The Ultimate Easy Fluffy White Cake Recipe with Dreamy Cream Cheese Frosting

Imagine a cake so light, so fluffy, and so utterly delicious that it melts in your mouth with every bite. This isn’t just any white cake; it’s a dream come true for bakers and dessert lovers alike! Requiring only 8 simple ingredients and baking up perfectly in just 30 minutes, this recipe is your secret weapon for creating an unforgettable dessert. Whether you’re celebrating a special birthday, hosting an elegant bridal shower, or simply craving a homemade treat, this versatile white cake is perfect for layering into an impressive centerpiece or baking as a convenient sheet cake.

Discovering the Magic: Why This Fluffy White Cake is Our Go-To Recipe

There’s something truly special about a classic white cake. It evokes feelings of celebration, comfort, and pure joy. Our beloved white cake recipe stands out for its incredibly delicate crumb and light, spongy texture that makes it a true crowd-pleaser. Unlike dense, heavy cakes, this recipe yields an airy confection that’s surprisingly easy to achieve, even for novice bakers. It’s the perfect canvas for any occasion – from the elegance of a bridal shower to the festive atmosphere of a birthday party. The beauty of this cake lies in its simplicity, utilizing staple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

What makes this particular white cake a cherished favorite is its remarkable versatility. It can be effortlessly dressed up with elaborate decorations or served simply with a luxurious white frosting. We’ve even adapted this exact base recipe to create our vibrant pink lemonade cake, which is an absolute sensation during the summer months. The consistently moist and tender results make it a reliable choice that never disappoints, ensuring every slice is as delightful as the last. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a foundation for countless happy memories and delicious moments.

RELATED RECIPE: You might also love our delightful Strawberry Cake for another fruity celebration!

Essential Ingredients and Pro Baking Tips for Your Perfect White Cake

Achieving a truly spectacular white cake relies on understanding the role of each ingredient and mastering a few simple techniques. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and how to get the best results:

• Cake Flour: The Secret to a Tender Crumb
  The cornerstone of a truly light and tender white cake is cake flour. Its lower protein content results in less gluten development, leading to a softer, finer crumb. If you don’t have cake flour on hand, don’t worry! You can easily make a substitute using all-purpose flour and cornstarch. For every 1 cup of cake flour required, measure out 1 cup of all-purpose flour, then remove 2 tablespoons of that flour and replace it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift this mixture together thoroughly to ensure it’s well combined and aerated.
• Buttermilk: For Moisture and Tang
  Buttermilk not only adds a subtle tang that complements the sweetness of the cake but also contributes to its incredibly moist texture. Its acidity reacts with the baking powder, helping the cake rise beautifully and achieve that desirable fluffy consistency. If buttermilk isn’t readily available, a quick homemade version works just as well. Simply add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest of the way with regular milk until it reaches 1 1/4 cups. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles before using.
• Egg Whites: Purity in Color and Texture
  Many white cake recipes mistakenly call for whole eggs, which inevitably tints the batter yellow due to the yolks. To achieve a pristine white cake, we exclusively use egg whites. This also contributes to the cake’s delicate, airy structure. Don’t discard those leftover egg yolks! They are culinary gold and can be used to enrich other delicious recipes like banana cream pie, tangy Key Lime pie, luscious homemade banana pudding, or even a creamy white chocolate ice cream!
• Butter and Sugar: The Creaming Method
  Ensure your unsalted butter is at perfect room temperature – soft enough to indent with a finger but not melted. Creaming the butter and granulated sugar together for a full three minutes, as specified in the instructions, is crucial. This process incorporates air into the mixture, creating tiny pockets that will expand during baking, resulting in a lighter and fluffier cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Flavor Foundation
  Always opt for pure vanilla extract over imitation for the best, most authentic flavor profile in your white cake. It’s a foundational ingredient that adds warmth and depth to every bite.

When it comes to frosting, nothing quite compares to the rich, tangy indulgence of cream cheese frosting. But for this white cake, we take it a step further by gently folding in some freshly whipped heavy cream. This magical addition lightens the frosting, making it irresistibly airy and less cloyingly sweet, perfectly balancing the cake’s delicate flavor. I guarantee this creamy, dreamy frosting will become your new favorite!

Crafting Perfection: How to Make This Beautiful White Cake From Scratch

Baking a homemade cake from scratch is a rewarding experience, and with these clear steps, you’ll achieve a bakery-quality result every time.

1. Prepare Your Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk them together thoroughly. This ensures that the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients. Set this mixture aside.
2. Prepare Your Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg whites, and vanilla extract until well combined. This ensures that these liquid components are ready to be incorporated smoothly into the batter. Set this aside as well.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together at medium speed for a full 3 minutes. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the batter, making it light and fluffy. The mixture should become noticeably pale in color and very light and fluffy in texture.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add half of the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until combined. Then, add half of the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Repeat this process with the remaining dry and wet ingredients. This alternating addition helps to prevent overmixing the flour, which can lead to a tough cake, and ensures a smooth, emulsified batter. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed to ensure everything is fully combined.
5. Aeration for Extra Fluffiness: Once all ingredients are combined, increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter for two minutes more. This final mixing step further aerates the batter, creating an even lighter and more tender cake.
6. Prepare for Baking: Divide the perfectly aerated batter evenly between two prepared 9-inch round cake pans. Ensure your pans are properly buttered/floured and lined with parchment paper rounds to prevent sticking. Use a rubber spatula to gently smooth the tops of the batter in each pan.

6. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake the cakes in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them. The cakes are done when they are beautifully risen, the edges are lightly golden, and the center springs back gently when lightly touched. You can also insert a thin knife or a wooden skewer into the centers – it should come out clean.
7. Cooling Process: Once baked, transfer the cake pans to wire cooling racks. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for about 5 minutes. This brief cooling period helps the cakes firm up before removal. After 5 minutes, carefully invert the cakes onto the cooling racks, gently peel off the parchment paper from the bottoms, and let them cool completely before frosting. Attempting to frost a warm cake will result in a messy, melted disaster!

Mastering the Frosting: How to Make Dreamy Cream Cheese Frosting & Frost Your Cake

This lightened cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to the fluffy white cake, offering a rich, tangy, and airy finish.

1. Prepare the Cream Cheese Base: Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Ensure there are no lumps of cream cheese remaining. Transfer this mixture to another bowl and thoroughly clean out your mixing bowl, as you’ll need it for the next step.

2. Whip the Heavy Cream: Switch to the whisk attachment on your clean mixer. Pour in the cold heavy cream and beat it at medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip, as it can quickly turn into butter. You’re looking for peaks that hold their shape firmly.

3. Gently Combine Frosting Components: Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Incorporate it slowly to maintain the airiness of the whipped cream. Once most of the whipped cream and cream cheese are combined, give the frosting a final whisk for about one minute to ensure a uniformly smooth and luxurious consistency.

4. Layer and Frost: Place one completely cooled cake layer onto your serving plate or cake stand. Spread an even layer of about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the dreamy cream cheese frosting on top. If you love a generous filling, feel free to add a bit more!

5. Finishing Touches: Carefully place the second cooled cake layer on top of the first. Now, spread the remaining frosting evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create smooth swirls or a perfectly pristine finish. Garnish with fresh berries, sprinkles, or whatever your heart desires!

Smart Storage: How to Freeze This Delicious White Cake

This amazing white cake recipe isn’t just for immediate enjoyment; it’s also incredibly freezer-friendly, allowing you to savor its deliciousness whenever a craving strikes! If I’m not preparing this cake for a grand party, I often bake the two round layers and frost them individually. This method offers ultimate convenience for enjoying single servings later.

Once the individual layers are frosted, I cut each round into convenient triangle slices. These slices are then arranged on a wax paper-lined jelly roll pan and placed into the freezer for a couple of hours until they are firm and set. This step is crucial to prevent the slices from sticking together later.

After the slices are frozen solid, I remove them from the pan and individually wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap. This protective layer is key to preventing freezer burn and preserving the cake’s fresh taste and moist texture. The individually wrapped slices are then stored in a large freezer bag, ready for future indulgence. Whenever a hankering for cake arises, simply grab a slice, unwrap it while still frozen, and place it on a plate. In about 20 minutes at room temperature, the cake will have thawed perfectly and be ready to enjoy. It’s a fantastic way to always have a delicious homemade treat on hand without any extra effort!

For larger gatherings or future celebrations, you can also freeze and thaw the entire frosted cake using the same principle. Wrap it securely in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil, to protect it from odors and freezer burn. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving. This truly is my favorite white cake recipe, versatile in preparation, enjoyment, and storage!

Explore More Delicious Cake Recipes You Will Adore

If you’ve enjoyed baking and tasting this incredible white cake, you’ll be thrilled to discover more of our delightful cake creations. Expand your baking repertoire with these other fantastic recipes that are sure to become new family favorites:

• Classic Carrot Cake: A moist, spiced cake loaded with carrots and topped with rich cream cheese frosting.
• Homemade Strawberry Shortcake: Fresh, sweet, and perfect for summer with juicy strawberries and whipped cream.
• Banana Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: A deliciously moist cake brimming with banana flavor, ideal for using up ripe bananas.
• Elegant Chantilly Cake: A showstopper cake with layers of almond-flavored sponge, fresh berries, and light Chantilly cream.
• Comforting Dutch Apple Snack Cake: A simple, comforting cake filled with tender apples and a buttery streusel topping.
• Unique Chocolate Prune Cake: An unexpectedly delicious and incredibly moist chocolate cake with a secret ingredient.
• Classic Marble Cake: The best of both worlds with swirls of vanilla and chocolate cake in one delightful treat.

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This recipe was originally published on June 29, 2009 but has since been meticulously updated to include enhanced helpful tips, detailed instructions, and new enticing photos to guide you through every step of making this exquisite white cake.