Easy Ina Garten Vanilla Cake Recipe: A Perfect Sweet Treat

Vanilla cake transforms ordinary moments into sweet celebrations with its irresistible comfort and timeless appeal.

Home bakers adore this delightful dessert for its versatile charm and incredible simplicity.

Soft, tender crumbs and a rich, buttery essence make vanilla cake a crowd-pleasing favorite among dessert enthusiasts.

Professional and amateur bakers appreciate its straightforward preparation and impressive results.

The magic of this classic treat lies in its ability to elevate any gathering with minimal effort.

Smooth, velvety textures and a delicate flavor profile ensure every slice feels like a warm embrace.

Baking this delectable dessert promises to fill your kitchen with warmth and anticipation: get ready to create something truly magical.

Why Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake is the Perfect Showstopper

• Whip Up Effortless Elegance: This vanilla cake recipe delivers professional-looking results with surprisingly simple steps, making even novice bakers feel like culinary experts without complicated techniques.
• Savor Rich, Creamy Comfort: The combination of butter, vanilla, and milk creates a deeply indulgent cake with a moist, tender crumb that melts in your mouth, offering pure nostalgic deliciousness in every single bite.
• Master a Classic Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for birthdays, gatherings, or weekend treats, this versatile vanilla cake works beautifully as a base for multiple frostings and decorations, ensuring it'll be a hit with people of all ages and taste preferences.

Ingredients for Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Classic base for cake structure, providing essential texture and body.
• Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent to help cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness of the cake.

• Butter, Sugar: Rich, creamy base that creates tender and sweet cake texture.
• Eggs: Binding agent that provides structure and helps cake hold together.
• Vanilla Extract: Classic flavoring that gives signature vanilla taste and aroma.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create smooth, soft cake consistency.

• Butter: Used for greasing cake pans to prevent sticking.
• Flour: Used for dusting pans to help cake release easily.
• Parchment Paper: Ensures smooth cake removal and prevents bottom from burning.

How to Make Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

• Greasing with butter
• Lining with parchment paper
• Dusting with flour to prevent sticking

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Stir ingredients until evenly distributed

Step 3: Create Creamy Butter Base

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 1 sugar

• 4 large eggs

Mix in vanilla extract after each egg is fully incorporated

Step 4: Merge Wet and Dry Mixtures

• Flour mixture (3 parts)
• 1 milk

Start and end with flour mixture. Mix until batter is smooth and consistent

Step 5: Fill Cake Pans

Divide batter evenly between 2 prepared pans. Use a spatula to smooth the top and ensure even distribution

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide pans into preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into cake center – it should come out clean

Step 7: Cool and Finish

Remove cakes from oven. Let sit in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Optional: Level cake tops for perfect layering. Enjoy your delectable vanilla cake!

Pro Tips for Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

• Whip Eggs Thoroughly: Beat eggs until they become pale and fluffy, creating tiny air pockets that give your cake incredible lightness and volume.
• Check Cake Doneness Smartly: Gently press cake center – if it springs back immediately, your cake is perfectly baked and ready to cool.
• Sift Strategically: Run flour through a fine-mesh sifter twice to break down any potential clumps, guaranteeing a silky-smooth cake texture.
• Trim with Precision: Use a long serrated knife held horizontally to slice cake layers evenly, creating professional-looking tiers that stack beautifully.
• Temperature Matters Most: Let ingredients like butter and eggs sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before mixing, ensuring smoother incorporation and better overall cake structure.

How to Store Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

• Airtight Preservation: Seal the cake in a high-quality, leak-proof container with a tight-fitting lid to lock in moisture and prevent flavor absorption from other refrigerator items. Choose containers with silicone gaskets for maximum freshness.
• Layered Wrapping: Shield the cake with multiple protective layers using plastic wrap first, followed by aluminum foil. This double-barrier method prevents freezer burn and maintains the cake's delicate crumb structure during long-term storage.
• Temperature Tracking: Monitor refrigerator and freezer temperatures consistently, keeping them at or below 40°F and 0°F respectively. Use a digital thermometer to ensure optimal preservation conditions for your delectable vanilla cake.

Creative Twists on Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

• Chocolate Marble Magic: Swirl rich chocolate batter into the vanilla cake mixture before baking, creating beautiful marbled patterns and adding a decadent chocolate flavor.
• Citrus Sunshine Cake: Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the batter and replace some vanilla extract with fresh citrus juice for a bright, tangy version of the classic vanilla cake.
• Spiced Warmth Edition: Mix in ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of cardamom to transform the vanilla cake into a cozy, aromatic dessert perfect for autumn gatherings.
• Coconut Dream Cake: Fold shredded coconut into the batter and replace some milk with coconut milk to create a tropical-inspired variation with a rich, nutty undertone.

Final Thoughts on Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s legendary vanilla cake recipe, promising pure comfort and indulgence.

Simple ingredients dance together, creating a harmonious symphony of sweet flavors.

Bakers discover pure joy through each carefully measured component, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

Kitchen enthusiasts will find this recipe accessible yet sophisticated, perfect for celebration or quiet afternoon pleasure.

Delicate layers whisper stories of classic American baking traditions, inviting everyone to savor pure happiness.

Passionate bakers: share your masterpiece, comment with your cake adventures, and spread deliciousness across social media platforms – your delectable creation deserves applause!

Ina Garten Vanilla Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s vanilla cake promises pure indulgence with classic simplicity. Buttery layers infused with rich vanilla essence create a moist, elegant dessert that delights with each delectable slice, inviting lovers of timeless baking to savor its comforting charm.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 sticks (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups (250 grams) sugar
• 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) whole milk (or a mix of ¾ cup heavy cream and ½ cup water)

Dry Ingredients:

• 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Extra butter for greasing the pans
• Extra flour for dusting the pans

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat two 9-inch (23-centimeter) round cake pans with unsalted butter, then apply parchment paper, and lightly dust with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking.
2. Sift together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar using an electric mixer. Beat until the mixture becomes pale and develops a light, airy texture.
4. Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing completely after each addition. Blend in pure vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
5. Alternate adding the dry flour mixture and whole milk to the wet ingredients. Begin and conclude with the flour mixture, stirring gently to create a uniform, silky batter without overmixing.
6. Divide the cake batter equally between the prepared pans, using a spatula to spread the mixture evenly and eliminate any air pockets. Tap the pans gently on the counter to release trapped air.
7. Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a clean toothpick into the center – it should emerge without any raw batter clinging to it.
8. Remove cakes from the oven and allow them to rest in the pans for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool completely. Optionally, trim the cake tops to create a level surface for frosting or layering.

Notes

• Freeze unfrosted cake layers up to 3 months for stress-free advance preparation.
• Wrap cooled cake layers tightly in plastic to maintain moisture and freshness.
• Check cake doneness by gently pressing center – a springy surface signals perfect baking.
• Use serrated knife for leveling cake tops, creating smooth professional-looking layers.
• Select premium vanilla extract to enhance overall cake flavor and aroma.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 392 kcal
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 119 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 93 mg