You’ll want to make this moist french vanilla cake from scratch every day. Add this fluffy cake to your best cake recipe list because it’s sure to be a favorite.
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Hey there! Before you scroll, there’s lot’s of important stuff in the post!…including the FAQ section, which may answer any questions you might have about this recipe. Enjoy!
This french vanilla cake is super moist and it’s jam packed with french vanilla flavor, then covered in rich french vanilla buttercream.
When I was just a kid, I used to make cakes like a crazy person. I mean I was always in the kitchen making cakes. (I have no idea how I wasn’t a gazillion pounds.)
Back then, I made cakes from a box. It was easier for me and frankly I was impatient and just wanted to eat my cake as soon as I could.
I was very fond of the French Vanilla cake mixes. Nine times out of ten, I’d choose that flavor to bake. So, for this recipe, I really wanted to create a scratch version of that cake.
So why ‘french’ vanilla and what’s the difference? Well I really didn’t know. All I knew was that I really liked the flavor. So I did what I do best and decided to do a little research.
I’ll spare you all the details and just go with a summary here if you’re interested. So generally, types of vanilla are named after the places where they’re grown…Madagascar vanilla, Tahitian vanilla etc., but apparently that’s not the case with French vanilla.
French vanilla is actually a way of making a custard that gives it a rich, deeper taste. So, yes, it’s a flavor, but not in the same way as the other vanilla extracts. You get that flavor because of a method that is used to make the custard.
Well okay…I’m not gonna argue with science or history, but I’m just sayin’ that I can tell the difference. It’s subtle, but I knew what I was looking for and I knew there had to be a way to get it.
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Well I actually found a french vanilla extract that is Uh-mazing! I’m serious. I’m using it in everything now. Here is a link to it and I REALLY hope you can get it. French Vanilla Extract
You can make this recipe without it, but I think it’s SO good if you can get it.
I also used french vanilla creamer and a french vanilla pudding mix and that gives it a little extra french vanilla flavor, but doesn’t make it taste fake.
We’re covering this bad boy with french vanilla buttercream. We’re not skimping on the french vanilla…nope…might as well go for the gold, right?
The mixing method for this cake is the old fashioned creaming method. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
TIPS & FAQs FOR THE FRENCH VANILLA CAKE:
- This recipe calls for french vanilla pudding mix. Use the small box and use it dry. (I have not tested this recipe without it. If you can’t get it, just omit it. In theory it should still come out fine, but since I haven’t tested that, I can’t promise it.)
- You’ll need two small boxes of the french vanilla pudding mix. You’ll only use a small amount from the second box to make the buttercream. (You can omit this from the buttercream if you don’t have a second box.)
- This recipe calls for french vanilla creamer. Use the liquid creamer you get in the dairy aisle at the grocery store. If you can’t get this, just use half and half cream.
- This recipes calls for a specific type of vanilla extract for this cake. You can find it here: French Vanilla Extract It is very good, but if you can’t get it, just use regular vanilla extract in the same amounts. It won’t have that french vanilla taste, but it will still be good.
- Make sure your butter is room temperature. (Don’t microwave it to warm it up. Just set it out and let it come to room temp on its own.)
- Try to get the eggs as close to room temp as you can. Just set them out a bit before you start baking.
Ok, let’s get to the recipe. Don’t forget, there’s a video there as well to help.
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ITEMS & TOOLS USED FOR THE FRENCH VANILLA CAKE:
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Flex Edge Beater Attachment for Stand Mixer
- 8″ Baking Pans
- French Vanilla Extract
Video:
Note About Recipe Measurements: I write recipes using volume (cups) measurements because here in the U.S., this is what people are more familiar with and I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated when baking. For metric/weight measurements, click the ‘metric’ button under the ingredients in the recipe card below. The weights are converted by a program, not me, and it’s just a best guess. I can’t guarantee that weighing the ingredients will produce the exact same results, since I test recipes using volume measurements.
Recipe:
Moist French Vanilla Cake from Scratch
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3.4 oz small box dry instant french vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup french vanilla coffee creamer (I get this from the refrigerated section. It's the creamer in the milk section, not the dry powdered creamer. This really pumps up the flavor and the moistness. See notes for substitution options.
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 teaspoon french vanilla extract (French vanilla extract adds a different type of vanilla flavor than regular extract, but if you don’t have it or can’t get it, you can use regular vanilla extract instead in the same amount.)
- 1 cup butter (slightly cooler than room temp)
- 1 ⅔ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
For the buttercream:
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoon dry french vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups butter (room temperature)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 7 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1 teaspoon french vanilla extract (If you can’t get this, you can substitute with regular vanilla extract)
- ¼ cup french vanilla coffee creamer (If you don’t have this, you can substitute with cream or milk)
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Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Grease and flour two 8″ round cake pans and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and small package of dry instant french vanilla pudding. Whisk well and set aside.
- In another bowl, add the french vanilla coffee creamer, milk, oil and french vanilla (or regular vanilla) extract. Whisk well and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the room temperature butter and mix on medium until smooth. Add in the sugar and mix on medium and then on medium high for several minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add in the eggs one at a time and mix on medium just until combined. Only mix until the egg is just incorporated. Try not to over mix. If your eggs are super cold, your batter may look a little curdled at this point, but just keep going.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again on medium, just until everything is incorporated.
- Alternately add in the flour mixture and the liquid mixture. Starting and ending with the flour mixture. (Add in ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix on medium just until combined. Add in ½ the liquid mixture, mixing only until combined. Add in another ⅓ of the flour mixture, mixing only until combined. Add in the last of the liquid mixture, mixing only until combined, then the last of the flour mixture and mix until combined.)
