This vanilla birthday cake recipe is simple but delicious. It's perfect for a sweet celebration!
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It’s your birthday—so you deserve nothing less than the best. Either that, or you’re baking for someone else’s birthday party, and your guest of honor deserves the best, too! This fluffy vanilla birthday cake recipe is a showstopper when topped with luscious vanilla buttercream and confetti sprinkles.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; then grease the parchment. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. (Be sure you’re measuring dry ingredients correctly!)
Beat in the softened butter. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in milk and extracts.
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Step 2: Bake the cake
Transfer batter to your prepared pans. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove the parchment paper. Cool completely.
Not allowing a cake to cool is one of the most common cake mistakes, so be patient here.
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Step 3: Make the frosting
To make the vanilla buttercream, beat butter until creamy in a large bowl. The Test Kitchen loves this stand mixer for all things baking, especially tasks like this that would be a workout with a hand mixer. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve your desired consistency.
Step 4: Frost the cake
Use about 3/4 cup of frosting between the layers, then frost the outside of the cake as desired and decorate with confetti sprinkles. You can use our simple cake decorating instructions below, or if you’re feeling ambitious, explore more birthday cake decorating ideas.
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How to Decorate a Vanilla Birthday Cake
Using a small amount of frosting and an offset spatula, give your cake a crumb coat: a thin and even layer of frosting. Let it chill in the fridge about an hour so the frosting can harden.
Next, fold about 1/3 cup of sprinkles into the remaining frosting and apply a generous layer to the tops and sides using an offset spatula. With what’s left of your frosting, fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a border around the top of the cake.
Decorate with remaining sprinkles and dig in!
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How to Store Your Vanilla Birthday Cake
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap. It should last in the fridge about 3-4 days, but we doubt it will make it that long.
Homemade Frosting Recipes for Any Cake
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Chocolate Ganache
This smooth, satin chocolate ganache recipe will bring a touch of elegance to even the most basic cake. A simple garnish, like fresh fruit, adds the finishing touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Learn how to decorate a cake like a pro!
Italian Meringue ButtercreamI use this creamy Italian meringue buttercream on my lemon-raspberry cupcakes. It's not as sweet as American buttercream, so it really complements the sweetness of the cupcakes. —Katelyn Craft, Stamford, New York
Peanut Butter Buttercream FrostingThis simple peanut butter buttercream frosting makes enough to frost a three- or four-layer cake. For peanut butter-lovers, this is the only frosting they need in their recipe boxes. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas
Get tips from our Test Kitchen on how to frost a cake so it looks fresh from the bakery.
French ButtercreamFrench buttercream has a custard-like texture and is great if you're going to be piping shapes or decorations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Best Vanilla ButtercreamWhy is this recipe crowned the best vanilla buttercream frosting? With its powerfully decadent vanilla bean flavor and delightfully creamy texture, your family and friends will scrape every last bit of this frosting off their plates. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chocolate Peanut Butter FrostingChocolate and peanut butter are such an enjoyable combination. This delicious chocolate peanut butter frosting makes a satisfying topping to these moist chocolate cupcakes.—Ruthe Stevenson, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Check out our collection of the best types of frosting.
German ButtercreamThis German buttercream frosting is super silky and buttery. It's pleasantly sweet, but not overly sweet like some American buttercreams can be. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cream Cheese FrostingThis smooth, versatile cream cheese frosting has a delicate vanilla flavor. The woman who made the wedding cake for our daughter, Leanne, and her groom, Billy, used this recipe. It's also excellent on carrot cake. —Sharon Lugdon, Greenbush, Maine
Rich Chocolate FrostingMy husband, Doug, loved his groom's cake that was topped with this smooth, rich chocolate buttercream frosting and accented with chocolate-covered strawberries. —Amy Via, North Richland, Texas
Blackberry ButtercreamJuicy blackberry buttercream frosting has a stunning color and sophisticated flavor. This frosting works especially well on rich, decadent chocolate cake. —Jocelyn Delk Adams, GrandBaby-Cakes.com
Easy Vanilla Buttercream FrostingAfter trying a few buttercream frosting recipes, this easy vanilla buttercream frosting takes the cake with its unmatchable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Diana Wilson, Denver, Colorado
Old-Fashioned Ermine FrostingErmine frosting brings back memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmother. This old-timey frosting was her go-to for cakes when she didn't have cornstarch or cream cheese. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cupcake FrostingSimple vanilla frosting is a great topper for any cupcake. I frosted 300 cupcakes with this recipe for my wedding in lieu of a traditional cake. It made for a delicious bridal twist. — Annie Rundle, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Peanut Butter Whipped Cream FrostingA luscious peanut butter whipped cream frosting is just a few ingredients away. Try it piped over your favorite chocolate cupcakes or dolloped onto hot chocolate. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Royal IcingCurious to learn how to make royal icing? Our Test Kitchen experts have mastered this royal icing recipe for this stunning cookie decoration. Royal icing is different from other types of icing because it dries quickly and has a super-smooth finish—perfect for decorating! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Fluffy White FrostingFor a heavenly light and fluffy frosting, you can't top this variation of the classic seven-minute frosting. —Georgia Bohmann, West Allis, Wisconsin
Bakery FrostingThis recipe makes it easy to capture the fabulous flavor of cakes from the best bakeries. A big batch of this sweet frosting keeps for 3 months in the refrigerator. —Barbara Jones, Tower Hill, Illinois
Vanilla FrostingDon't know how to make icing for cake but don't want to settle for store-bought frosting? This four-ingredient easy vanilla frosting recipe is the perfect topper for your cakey creations. The homemade taste just can't be beat. —Mary Faulk, Cambridge, Wisconsin. If you’re running late, check out these different ways to make store-bought frosting better.
