Warm Vanilla Cakes Recipes

MY BEST VANILLA CAKE - STAYS MOIST 4 DAYS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) for 20 minutes before starting the batter (Note 8). Place shelf in the middle of the oven.
• Grease 2 x 20cm / 8" cake pans with butter, then line with parchment / baking paper. (Note 9 more pan sizes) Best to use cake pan without loose base, if you can.
• Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Beat eggs for 30 seconds on speed 6 of a Stand Mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or hand beater.
• With the beater still going, pour the sugar in over 45 seconds.
• Then beat for 7 minutes on speed 8, or until tripled in volume and white.
• Heat Milk-Butter: While egg is beating, place butter and milk in a heatproof jug and microwave 2 minutes on high to melt butter (or use stove). Do not let milk bubble and boil (foam ok). Don't do this ahead and let the milk cool (this affects rise).
• Gently add flour: When the egg is whipped, scatter 1/3 flour across surface, then beat on Speed 1 for 5 seconds. Add half remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 sec. Add remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 - 10 sec until the flour is just mixed in. Once you can't see flour, stop straight away.
• Lighten hot milk with some Egg Batter: Pour hot milk, vanilla and oil into the now empty flour bowl. Add about 1 1/2 cups (2 ladles or so) of the Egg Batter into the Milk-Butter (don't need to be 100% accurate with amount). Use a whisk to mix until smooth - you can be vigorous here. Will look foamy.
• Slowly add milk: Turn beater back on Speed 1 then pour the Milk mixture into the Egg Batter over 15 seconds, then turn beater off.
• Scrape and final mix: Scrape down sides and base of bowl. Beat on Speed 1 for 10 seconds - batter should now be smooth and pourable.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Knock out bubbles: Bang each cake pan on the counter 3 times to knock out big bubbles (Note 10 for why)
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.
• Remove from oven. Cool in cake pans for 15 minutes, then gently turn out onto cooling racks. If using as layer cakes, cool upside down - slight dome will flatten perfectly. Level cake = neat layers.
• Frost with frosting of choice, or cream and fresh berries or jam. See list of ideas in post!
• Beat butter with paddle attachment in stand mixer for 3 minutes on high until it changes from yellow to almost white, and it becomes fluffy and creamy.
• Add icing sugar / powdered sugar gradually in 3 lots, beating slowly (to avoid a powder storm) then once mostly incorporated, beat on high for a full 3 minutes until fluffy.
• Add vanilla and milk, then beat for a further 30 seconds. Use milk only if needed to make it lovely and soft but still holds it's form (eg for piping). Use immediately. (If you make ahead, refrigerate then beat to re-fluff).

EASY VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch cake tin with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl. Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix by hand or use an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add more flour if batter is too runny. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and let cool, 15 to 30 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill slightly, 15 to 30 minutes more. Slice the cooled cake through the middle to make 2 layers.

CLASSIC VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust with flour, and tap out the excess.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, sugar and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla until combined.
• Alternate folding the flour mixture and the milk into the batter with a spatula, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes on the same oven rack until golden on top and the centers spring back to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Rotate the pans about halfway through if they seem to be browning unevenly. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: While the cakes cool, beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Once it's all been added, increase the speed to medium-high, and beat until white and fluffy. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk, and beat to incorporate. Beat in the remaining milk, one tablespoon at a time (the frosting will be spreadable but not runny).
• To assemble: Place 1 cake layer right-side up on a cake plate or stand, and spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

HOMEMADE VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9-inch pan.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a medium bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time; stir in vanilla extract and almond extract.
• Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until it springs back to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes.

WARM VANILLA CAKES

Steps:

• In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter, stirring frequently. When smooth, remove from the heat and whisk in flour and egg yolks. Split the vanilla beans and scrape the seeds into the batter. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Beat at medium speed until peaks just begin to form. Slowly sprinkle in the remaining sugar. Continue to beat for 2 minutes. Stir a good-size dollop of the whites into the chocolate mixture, then very gently fold in the rest. Refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the insides of 10 ramekins or muffin cups, each with a capacity of about 1/2 cup. Cut out circles of parchment paper for the bottom of each mold, insert and then butter the paper. Fill each mold about 3/4 full and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool 1 minute. Run the tip of a knife around each cake to release it. Gently invert onto plates. Discard the parchment. Sprinkle each cake with confectioners' sugar. Top with a scoop of ice cream and serve.

WARM VANILLA CAKES

Steps:

• Melt butter and 7 ounces white chocolate in a double boiler over water that is hot but not boiling. When mixture is melted, remove from heat and stir until smooth. Whisk in egg yolks and half the vanilla-bean seeds. Sift flour over mixture. Whisk until smooth.
• In an electric mixer fitted with a whisk, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Whisk until fluffy. Slowly add sugar a little at a time, until meringue is shiny and tight. Fold a little of the chocolate mixture into meringue; then fold meringue into remaining chocolate mixture, until mixture is smooth. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate about 8 hours.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Butter 12 metal rings 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 1/4 inches high. Place them on parchment paper. Using a spatula, spoon cool batter into a pastry bag with a tip opening of about 1/2 inch. Fill molds 1/3 full. Break remaining chocolate into pieces about 1 inch square and 1/8 inch thick. Drop a piece in each mold. Sprinkle a little cluster of vanilla seeds from remaining beans. Cover chocolate with more batter so molds are barely 2/3 full.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until risen and still a bit jiggly in center. Remove from oven. Have 12 plates ready. Slip tip of a knife under cake, and lift it a little; then slide a spatula underneath, and transfer to a serving plate. Holding mold in place with tongs, run a sharp knife around top edge of mold; then lift mold off cake with tongs. Repeat with other cakes. Serve immediately with ice cream.