Low Sugar Vanilla Cake

Total time1 hr 25 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time35 min

This classic layer cake bakes up soft and tender thanks to a buttermilk-style batter brightened with a touch of vinegar and rounded out with applesauce for extra moisture. Whisked wet and dry ingredients come together into a smooth, fluffy crumb that bakes up golden and level in two 9-inch rounds. Real vanilla extract gives both the cake and the whipped frosting that warm, unmistakable flavor, while the frosting itself gets beaten until light, pale, and perfectly spreadable. Once cooled, the layers are stacked and coated in that fluffy frosting, finished smooth with an offset spatula for that classic bakery look. It's a straightforward, from-scratch cake that fits neatly into an added sugar free kitchen without sacrificing any of the texture or flavor you want from a celebration cake. Slice it up for birthdays, potlucks, or just because — it holds its shape and flavor beautifully.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
King Arthur Baking Company Unbleached All-Purpose Flour Gold Medal Flour All-Purpose Unbleached - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill Organic All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Pillsbury Best Flour All Purpose - 5 Lb
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1 ½ cups granulated sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Baking behavior varies by blend: some brown faster or stay softer, while others brown less. Follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup whole milk
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup neutral oil (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp white vinegar

For the frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chef's tip
Follow the package's conversion to powdered sugar. In frosting or glaze, add liquid gradually - replacements can absorb it differently.
3 tbsp whole milk
1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, 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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