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8 Inch Cake Recipe | The Best Vanilla Cake Stays Moist for Days

Updated:

October 6, 2024

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When in doubt, just go for aWhen in doubt, go for a vanilla-flavored dessert, and you won’t be disappointed! After having this delicious 8 inch cake recipe.

Vanilla is a classic flavor widely loved for its mildly sweet taste, which pairs well with a variety of ingredients. Being a versatile flavor, you can integrate vanilla into cakes, cookies, chocolates, and even savory dishes. Vanilla cake, for instance, holds a special place in the world of baking because of its timeless elegance and simplicity in making!

Despite its subtle flavor, this 8 inch vanilla cake recipe is a hit for gatherings and celebrations. At a get-together, serving vanilla cake takes away the worry of whether the guests will enjoy the dessert as vanilla is well-appreciated by most people. Plus, if the cake stays moist for days, you can enjoy the leftover pieces even after the party is over!

8 Inch Vanilla Cake Recipe on a serving plate — Vanilla Cake Recipe

In today’s recipe, I will share the ultimate vanilla cake that stays moist and flavorful long after it’s baked in an 8 inch round shape. The soft, tender crumbs of the cake hold their freshness so well that even the leftovers are just as enjoyable for days. With the right choice of ingredients and attention to detail, you can make this 8 inch cake recipe just like a pro on your first attempt!

How To Make The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe Healthier?

Vanilla cake is lighter and healthier compared to many other popular cakes. With a mild flavor and simple ingredients that typically don’t contain common allergens, it’s often enjoyed by people of all ages- even elderly people love to have a slice!

To boost its health factor and make it even more nutritious, here are a few adjustments you can make by swapping some of the ingredients written in this recipe:

8 Inch Cake Recipe Ingredients on a surface — 8 Inch Cake Recipe Ingredients

Flour

Substituting the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour is an excellent choice if you want to boost the nutritional value of your cake. Compared to traditional refined flour, whole wheat flour adds more fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your vanilla cake. Loaded with all the good stuff, the wheat flour keeps your tummy full for a longer period of time!

You can swap the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour in a 1:1 ratio. However, as wheat flour absorbs more moisture, it will result in a heavier and denser vanilla cake. To fix this issue, you can increase the amount of liquid in the recipe or add an extra egg to maintain the moisture level to make this cake.

Another way to balance the texture would be to substitute half the amount of flour with whole wheat flour. For this recipe, you can use a combination of 1 and ¼ cups of all-purpose flour and 1 and ¼ cups of wheat flour to maintain a balanced texture and flavor without the cake being too heavy.

Sugar

Sugar is often one of the biggest concerns for health-conscious people as it’s closely associated with weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and spiking up blood pressure.

Now, my 8 inch vanilla cake recipe does use a fair amount of sugar! However, the good news is that you can easily reduce it up to 30% without affecting the sweetness too much. There are also healthier alternatives such as honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar available that can be used to replace the refined sugar in the recipe.

Frosting

If you do vanilla buttercream frosting, then frosting the cake requires extra butter and condensed milk for the recipe. These ingredients significantly increase the calorie intake of the cake. To enjoy a healthier version, consider cutting down on the amount of frosting or preparing a healthier frosting by mixing Greek yogurt with honey or whipped coconut cream frosting for a dairy-free alternative.

Healthy Additions

Instead of decorating the cake with frosted flowers and sprinkles, why not opt for healthier toppings like nuts and fruits?

These options look just as beautiful while adding a natural touch to your cake! Plus, they contribute to the cake’s nutritional value by adding vitamins and healthy fats, making each slice of the cake not only a delicious treat but also a more wholesome choice.

Tips For Making Perfect 8-inch Vanilla Cake Recipe

To make the cake perfectly, follow some tips and tricks to ensure a moist, fluffy, flavourful, and well-structured cake. Here are some expert tips that will help you to achieve a delicious and fluffy vanilla cake:

Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. Softened butter creates a light and fluffy batter, and room-temperature eggs incorporate better, creating an even texture.
Sift all the dry ingredients through the sieve into a mixing bowl so there are no lumps; whisk everything to ensure it’s mixed evenly.
If you don’t have buttermilk, make homemade buttermilk or use full-fat milk to keep the cake moist.
Prepare your baking pans beforehand and ensure your oven is fully preheated before putting the cake batter.
Creaming the butter and sugar properly makes the batter light, adds air, and doesn’t overmix the batter.
Don’t overbake the cake; overbaking will dry out the cake. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, and if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
Before frosting, cool down the cake layers completely; otherwise, the frosting will melt.

