Vanilla

Kenyan Banana Chocolate Chip with Orange-Blosso...

Bananas and roasted peanuts are a popular snack in Kenya, and other East and West African countries.  This cake marries peanuts with banana, a major Kenyan export crop.

Kenyan Banana Chocolate Chip with Orange-Blosso...

Bananas and roasted peanuts are a popular snack in Kenya, and other East and West African countries.  This cake marries peanuts with banana, a major Kenyan export crop.

Pakistani Mango Lassi with Rose Cream

This moist mango lassi cake is a satisfying combination of olive oil, mango, cardamom and rose. 

Pakistani Mango Lassi with Rose Cream

This moist mango lassi cake is a satisfying combination of olive oil, mango, cardamom and rose. 

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple with Cinnamon Sugar (D...

This dairy free Pennsylvania Dutch Apple cake is a cinnamon-laden apple cake that tastes like a delicious blend of apple cake and apple pie.

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple with Cinnamon Sugar (D...

This dairy free Pennsylvania Dutch Apple cake is a cinnamon-laden apple cake that tastes like a delicious blend of apple cake and apple pie.

Polish Summer with Lemon Sugar Crust

This popular Polish summer cake is a simple, yet delicious treat that celebrates summer fruit.  

Polish Summer with Lemon Sugar Crust

This popular Polish summer cake is a simple, yet delicious treat that celebrates summer fruit.  

Portuguese Almond with Almond Butter Sauce

This moist cake with a gorgeous almond topping comes from the sun-drenched Algarve region of Southern Portugal.

Portuguese Almond with Almond Butter Sauce

This moist cake with a gorgeous almond topping comes from the sun-drenched Algarve region of Southern Portugal.

Russian Keks Stolichny Sweet Raisin Cake

This cake was inspired by Keks Stolichny, a Soviet era sweet raisin cake which means Capital (or Metropolitan) Cake.

Russian Keks Stolichny Sweet Raisin Cake

This cake was inspired by Keks Stolichny, a Soviet era sweet raisin cake which means Capital (or Metropolitan) Cake.

Vanilla Cake How-to Video

Tips & Methods

Baking Tips

  • Preheat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended pan and line it with parchment paper.
    If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray made with flour.
  • For best results, weigh all ingredients and bring them to room temperature.
  • Don’t open the oven door until the cake has set, unless the recipe instructs you to do so.
  • Your cake is done when it begins to shrink from the sides of the pan, springs back when touched or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let your cake cool for 5-10 minutes before taking it out of the pan.
  • Cooled plain cakes (without frosting or pastry cream) can be double-wrapped first in cling film, then in aluminum foil and refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months.
    To defrost a frozen cake, simply place the wrapped cake in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
  • Store plain or glazed cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or up to a week in the refrigerator.
  • Store frosted cakes and cakes baked with pastry cream in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Olive Oil Cake Method

  • Pre-heat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
    If using a Bundt pan, apply a baking spray made with flour.
  • In a separate bowl, beat room temperature eggs at high speed for 3-5 minutes, then add mild extra virgin olive oil in a slow, steady drizzle until thick and creamy.
  • Add remaining wet ingredients and the cake mix to the egg mixture and mix until combined, stopping to scrape down the bowl. Do not overmix.
  • Gently mix stir ins into batter until well combined.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and sprinkle with toppings.
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe. Cool in baking pan for 5-10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool cake completely before frosting.

Vegan Olive Oil Cake Method

  • Pre-heat your oven to 325ºF.
  • Grease the recommended cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • Stir all wet ingredients together.
  • Place cake mix in a large bowl. Slowly add the liquid blend to the cake mix while mixing with a hand-held whisk until well combined.
  • Mix stir ins (nuts, berries, chopped fruit, chocolate chips etc.) into batter until just blended.
  • Scrape batter into prepared pan(s) and sprinkle with toppings (e.g. sliced almonds)
  • Bake immediately following the guidelines in the recipe.
  • Cool in baking pan for about 10 minutes before unmolding.
  • Cool cake completely before frosting.