This vanilla bean birthday cake is a delicious from-scratch cake that's got a delicious vanilla frosting. The perfect cake for vanilla lovers that's anything but boring.
I like vanilla. I said it.
Vanilla doesn't have to be boring. Not when it's done well. And this cake is fantastic.
A few years ago, I found a cake recipe from one of my favorite food blogs (and one of the first food blogs I ever read)! It is a berry birthday cake.
The typical preparation has you putting berries in the cake, but due to the pickiness of my family, I tend to leave them out and serve them on the side for whoever wants them.
So instead, the vanilla flavor really shines through. So instead of the big berry birthday cake, I call my version (slightly adapted from Joy’s) the vanilla bean birthday cake.
This cake is so good that I make it year after year. I sent the recipe to a co-worker, and she made the cake and wound up bringing the leftovers to work, and it was so tasty.
Before I made the cake this year, that co-worker and I stood around for like five minutes talking about the deliciousness of the cake.
How to customize
I love serving the cake with a mix of blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. However you can mix it up.
Want tropical vibes? Add some toasted coconut to the icing and serve with some fresh mango or pineapple.
Want to serve with cherries? Add a touch of almond extract to the frosting (almond and cherries are a match made in heaven).
Recipe notes
- Any leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator.
- The cake can be made fancy with different decorations. You can also top with fresh fruit.
How to make the vanilla bean birthday cake
First, butter and flour up those cake pans!
Divide the batter evenly into the two pans... well as close as you can get it.
Always frost the cake with two pieces of parchment underneath! That way it remains clean, and you can just slide each parchment piece out after you're done.
Make it fancy with a piping tip and colored frosting!
Okay, yes. We MAY use a brûlée torch to light our candles. Hardcore over here.
Adapted from Joy the Baker's Big Berry Birthday Cake.
More desserts to love
Vanilla Bean Birthday Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ vanilla bean seeds scraped out
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup cane sugar
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour sifted
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
- Blueberries and sliced strawberries for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter and flour two 8 inch cake pans.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. This is easiest done in a stand mixer with a paddle. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine the milk, vanilla extract and vanilla seeds.
- With mixer on low, alternate adding the flour mixture and milk mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
- Shut off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and ensure everything is well-combined.
- Evenly divide the batter between the two pans.
- Bake 40 minutes until a toothpick or skewer comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool for 15 minutes, then remove and set aside to finish cooling on a wire rack.
- To make frosting, cream the butter about 30 seconds with a mixer.
- Add the sugar and mix for another 5-7 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
- In a small saucepan, add ¼ cup milk, the vanilla and flour. Whisk together and then turn to medium heat.
- Add the rest of the milk, whisking slowly until mixture starts to thicken. Once it starts to thicken, remove from heat, and continue whisking for another minute. If you have lumps, strain the mixture. Let cool to room temperature.
- Once mixture has cooled, add to the butter/sugar mixture and beat about 4-5 minutes.
- Frost the cake, leaving a little icing aside to color. Color the remaining frosting and then pipe onto the cake to decorate.
- Serve with sliced strawberries and blueberries.
Notes
- Any leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator.
- The cake can be made fancy with different decorations. You can also top with fresh fruit.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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