The Best White Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a perfect cake? ›

A very moist, slightly dense 2-layer white cake iced with a premium vanilla buttercream.

Vanilla extract is usually added to the batter to give the cake its distinctive taste. While the texture of vanilla cake can be light and fluffy like white cake, it can also be denser and moister, depending on the recipe. Vanilla cake is a great choice for those who prefer a cake with more flavor than white cake.

There's a big chance your butter and sugar will over-cream, meaning the butter will trap more air than it should. As the batter bakes, that extra air will deflate and leave you with an overly dense cake. It's all science! For best results, cream butter and sugar together for about 1-2 minutes.

Vegetable oil contributes moistness far more reliably, a result of the fact that oil remains liquid at room temperature while butter solidifies. Liquid contributes to the sensation of moistness, and therefore cakes made with oil often present as moister than their butter-based counterparts.

Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce is a popular oil substitute in baking. It can add moisture to your cakes and cupcakes while reducing the fat content. Use a 1:1 ratio, replacing the oil with applesauce. Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is another great option for moisture and creaminess.

Simple syrup is a great all-purpose glaze for cakes and fruitcakes, adding moisture and a bit of sweetness. It's also a key element in certain mixed drinks.

As to what makes the cake so popular, Conrad thinks it's the classic combination of whipped cream and berries. “Buttercream is too sweet,” she says, but the texture you get with mascarpone, cream cheese and heavy cream is an ideal foil for the tart, juicy fruit.

It's easy to see why so many people love this cake — it's a beautiful, classic-looking dessert made up of layers of vanilla cake with Chantilly cream frosting and filled with fresh berries. Many reviewers rave about how this cake strikes the perfect balance of sweet but not too sweet.

What is a Kardashian cake? ›

For over 30 years, Hansen's Cakes in Los Angeles has been making cakes for the Kardashian-Jenner family — specifically their flower-topped basket weave cake. Recently, the cake gained viral fame when it was featured by TikToker @quinnhouses, whose birthday cake video quickly gained over 2.7 million views.

If you don't care for chocolate, try these white cake recipes! Almond cakes, vanilla cakes, butter cakes, sheet cakes, bundt cakes and more.

It's common for a white cake only to use egg whites, which gives you a purer “white” color and light texture. I like using the whole egg for a more decadent, slightly denser cake for this white cake recipe with a subtle vanilla flavor.

Both white and yellow cakes are vanilla cakes—assuming they contain vanilla extract or paste. Vanilla cake is a catch-all term for sponge cakes that have a vanilla flavor. French vanilla cake is also a vanilla cake, but with a more distinct flavor.

Most cakes will call for a leavening agent like baking powder or baking soda. These create the bubbles you need for the cake to rise. If the flour you use is self-raising, it already has a leavening agent in it. Make sure your butter is room temperature, and beat the butter and sugar together until properly creamed.

Similarly to using expired leaveners, letting your batter sit for too long before cooking will result in a heavy and dense cake. Fortunately, the solution is simple — be sure to preheat your oven as you mix up your batter, and pop the cake in to cook as soon as possible.

When left out at room temperature without any covering, a baked cake—even a frosted cake—dries out quickly. A better way to store cake is to cover it in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. This seals in moisture and prevents air from drying out the cake. Store cupcakes in an airtight container.