
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cup buttermilk room temperature preferred (300ml)
1 batch Chocolate Frosting

Instructions
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and prepare two deep 8" round cake pans** by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing the sides. Set aside.
00:30 In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using an electric mixer) cream together the butter, canola oil and sugar until creamy and well-combined.
01:28 Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
01:56 Stir in vanilla extract.
02:29 In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03:09 Using a spatula and gently hand-mixing, alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture and mixing until just combined after each addition. The batter should be smooth and completely combined, but avoid over-mixing.
04:54 Evenly divide batter into your prepared cake pans, and bake on 350F (175C) for 30-35 minutes. When the cake is done, the surface should spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean with few moist crumbs (no wet batter).
06:24 Allow cakes to cool in their cake pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
06:58 Frost cake using my chocolate frosting (or see notes for other favorite frosting options) and decorate with sprinkles (if desired).

Notes
*You may substitute vegetable oil or another neutral oil instead
**You may use 9" cake pans instead, but watch the cooking time as they may need less time in the oven.

[SugarSpunRun]

IMPORTANT NOTE: I mistakenly say in this video to use 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk. The correct amount is 1 1/4 cups (as listed in the description). I'm so sorry about mis-speaking here and wish there was a way to add an edit to the video! Remember to always read through the description before beginning to bake ❤️

[susandavis]

I don't care what people say, or what they add to a box mix; it still tastes of chemicals! Scratch cakes (even if they don't turn out picture perfect) are still supreme. I get disgusted when someone (especially professional cooks) start with a cake mix. The outcome is never the same. Thanks, Sam, for giving us such a great, easy recipe.

[whitneya]

This is THE vanilla cake I’ve been looking for! Other recipes I’ve tried were either too crumbly or too dense. I adjust the recipe a little for high altitude and it’s absolutely perfect. I use King Arthur’s cake flour 375 grams, 2 tsp baking powder, bake at 365F and it’s amazing. Thank you so much for this recipe, Sam!! 🫶

[beanixdorf]

I’m eating this cake right now, it’s the first homemade cake that actually came out soft and fluffy. This will be my “go to” recipe. Thanks so much. I told all my friends I was a terrible cake maker and deleted all my cake you tube cake videos and said I quit. But I just had to try this one more time. Glad I did

[ajl]

This is definitely 5 stars ⭐️
I love the addition of buttermilk

[loripominville]

I made this cake and it’s so moist and delicious! I also made the chocolate icing and it was also delicious. Not too sweet. I think from now on I will use this icing on all my cakes. Thank you Sam. You never disappoint.

[robingastonia]

MMMM looks so good. If I had to eat cake mix, I would not eat cake. I grew up eating cakes made only from scratch. I never make a cake mix cake, I just do not like them, but it is what you got used to eating. My mother never made cake mix, and I learned to make cakes with good butter, sugar, eggs, and of course cake flour. I love a layer cake with chocolate icing. Thank you for posting.

[archanachidanandan]

Baked using this recipe yesterday, but just halved the ingredients to bake just one layer. Great recipe!

[hasonmorris]

Thanks for the recipes I started with your delicious oatmeal cookies and my kids and grandchildren love them this is next I’m talking tomorrow, and I really appreciate you doing them with a hand mixer because some of us haven’t been able too afford a kitchen aid standing mixer you give us options. Be well and safe.

[cindyyeager]

Make at home your own cake release product. Equal parts flour, canola oil and shortening. Combine ingredients until smooth. Stores covered in the refrigerator for a very long time.
Not my idea but can't remember which YouTube baker shared this tip. Whomever it was, thanks. I have been using this exclusively for many years now. Never fails.

[yvonnetran]

This is a great and delicious recipe, sort of old school....loved it, thanks again Sam, you always make new recipes such a treat for me...this is super fun....super simple...super yummy!❤

[lyndajackson]

I have made this cake well over 20 times in the past 5 months. This cake is perfect for all frostings. Thank you.😄

[bridgetteharris]

❤❤❤❤ hi I love your recipes and I have a question could you tell me with this recipe how how can I make it into him a 12 x 18 a cake pan I wanna make a quarter sheet cake so could you help me on all of the measurements for that I definitely would appreciate it thank you so much??!!😊😊😊

[Mia-qtth]

I made my first cake from scratch using your Vanilla cake recipe and it was delicious a huge hit w everyone also used your chocolate buttercream frosting (hershey's Coco) it was amazing! I followed your directions exactly and it was perfect, can't wait to bake more of your recipes! Thank you Sam❤

[neghtentow]

Always enjoying this for the pass 2yrs . And now saw again omg

[salmabegum]

Hi, what can i use instead of buttermilk? Shops here don't sell buttermilk

[darleneprowse]

Hi, I’m going to make this in a 9x13 pan. How long should I bake it? Thanks for your answer.

[thenerd]

I made this it turned out so good delicious

[zoiepenick]

Hey Sam! My sister Zada and I are making this cake this weekend for our family. I wanted to ask you about the buttermilk measurement. In your video of your recipe, you said 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk. But in the printable recipe online on your website, it’s saids 1 1/4 cups. Which amount or measurement of buttermilk do you need for the this cake?

[yeverino]

Home made is so much better. I’ve tried to doctor a box cake, but I can still taste it. So I make homemade cakes, and even the frosting is so much better. Great recipe 🤤🤤👍🏼👍🏼yummy