Creamy Fudge FrostingFor every occasion that calls for chocolate frosting, keep this fudgy recipe close by. With just five ingredients from the pantry, you’ve got magic in minutes. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream FrostingFresh strawberries are full of water, so they have a tendency to weigh down cake batters and make soggy cakes. That’s why these strawberry cupcakes rely on strawberry jam or preserves. The concentrated flavor is just right for light and tender cupcakes. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Buttercream FrostingA few simple ingredients make a creamy frosting that finishes cakes, cupcakes and cookies. If you love making desserts, keep this buttercream frosting recipe handy. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Confetti Birthday Cake with Chocolate ButtercreamThis is a moist confetti cake with lots of sprinkles and a whipped chocolate buttercream. It's perfect for birthday celebrations! —Courtney Rich, Highland, Utah
Apple Pie Cupcakes with Cinnamon ButtercreamThese apple pie cupcakes are always a hit! They are so easy to make and the flavor just screams fall. Of course, they're equally delicious any other time of year. —Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
Emily's Strawberry Cake with Strawberry ButtercreamMy husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
Vanilla GlazeThis is the perfect vanilla glaze for a dessert bread. It is so simple to whip up, you will be adding it to all of your breads.—Mary Faulk, Cambridge, Wisconsin
Espresso FillingCoffee lovers will go crazy for cakes made with this heavenly filling. It's rich, decadent and irresistible! —Megan Byers, Wichita, Kansas
Maple Glaze for DoughnutsCider doughnuts are a tradition in Vermont, but here in Texas, we love maple flavors, too. Our glaze of choice features delicious maple syrup. —Barbara Elliott, Tyler, Texas. Looking for more? Check out our collection of the best Vermont recipes.
Vanilla Bean Cake with White Chocolate GanacheFor a distinctive dessert with unforgettable flavor, I recommend this cake. Feel free to substitute your favorite jam and lend your own touch to this signature treat. —Lisa Bogar, Coventry, Vermont
Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon FrostingWhen I spread these spicy gingerbread rounds with my lemony cream cheese frosting, I knew I had a hit. Cardamom and allspice add a hint of chai tea flavor. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
Favorite Frosted BrowniesThese are my tried-and-true brownies for many holidays. Everyone always agrees that they are absolutely yummy! I sometimes top them with candy sprinkles for a little color. —Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah
Buttermilk Cake with Caramel IcingThis fabulous cake and caramel frosting are so tender, it melts in your mouth. It's been a family favorite since the '70s and it goes over really well at church potluck meals. —Anna Jean Allen, West Liberty, Kentucky
Confetti Cake with Brown Sugar ButtercreamThis simple and tender cake has been celebrated in my family for years. Dressed up with tinted frosting and confetti, it becomes pure party fun. — Karen Berner, New Canaan, Connecticut
Editor's Tip: Tint white frosting with liquid, gel or paste food coloring. Liquid will give a pastel color; gel and paste give a deeper color. Add a little at a time, stir in and check the color. You can always add more, but it's hard to lighten the color. The color generally darkens as the frosting dries.
Banana Cake with Chocolate FrostingI always requested banana cake with fudge frosting for my birthday. Mom’s recipe is attached to my fridge—and my heart. It’s funny how many memories live on in a stained handwritten recipe card. On a more practical note: It's important to make sure the whipped cream cheese is truly at room temperature before you use it. If not, it chills the softened butter and makes for lumpy frosting. —Jeanne Ambrose, Des Moines, Iowa
Frosted Pumpkin DoughnutsOur three children grew pumpkins to sell. During harvest, it was time to make these scrumptious doughnuts. The orange frosting is super. —Connie Simon, Reed City, Michigan
Chocolate Spice Cake with Caramel IcingI found this recipe back in the late '80s and knew it was a special cake. The caramel icing can be a little tricky because you have to work quickly, but it's so worth it! —Mariann James, Ferguson, Missouri
Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Cake with Penuche FrostingMy aunt, who was born in the 1920s, passed this recipe down to me. She made the cake from scratch from start to finish because she didn't have modern amenities to help her in the kitchen. The penuche frosting goes with the cake nicely. —Beth Vorst, Columbus Grove, Ohio
Coconut Cake with White Chocolate FrostingMy husband adores coconut but not so much cake. When I take this beauty to family potlucks, he gets his coconut, too. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas
Sarah Tramonte tests, styles and photographs recipes for Taste of Home’s digital platforms. You may also recognize her (and her hands) from Taste of Home's social media pages, as she produces of variety of videos. In addition to visual production, she writes articles on food trends and recipe comparisons, among other things. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Art and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is the author of The Moody Foodie, a self-published cookbook that was the catalyst for her culinary career. Sarah currently lives in Bayview, Milwaukee with her two cats/spoiled roommates, Mochi and Cleo.
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Updated: Oct. 19, 2022