How To Store 8 Inch Cake Recipe?

The vanilla layer cake recipe can be stored in an airtight container, a dark, dry pantry, or a freezer; before storing, let it cool down to room temperature.

Without Frosting:

If you want to store the vanilla cake layers without frosting, you can wrap them in plastic and store them in a dry and dark place overnight or for 1 to 2 days. You can also refrigerate them for up to 1 week and freeze them for up to 3 months.

With Frosting:

To store this perfect 8-inch cake layer with frosting, cover it with a cake dome and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Before serving, bring the cake to room temperature, then serve them.

Recipe Card

8 Inch Cake Recipe | The Best Vanilla Cake Stays Moist for Days

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

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Vanilla cake recipe is popular in desserts. Enjoy the best 8 inch cake recipe that stays moist for days with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Ingredients

For Cake Batter

2 / 325 g and 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp / 4 g Baking Powder
½ tsp / 2 g Baking Soda
½ tsp / 3 g Salt
½ cup / 115 g Unsalted Butter (Softened)
½ cup / 119 ml Vegetable Oil
1 / 300 g and 1/2 cup Sugar
3 Large Eggs
1 tbsp / 15 ml Vanilla Essence
1 cup / 240 ml Buttermilk

For Cake Frosting

1 / 345 g and 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
1 cup / 306 g Condensed Milk (Room Temperature)
¼ tsp / 2 g Salt
1 tsp / 5 ml Vanilla Essence

Equipments

Instructions

Prepare Cake Pans

Take two 8-inch round cake pans. Using a pastry brush, grease the bottoms and sides of each pan with butter and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Dust the sides of the pans with flour and shake off any excess. Set the pans aside for later use.

Sift Dry Ingredients

Take a mixing bowl and place a sieve over it.
Add 2 and ¼ cups of flour and 1 tsp of baking powder to the sieve.
Sprinkle ½ tsp of baking soda and ½ tsp of salt over the flour.
Sift these dry ingredients through the sieve into the mixing bowl so that there are no lumps.
Once sifted, whisk everything to ensure it’s mixed evenly.

Beat The Wet Ingredients

Take another mixing bowl and add ½ cup of unsalted softened butter and ½ cup of vegetable oil.
Pour in 1 and ½ cups of sugar and use an electric mixer to beat the mixture on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes.
Crack 3 large eggs into the bowl one at a time. After adding each egg, beat the mixture for about 15 seconds until it’s mixed properly.
Add 1 tbsp of vanilla essence and mix again until well combined.

Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with 1 cup of buttermilk. Add the flour mixture first, folding it in with a spatula and then add some buttermilk. Repeat the steps for the next batch.
Gently mix the flour mixture until just combined.

Bake The Cake

Prepare Buttercream Frosting

Take a mixing bowl and add 1 and ½ cups of unsalted room-temperature butter.
Use an electric mixer to beat the butter on medium-high speed for about 8-10 minutes or until it is light, fluffy, and tripled in volume. Using a spatula, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl throughout the process.
Add 1 cup of room-temperature condensed milk to the mix. Add the condensed milk in 3 parts, beating the mixture using a beater in between adding the condensed milk.
Add ¼ tsp of salt and 1 tsp of vanilla essence to the mix. Beat again until thoroughly combined.

Frost The Cake

Decorate, Serve, and Enjoy!

Once chilled, apply a final layer of frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Smooth the edges using a knife.
Fill a piping bag with some of the frosting and make decorative flowers around the cake.
Finish by adding colorful sprinkles over the decorative flowers.
Cut a slice and enjoy the best vanilla cake that stays moist for days!

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Nutrition Facts (Click to view) Hide

*This calculation is done by assumption calculated by an API. Please use our nutrition information just to get an idea about the recipe, consult a nutritionist if you need exact nutrition information.

Tried this recipe?

Soft and fluffy- this vanilla cake is lighter and easier on the stomach compared to other rich, dense desserts like chocolate or fruit cake. With a balanced flavor and mild sweetness, this vanilla cake is a great option to have if you prefer desserts that aren’t overly sugary or intense.

As the flavor doesn’t overpower other ingredients, you can enjoy this cake with toppings like fresh fruits, whipped cream, or a drizzle of chocolate.

Recipe FAQs

If you want a stronger vanilla flavor in your cake, use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla essence.

Yes, you can use the leftover batter cupcakes. Just adjust the baking time accordingly, as cupcakes typically bake in about 18-20 minutes.

As vanilla is a neutral flavor, you can easily incorporate other flavors such as lemon zest, almond extract or spices and enjoy a more customized, flavorful cake.