Description
This Simple White Birthday Cake is a classic, light, and fluffy layer cake perfect for any celebration. Featuring a tender crumb and sweet white American buttercream frosting, it’s easy to make and delivers delicious results every time. The cake is prepared with basic pantry staples, making it an accessible and crowd-pleasing dessert for birthdays or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 2 ½ cups (275g) cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 tbsp clear vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
White American Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp clear vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which typically takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add Egg Whites and Vanilla: Add the egg whites one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, beating well after each addition. Then add the clear vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Milk: Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and the whole milk to the batter, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix each addition just until combined; avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Divide and Bake: Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove from pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: In a clean bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, clear vanilla extract, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk, beating until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Assemble and Frost Cake: Once the cakes are fully cooled, spread the buttercream frosting over one layer, top with the second cake layer, and frost the top and sides evenly.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for better mixing and texture.
- Do not overmix the batter as this can lead to a dense cake.
- Ensure cakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute the buttercream with cream cheese frosting or whipped cream for a different flavor.
- Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: white birthday cake, simple birthday cake, vanilla layer cake, American buttercream, classic white cake, homemade cake
