Perfect Vanilla Cake Base
The search is absolutely OVER! Join me in this vanilla cake base recipe and discover a base that can easily handle mix-ins, stacks great, has a perfect crumb and is not overly sweet. This recipe makes 4 - 6" layers or 2 - 8" layers.
Cake shown is made with GERMAN BUTTERCREAM.
CAKE FORMULA
Flour - 440 grams
Sugar - 550 grams
Large Egg Whites - 3 (room temp)
Large Eggs - 3 (room temp)
Unsalted Butter - 232 grams (2 sticks) softened
Buttermilk - 220 grams (Yes, use the buttermilk) room temp
Baking Powder - 2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Vanilla - 2 tsp
CAKE DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degree F and prepare your baking pans.
Sift the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of your stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment
Cut the butter in to 1/2 inch chunks. The butter should be soft enough to leave an indent when pressed on.
Turn the mixer on low and mix the dry ingredients for a few seconds.
Add in the butter by the chunk.
Let the butter mix in on low/med speed for about 3-5 minutes. It should look crumbly but fully incorporated when it's done.
In the meantime, separate the egg whites in to a small bowl and then add the whole eggs in the same bowl.
Once the butter is done, add in the eggs in 3 increments. Stop and scrape down the bowl as needed.
Once all the eggs are incorporated, add in the buttermilk and vanilla in 2 increments. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed.
Once all ingredients are in the bowl, run the mixer on low speed for 1 minute.
Divide the batter evenly among the pans. For 6" pans, it should be roughly 330-350 grams. For 8" - 660-700 grams.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-35 minutes. Check on them at 25 minutes and adjust as needed for your oven.
Once a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the pan, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes in the pan. Turn them out and let cool to lukewarm. Level and saran wrap for the freezer until needed.
VOILA!
NOTES:
You can add any extract or mix in to this! I used this base for my pebbles and milk cake and mixed in crushed fruity pebbles cereal.
IDEAS:
You could also mix in 1/4-1/2 cup of freeze dried fruit powder or 1/4-1/2 cup chocolate chips coated in flour.