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Easy White Cake Recipe for a Soft, Classic Homemade Dessert

Easy White Cake Recipe

This tender vanilla white cake uses simple pantry ingredients and bakes into one 9-inch round cake. Serve it plain, dusted with sugar, or topped with your favorite frosting.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup Granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1/2 cup Milk

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour one 9-inch cake pan.
  2. Cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and smooth.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
  4. Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a separate bowl.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in portions, alternating with the milk. Mix only until the batter is combined.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  7. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, checking near the 30-minute mark, until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool the cake briefly in the pan, then transfer it to a rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.

Notes

Use softened butter and room-temperature eggs and milk for a smoother batter. Stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears, since overmixing can make the cake dense or chewy. Begin checking near 30 minutes because overbaking is the most common cause of a dry white cake.