Vanilla Bean Birthday Cake Buttercream (Printable)
Tender vanilla bean cake layers with creamy buttercream frosting make this classic dessert perfect for celebrations and special occasions.
# What You Need:
→ For the Vanilla Bean Cake
01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon fine salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or seeds from 2 vanilla beans
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
→ For the Buttercream Frosting
09 - 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 tablespoons whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
→ For Decoration
14 - Sprinkles or edible flowers (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla bean paste.
05 - Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Smooth tops with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add milk, vanilla, and salt; beat on high for 3 minutes until fluffy.
10 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of buttercream on top. Place second layer over first, then frost top and sides.
11 - Decorate with sprinkles or edible flowers if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The vanilla bean paste creates those beautiful tiny specks that make everyone think you are a professional baker
- This buttercream is stable enough for outdoor summer parties but still melts in your mouth
02 -
- Overmixed batter produces tough, dense cake layers
- Buttercream can curdle if ingredients are too cold or too warm
03 -
- Weigh your ingredients with a kitchen scale for perfect results every time
- Use a warm offset spatula dipped in hot water for smoothing buttercream