Vanilla Cake: Soft, Fluffy Venezuelan Classic with Buttercream (63) 2026

This vanilla cake is the kind of bake that earns a permanent spot in your recipe collection. It is easy to make, wonderfully fluffy, and carries a rich, deep vanilla flavor that makes every slice hard to resist.

You only need basic pantry staples to put it together, and the whole thing comes out of the oven in under an hour. A simple vanilla glaze on top adds a creamy finish that makes it look as good as it tastes.

For the fullest vanilla flavor, always reach for the best quality vanilla paste or extract you can find, though a whole vanilla pod will also give it an extraordinary aroma. The cake bakes in an 18 cm (7-inch) springform pan, so grab one before you start.

Ingredients for Vanilla Cake

This recipe makes 10 servings.

• 150 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 240 g powdered sugar
• 4 medium eggs
• 60 g whole milk
• 290 g wheat flour
• 15 g baking powder (Royal style)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla powder, paste or extract
• 100 g sifted powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream (at least 35% fat)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla powder, paste or extract

How to Make Vanilla Cake Step by Step

1. Preheat and Prepare the Pan

Preheat the oven to 180 ºC (350 ºF) with top and bottom heat. Grease and line an 18 cm (7-inch) pan, then set it aside.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugar

Beat 150 grams of unsalted butter with 240 grams of powdered sugar until the mixture lightens in color and turns very creamy.

3. Add the Eggs

Add 4 medium eggs one at a time, meaning you should not add the next one until the previous one has been fully incorporated.

4. Add the Milk

Add 60 g of whole milk and mix it completely into the batter.

5. Sift in the Dry Ingredients and Flavor

Sift 290 grams of wheat flour together with 15 grams of baking powder. Beat on low speed until no traces of flour remain, then add 2 teaspoons of vanilla powder, paste or extract.

6. Bake the Cake

Pour the batter into the pan and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If it browns too much halfway through, cover it with aluminum foil so it does not over-toast.

7. Cool and Unmold

Once the baking time is up, remove the cake from the oven and let it rest in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then unmold it and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

8. Make the Glaze

When the cake has cooled, make the glaze by mixing 100 grams of sifted powdered sugar with cream, adding 2 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream little by little until you reach the desired texture. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla as well and mix well.

9. Glaze the Cake

Glaze the cake, meaning you cover it with the freshly made glaze.

10. Serve and Enjoy

Slice and serve your vanilla cake, and enjoy every fluffy, fragrant bite.

Tips for the Best Vanilla Cake

Use Quality Vanilla

For maximum vanilla flavor, always use the best quality paste or extract you can find. A whole vanilla pod is another option that gives the cake an extraordinary taste.

Keep the Batter Light

Beat the flour and baking powder in on low speed only until no dry streaks remain, and add the eggs one at a time so the batter stays smooth and airy.

Watch the Bake

Check the cake with a toothpick and cover it loosely with aluminum foil if the top browns too quickly, so it bakes through without over-toasting.

30 Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to lineup that covers cozy classics, well-known dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone at the table happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting sweet sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I make.

Mornings and lighter meals call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a filling Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I rely on.

For small plates and Mediterranean cooking, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out when I want the meal to feel a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and snug evening dinners? I'm always pointing people toward this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I need something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply soothing French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Whenever street food or party food is on my mind, I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, bold Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I serve as an easy starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole menu are needed for guests, I'll set dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this punchy Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like putting this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or closing things out with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on straightforward methods, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely come back to time and time again—whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a spot-on Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots around the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it's quick and still delivers terrific texture. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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