Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

This is the most moist and flavorful vanilla cake, with that nostalgic, old-fashioned vanilla flavor that tastes like the cakes you grew up eating. It uses three different types of vanilla for an extra-rich vanilla flavor, then gets covered in a creamy vanilla cream cheese icing that adds just the right amount of tang and sweetness. The cake is incredibly soft and moist, making this my ultimate vanilla layer cake recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cake flour (480 g)

• 2 tsp baking powder (8 g)

• 1 tsp baking soda (5 g)

• ¾ cup liquid coconut cooking oil (170 g)

• 1½ sticks salted butter, room temperature

• 2½ cups granulated sugar (500 g)

• 8 egg whites

• 2 TB vanilla bean paste (30 g)

• 2 tsp vanilla extract (10 g)

• 1 tsp imitation vanilla extract (5 g)

• 2 cups buttermilk (480 ml)

Cream Cheese Icing:

• 2 sticks salted butter 

• 8oz cream cheese 

• 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste

• 6-8 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter, coconut oil, and sugar on medium-high speed until pale, light, and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.

4. With the mixer still running, slowly pour in the egg whites. Continue whipping for 1–2 minutes, until well combined.

5. Add the vanilla bean paste, vanilla extract, and imitation vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

6. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix until just combined, followed by ½ of the buttermilk. Continue alternating the flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until everything is incorporated.

7. Divide the batter evenly between the three prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.

8. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Allow the cakes to cool before removing them from the pans and frosting