Moist Vanilla Church Cake (Printable)

A tender vanilla sponge with simple glaze, perfect for gatherings and easy to make 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 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Spread batter evenly in prepared baking pan.
07 - Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake. Allow glaze to set before slicing.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Its the kind of cake that makes people ask, 'whats your secret' before theyve even finished their first slice
  • The buttermilk creates such a tender crumb that leftovers stay moist for days, assuming you actually have any
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter is the number one way to turn this tender cake into a tough one, so treat the flour like a guest you dont want to overstay
  • The glaze should be thick enough to coat a spoon but thin enough to pour, and it will set beautifully if you wait until the cake is completely cool
03 -
  • Use the paddle attachment instead of the whisk on your stand mixer to avoid overworking the gluten
  • Room temperature ingredients combine more easily and create a finer, more tender crumb texture

Go Back