My mom used to make a very simple vanilla cake- just flour, baking powder, butter, eggs, and a splash of vanilla as main ingredients. Now that I have kids of my own, I make the exact delicious cake with the family recipe. The difference? I pair it with a rich chocolate frosting. The soft vanilla cake with chocolate frosting has become our new family favorite!
So, what’s the secret to this cake that gives everyone the fuzzy and happy vibes?
I would say it’s the perfect pair of two classic favorites- vanilla and chocolate! The soft, vanilla cake from my mom’s recipe tastes amazing with the cream cheese chocolate frosting I add- it’s a delicious blend of tradition and sweetness in one perfect bite.
The cake, being vanilla flavored, works as its secret strength- it’s like a blank canvas that pairs well with just about anything. So, on the days I feel moody, I load my cake with extra frosting, chocolate chips, caramel drizzle, and maybe even a scoop of ice cream on top.
But when I am watching my weight and keeping things light? I skip the extras and bake it plain. That’s the beauty of this delicious vanilla cake– it adapts to whatever mood you are in very easily!
Why You’ll Love This Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- A classic choice for special occasions.
- Balanced flavor with soft vanilla and rich cocoa.
- Easy to prep ahead and store.
- Moist and fluffy with just the right sweetness.
- Once you taste it, there’s no going back!
Tips To Make The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe With Cream Cheese Chocolate Frosting
Baking your first birthday cake? This vanilla cake and chocolate frosting combo will impress everyone when you follow these simple tips:
- Want the vanilla flavor to deepen a bit? Add a splash of espresso or brewed coffee to the batter for a stronger taste.
- Always make sure to use room temperature ingredients, especially eggs, butter, and milk.
- For a light and airy texture, mix the batter until just combined and avoid overmixing.
- Let the batter rest for 10 minutes before baking to make the cake extra fluffy.
- Use a measuring scale for distributing the cake batter evenly in two cake pans.
- Make the chocolate flavor pop by warming the cocoa powder before mixing it into the frosting.
- Chill the frosting for a few minutes before frosting to help hold its shape easily.
- You can add a tiny bit of corn syrup to make your chocolate frosting extra glossy and beautiful!
Serving Suggestions
Ready to see how fun it is to serve this vanilla cake with chocolate frosting? Check out all the delicious ways to serve this cake for different occasions and feel free to add your own twists to this recipe!
Frosty Pairings
Ice Cream
Serve the cake warm with a scoop of your favorite coffee, mint, salted caramel, or, better yet, vanilla ice cream for a delicious hot and cold experience!
Beverages
Whether it’s a hot chocolate, creamy latte, fruit punch, or matcha green tea, this vanilla cake with frosting combo goes with just about anything!
Guilt-Free Goodies
Mini Slices
Worried about the extra calories? No need to skip cake- just go for smaller slices and add fresh berries to keep it light and still delicious!
Optional Frosting
The frosting is where all the sneaky sugar hides, so why not serve it on the side? Let your guests choose the sweetness level- a little, a scoop, or none at all if they wanna skip.
Greek Yogurt Alternative
Don’t want all the sugar rush, but still want all the fun? Try Greek yogurt instead- it’s creamy, delicious, and holds the cake together perfectly like a frosting!
Let’s Celebrate!
Make A Wish
Wish your loved ones(and yourself!) a happy birthday with this classic birthday cake. All that’s missing are a few sprinkles, a number candle, and some melted chocolate drips to call it a true celebration!
A Slice For Every Season
Celebrate every season by dressing up your cake with different flavors. Add juicy fruits like strawberries and peaches for summer, cinnamon and caramel drizzle for autumn, and chocolate shards with powdered sugar for winter as seasonal twists.
Mini Munchkin
Cake Pops
For the tiniest party guests, bite-sized treats are the way to go! Crumble the baked cake, mix in some frosting, roll into cute little balls, and stick them on lollipop sticks.
Want to make it even better? Dunk the balls in melted chocolate and sprinkle them with colors for a sparkly finish; kids can’t resist!
