Description
Vanilla buttermilk cake delivers a perfect balance of tender crumb and rich flavor from Southern baking traditions. Generous slices promise comfort with creamy texture that welcomes sweet memories for home bakers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1.75 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 tablespoons (15 ml) vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) heavy cream or milk
Instructions
- Pan Preparation: Generously butter and flour two circular baking pans, lining bottoms with precisely trimmed parchment paper to ensure effortless cake release.
- Oven Setup: Arrange oven rack in central position and preheat to 350°F, creating an ideal baking environment for consistent heat distribution.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, eliminating potential clumps and incorporating air for a light, uniform cake texture.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture becomes voluminous, pale, and extraordinarily fluffy.
- Egg Integration: Gently fold eggs into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and maintaining a smooth, homogeneous batter consistency.
- Liquid Harmony: Methodically alternate adding dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk to the base, folding delicately to preserve essential air pockets and create a tender crumb.
- Flavor Enhancement: Stir in vanilla extract, distributing the aromatic essence evenly throughout the batter for a balanced flavor profile.
- Batter Distribution: Evenly divide the mixture between prepared pans, using a spatula to smooth surfaces and eliminate potential air bubbles.
- Baking Process: Position pans in preheated oven, baking until a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cooling Technique: Allow cakes to rest briefly in pans before transferring to a wire rack, enabling complete cooling and optimal texture development.
Notes
- Prevent Cake Sticking: Thoroughly grease and flour pans, ensuring every corner gets covered to guarantee smooth cake release without torn edges.
- Maintain Batter Airiness: Gently fold ingredients to preserve delicate air bubbles, which create the cake’s signature light and fluffy texture.
- Ensure Precise Temperature: Use room temperature ingredients, especially eggs and buttermilk, to help batter blend smoothly and bake evenly without temperature shock.
- Control Moisture Balance: Do not overmix batter, as excessive stirring can develop gluten and create a dense, tough cake instead of a tender crumb.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg