Moist Vanilla Church Cake (Printable Version)

Moist vanilla sponge with sweet glaze, ideal for gatherings and easy to prepare in large batches.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup buttermilk

→ Vanilla Glaze

10 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
11 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the cooled cake. Allow glaze to set before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The buttermilk keeps it incredibly moist without any fancy techniques
  • It feeds a crowd without requiring special equipment or decoration skills
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and create a better texture
  • Over mixing the flour once the buttermilk is added will make the cake tough
03 -
  • Test for doneness a few minutes early since ovens vary
  • Warm the glaze slightly if it thickens too much while pouring