Frozen Sandwich
Hot outside? Make yummy mini cake sandwiches for the kids! Just put chocolate frosting between two little cake squares and freeze them for a fun, chilly snack kids will love.
Fruity Cake Skewers
Sneak in some healthy goodness to your kids’ snacks by serving colorful, fruity cake skewers. Combine fresh strawberries, grapes, and banana slices with soft cake cubes on skewers for a fun and fruity cake treat!
Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
For Vanilla Cake
- 2 & ¼ cups / 280 g All-Purpose Flour
- 1 & ½ tsp / 6 g Baking Powder
- ½ tsp / 2 g Baking Soda
- ½ tsp / 3 g Salt
- ½ cup / 115 g Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
- ½ cup / 120 ml Vegetable Oil
- 1½ cups / 300 g Granulated Sugar
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Vanilla Essence
- 1 cup / 240 ml Buttermilk
Cream Cheese and Chocolate Icing
- ½ cup / 115 g Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
- 1 cup / 227 g Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)
- 3 cups / 370 g Powder Sugar/Icing Sugar
- ½ cup / 43 g Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp / 5 ml Vanilla Essence
- ¼ tsp / 1.5 g Salt
- 2-3 tbsp / 2-3 Heavy Cream/Milk
Instructions
Make The Vanilla Cake:
Preheat The Oven and Prepare The Pans
- Preheat your oven to 175 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grab two 8-inch round cake pans and, 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.
Mix The Dry Ingredients
- In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Whisk the mixture with a spatula and set the bowl aside.
Prepare The Wet Ingredients
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add butter and oil.
- Add granulated sugar and, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the mixture until creamy and smooth.
- Add the eggs one at a time and beat after each addition.
- Add vanilla essence mix again until fully incorporated.
Alternate Buttermilk and Flour Mixture
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in 2 or 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.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the two cake pans.
Bake and Cool The Cake
- Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
- Check the cake’s doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean with a few crumbs, it means it’s done.
- Let the cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Once cooled, remove the cake from the pan using a butter knife.
- Flip the cakes upside down and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare The Chocolate Frosting:
Mix Butter and Cream Cheese
- Grab a mixing bowl and add butter and cream cheese to it.
- Beat the butter and cream cheese using a standing mixer or handheld mixer and beat again until smooth.
Add Sugar, Cocoa, and Flavorings
- Gradually add powdered sugar into the mixture and beat on low speed until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Add cocoa powder and beat again until fully combined.
- Beat the frosting mixture until it’s light and fluffy,
- Add vanilla essence and heavy cream/milk to the butter and cream cheese mixture.
- And beat the frosting mixture until it’s light and fluffy to reach your desired consistency.
Assemble and Frost The Cake:
Layer The Cake
- Grab a serving plate and place one of the prepared cakes on top of it.
- Spread a generous amount of the chocolate frosting on top.
- Place the second cake layer on top of it and frost the top and sides evenly.
Finish and Decorate!
- Use a spatula to create smooth or swirl patterns for a textured look.
- Decorate the vanilla cake with chocolate sprinkles, chocolate shavings, crushed cookies, and a dusting of cocoa powder.
- Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for nice, cleaner cuts when serving.
I remember my mom making this vanilla cake with such simple ingredients and gentle mixing. Yet somehow, it always came out so soft and warm, I would wait by the oven just to get the first slice. And now my kids do the same, trying to sneak a taste of the chocolate frosting before I even get it on the cake!
The recipe is basically timeless– passed down with love and has plenty of room to add your own touch and make it yours.
Recipe FAQs
What Can I Use Instead Of Buttermilk?
If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes. You can use this mixture as a buttermilk substitute.
Can I Keep The Frosted Cake In The Refrigerator?
Yes, you can keep the frosted cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What Other Frostings Can I Use Instead Of Chocolate?
You can try white chocolate cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, chocolate ganache, chocolate buttercream frosting, or caramel frosting instead of the chocolate frosting in the recipe.
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