The Sunny Vanilla Dream: Ina Garten’s Golden Cake Recipe

Baking a heavenly Ina Garten vanilla cake brings pure joy to any kitchen, filling the air with warm, sweet aromas.

Soft, delicate layers promise a melt-in-your-mouth experience that delights every palate.

This classic dessert combines simple ingredients with culinary precision.

Rich vanilla notes dance through each tender crumb, creating a dessert that feels both comforting and elegant.

Professional chefs and home bakers alike adore this foolproof recipe for its consistent, delectable results.

The cake velvety texture and deep vanilla flavor will make you the star of any gathering.

Grab your mixing bowl and let’s turn ordinary moments into something extraordinary.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 485 kcal

Servings: 12

What You’ll Need to Make Ina Garten’s Vanilla Cake

• Cake Flour: Provides delicate, tender crumb with lower protein content for a softer texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Baking Powder: Creates light, airy rise and helps cake achieve perfect height.
• Baking Soda: Helps with browning and provides additional lift.

• Eggs, Egg Whites: Provide structure, moisture, and richness to the cake.
• Vanilla Essence: Adds deep, classic flavor and aromatic warmth.
• Buttermilk: Brings tanginess, tenderness, and helps activate leavening agents.
• Butter: Creates rich, creamy base and contributes to tender crumb.

• Confectioners' Sugar: Delivers smooth, silky sweetness and helps create stable frosting.
• Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency and adds subtle creaminess.
• Vanilla: Enhances frosting's depth and complements cake's flavor.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and rounds out frosting's overall taste.

Tools That Make Vanilla Cake a Breeze with Ina

• Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer: Essential for whipping butter, sugar, and creating smooth cake batter and frosting.
• Paddle or Whisk Attachment: Comes with the mixer, perfect for mixing ingredients evenly.
• Silicone Spatula: Helps scrape bowl sides and ensure all ingredients are well combined.
• 9-inch Cake Pans (3): Crucial for baking even cake layers.
• Parchment Paper: Ensures easy cake removal and prevents sticking.
• Wire Rack: Allows cakes to cool completely without becoming soggy.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Needed for preparing frosting and mixing ingredients.
• Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness by testing center.
• Large Serrated Knife: Used for leveling cake tops for a smooth finish.
• Cake Stand or Turntable: Helpful for easy frosting and decorating.
• Icing Spatula: Ideal for spreading frosting evenly on cake layers and sides.

Directions to Bake a Classic Vanilla Cake Ina’s Way

• Preparation Space

Gather all equipment and ingredients before starting. Select clean, spacious kitchen area with room for mixing and baking.

• Cake Batter Creation

Combine dry ingredients like flour, salt, baking powder smoothly. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs gradually, mixing thoroughly. Incorporate dry ingredients gently, maintaining soft texture. Pour buttermilk slowly, ensuring even distribution.

• Baking Process

Pour batter evenly into prepared cake pans. Position pans centrally in preheated oven. Bake until golden and toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely on wire rack before handling.

• Frosting Magic

Whip butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually blend confectioners’ sugar, creating silky consistency. Add vanilla and milk for perfect spreadable texture. Adjust ingredients as needed for desired thickness.

• Cake Assembly

Trim cake layers for even surface. Stack layers carefully, spreading frosting between each. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, creating smooth finish. Refrigerate briefly to set frosting and stabilize structure.

Fun Ideas to Customize Vanilla Cake by Ina Garten

• Vanilla Cake Tricks
• Swap vanilla extract with almond or lemon extract for a unique twist on the classic cake.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a smoother, more evenly mixed batter that results in a softer cake texture.
• Chill the cake layers before frosting to prevent crumbs from mixing into the icing and create cleaner, more professional-looking decorations.
• Wrap unfrosted cake layers in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months, allowing you to prepare components in advance for quick assembly later.
• Fold in optional mix-ins like toasted coconut, mini chocolate chips, or finely chopped nuts into the batter for added depth and crunch.

Ina Garten Vanilla Cake: Serve It Soft, Sweet, and Simple

• Elevate Cake Presentation: Serve this vanilla cake on a beautiful cake stand to showcase its elegant layers and smooth frosting.
• Pair with Complementary Beverages: Enjoy a slice alongside a hot cup of Earl Grey tea or a cold glass of milk for a delightful flavor combination.
• Create Textural Contrast: Sprinkle toasted sliced almonds or shredded coconut on top of the frosting to add a delightful crunch and visual interest.
• Garnish with Fresh Berries: Arrange fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries around the cake base or on top to bring a pop of color and natural sweetness.

Storage Advice for Ina’s Moist Vanilla Cake

• Store Smartly: Refrigerate the cake in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap individual cake layers or whole cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for 2-3 months.
• Serve at Room Temperature: Remove cake from refrigerator 30-45 minutes before serving to restore soft texture and enhance flavor.
• Keep Moisture Intact: Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on cut sides to prevent drying out when storing in the refrigerator.

Effortless Ina Garten Vanilla Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s vanilla cake recipe delivers pure dessert elegance with classic American baking charm. Moist layers promise delightful sweetness for home bakers seeking simple yet sophisticated indulgence.

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Ingredients

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• 1.5 cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 1.5 cups (360ml) buttermilk
• 3 large eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 3.67 cups (433g) cake flour
• 2 tsps (10g) baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 5.5 cups (650g) confectioners’ sugar
• ⅓ cup (80ml) whole milk or heavy cream
• 1.5 tsps pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (177°C). Prepare cake pans by generously coating with butter, lining with parchment, and re-greasing to guarantee seamless cake extraction.
2. Batter Composition: Whisk cake flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate vessel. Utilize a stand mixer to cream butter and sugar until luxuriously smooth, approximately 3 minutes. Integrate eggs and vanilla extract, beating vigorously for 2 minutes. Gradually fold in dry ingredients and buttermilk, mixing until harmoniously combined. Manually eliminate any lingering dry pockets.
3. Baking Process: Allocate batter meticulously across prepared pans, ensuring uniform distribution. Bake for 23-26 minutes, verifying doneness through a clean toothpick test. Allow cakes to cool completely within pans atop a wire rack.
4. Frosting Fabrication: Whip butter until ultra-creamy. Gradually introduce confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Elevate mixer speed, beating for an additional 2 minutes. Adjust consistency by incorporating more sugar or milk as needed.
5. Assembly and Finishing: Trim cake layers with a serrated knife for precise leveling. Position first layer on a cake stand, spreading frosting evenly. Repeat with subsequent layers, enrobing the entire cake in remaining frosting using an offset spatula for a polished finish.
6. Preservation and Serving: Refrigerate the assembled masterpiece for one hour to stabilize structure and set frosting. This technique ensures immaculate slicing. Preserve leftover cake in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

• Precision Matters: Use a kitchen scale for exact batter distribution across cake pans, ensuring uniform layers and consistent baking.
• Temperature is Key: Allow butter and eggs to reach room temperature before mixing to create a smoother, more homogeneous batter with better volume.
• Prevent Dry Cake: Do not overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients, as this can develop gluten and result in a tough, dense texture.
• Cooling Technique: Let cakes cool completely in pans on a wire rack to maintain structural integrity and prevent potential cracking or breaking.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 485
• Sugar: 51g
• Sodium: 290mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Fiber: 0.5g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 100mg