Vegan Vanilla Birthday Cake

Total time2 hr

Prep time25 min

Cook time35 min

Two soft, tender rounds of vanilla cake come together with a fine, even crumb thanks to a simple whisked batter—no fancy equipment required, just a couple of bowls and a whisk. Vanilla extract runs through both the cake and the frosting, so the flavor stays bright and true from bite to bite, and a touch of vinegar in the batter helps give the crumb that classic bakery-style tenderness. Once the layers cool completely, they get stacked and coated in a thick, fluffy frosting swept up the sides in swoops, finished with a shower of rainbow sprinkles for that unmistakable birthday-party look. This is the kind of cake you slice into for candles and celebrations, with layers sturdy enough to stack and frosting soft enough to pipe or spread into swirls. It's a solid pick for a plant-based celebration cake, delivering all the nostalgia of a classic birthday bake without missing a beat.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Bob's Red Mill Organic All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Jovial Flour All Purpose Organic Einkorn Bag - 32 Oz Ka Flour Unbleached - 10 LB Arrowhead Mills Organic Unbleached White Flour, 80 oz Arrowhead Mills Organic White All Purpose Flour 22 oz Pkg
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1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups whole milk
Chef's tip
Use plain, unsweetened oat milk, measured 1:1. It works well in drinks, batters, sauces, and soups; avoid it where milk sets the texture, like custards, puddings, and frozen desserts.
½ cup neutral oil (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
½ cup sour cream
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp white vinegar

For the frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
Chef's tip
Use a stick or block-style dairy-free butter - not a soft tub spread - and swap one-for-one.
3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
3–4 tbsp heavy cream
Chef's tip
Use unsweetened dairy-free heavy cream in cooked sauces, soups, and ganache. For whipped uses, choose a product labeled whippable.
1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt

For serving

rainbow sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter or cooking spray, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and grease the parchment.
2
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.

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