Vanilla has come to describe something that is bland, but this cake will make you reconsider the lowly vanilla cake. Promise!
The Best Vanilla Cake Ever
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups of batter 1x
Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
1 cup flour
1 cup white sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
4 large egg whites
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Prepare your cake pan(s) by greasing with butter and dusting with flour. This will make two full height 6” cake layers, two medium height 8” cakes or one 10” layer.
In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, flour, sugar and salt. Add remaining ingredients and beat with a mixer for 2 minutes, or until well blended.
Scoop batter into prepared cake pan(s) filling each about ¾ full. Bake for approximately 45-55 minutes for two 8” cakes in the same oven. Adjust time depending on cake pan sizes.
I’m using 6 inch cake pans. How do I adjust the cooking time? How much time do I bake for the 6 inch. I will make this recipe x 3 for the 6 colors.
Can I sub confectioners sugar for granulated when making your whipped butter cream icing? Do you know the conversion amounts. Worried it will be gritty … OR any helpful tips?
Thank you
Hi Janet! I absolutely replied to your message, but we have been plagued with a barrage of website issues, and I’m just seeing that my reply apparently disappeared. We are so frustrated! I hope you decided to move ahead anyway? Allow me to answer your questions (again!), here we go!
Cooking time: I have made a variety of cake sizes with this recipe, all the way down to 4″ cakes. I found very little adjustment in the cooking time. Obviously, all ovens cook a bit differently, so I would start checking with a toothpick around 35 minutes. But I honestly think you are still going to be at about 45.
Next up, whipped buttercream. You definitely need regular sugar – not powdered! It will be perfectly smooth in the end. It takes quote a bit of whipping, but it will get there!
I truly hope you made this even without my response. If you did we would love to know how it went! Liz