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again until well combined. You only want to mix until well combined, which is about 15 seconds. Mixing for several minutes is too long for a scratch cake.
- Divide batter into the prepared pans. Batter will be quite thick so just spread it around evenly in your pans.
- Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 55 – 60 minutes. The cake will be a little darker than the normal golden brown. Insert a toothpick somewhere in the middle and a few moist crumbs should stick to the toothpick.
- Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 20 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely before adding buttercream.
For the buttercream:
- In a small bowl, add the milk and the two tablespoons of dry french vanilla pudding mix. Whisk well and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter well for a minute or two on medium/low to medium speed.
- Add in three cups of confectioner’s sugar and the salt and mix on low until incorporated and then medium until well mixed.
- Add one tablespoon of french vanilla creamer and mix on low, then medium until incorporated.
- Add the last four cups of confectioner’s sugar and mix on low until incorporated and then medium until well mixed.
- Add in the milk and pudding mixture plus the vanilla extract and mix on low until incorporated, then on medium until well mixed.
- Check the consistency. If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of the french vanilla coffee creamer and mix again. You may need to add more cream, or milk to get the correct spreading consistency.
- Once you reach the consistency desired, beat on medium speed for a couple minutes until fluffy, then spread onto cake.
Notes
- Per a comment left on this post, try using half vanilla and half hazelnut creamer to get the French vanilla flavor. (Thanks to Dena for this suggestion.)
- You could also just replace the creamer with half & half cream, heavy cream, or whole milk.
Nutrition
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Vontrisia
Hi, can I use cake flour instead of AP?
Kara
I have not tried this recipe with cake flour, but it should work ok. To use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour you’ll want to make some adjustments though. Use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cake flour for every cup of all-purpose flour that the recipe calls for.
Vontrisia
Thank you for replying so quickly. I will try it and let you know how it works out.
Dena
hi, you might try half vanilla and half hazelnut flavoring to get your French vanilla flavor if it’s hard to get this brand of flavoring you’re suggesting. At Starbucks, French vanilla is just a mixture of vanilla and hazelnut together. it’s what I use when I make french vanilla cookies. All three of my kids were baristas at some point.
Kara
Dena, thank you so much for this suggestion. I’m going to add this to the recipe card notes section so others can see there’s another option. Thanks again!
Haley
Does the eggs and milk and creamer and butter be room temperature?? The article says butter to be room temp but in the recipe cooler then room temp . I am making this tomorrow
Kara
It’s always good if all of the ‘cold’ ingredients can be closer temp to each other, but it’s not as vital as the butter. Hope this helps!
Haley
So the cold Ingredients must be cold is what you’re saying then? And the butter I’m confused as I read two different things. I lm just asking for clarification so I don’t mess it up
Kara
I’m sorry, I probably wasn’t very clear. It’s best if all the ingredients are close to room temperature, but that’s not vital. The butter definitely does need to be room temp, but if the other ingredients are a little colder, then it’s not going to ruin the recipe. Sorry I didn’t explain that as well as I should have!
Alaina
Hi— can the oil be replaced with additional butter?
Kara
I haven’t tried it, but this recipe only calls for a small amount of oil, so I think it would be just fine. I just like using a bit of oil because it helps make a moist cake. If you try it, I’d probably use three tablespoons of butter in place of the 2 tablespoons of oil though.
Gigi
will this cake hold up to fondant?or is it to soft?
Kara
This cake should hold up just fine under fondant. It’s not super soft.
Aniyah
Should the butter be salted or unsalted?
Kara
Use unsalted if you can.
Sybil Hood
Can this be adapted for cupcakes?
Kara
I haven’t tried this one as cupcakes, but I really think it should be fine. I’d bake them at 350 degrees F though and start checking around 15-20 minutes. I don’t know the exact amount, so just watch them closely.
Sybil Hood
Thank you!
Shane
Are the calories per serving or for the entire cake?
Kara
The calories are per serving for 12 servings. I realize that’s a ton of calories. I use a program to calculate it for me and it’s not 100% accurate, but I’ve recalculated it several times and it still comes out around that amount. This cake does have a lot of sugar and fat in it, so maybe it’s correct or maybe it’s overestimating. It’s the best guess my program can make though. 🙂
Whitney Cox
Absolutely amazing! I didn’t have French vanilla extract this time and it was wonderful with just regular vanilla! Can’t wait to try it with the French vanilla! Super easy to make! This will now be my go to, seriously soooo good!
Kara
Yay! I’m so glad you loved it and thank you so much for that great review!
Renee'
I baked your French Vanilla cake for my DIL 30th birthday. It turned out delicious, moist with the perfect oven spring & crumb. Everyone loved it. I was so happy I baked this cake from scratch for her. It’s the first scratch cake that turned out really, really good that I’ve ever made. Thank you Kara for sharing your wonderful scratch cake recipes. I’m now hooked on your lovely cake recipes, tips & cake baking knowledge.
Kara
Oh yay!!! So glad you loved it and I’m really glad you had a good experience with this one. That makes me so happy! Thanks for the amazing review!
Karen
Hi Kara,
I absolutely love this recipe! It has been my go to since you first posted it.
I have also made beautiful cupcakes. For the one who asked – in order to have a nice dome be sure you don’t overfill.
My latest, and very successful variation is to take leftover cupcakes, ( only because I had made way too many lol) put them in a food processor, including butter cream, pulse until crumbled. Add more buttercream, just enough to hold together. With a small scoop, scoop out balls, roll in sprinkles, chocolate crumbs, confectionary sugar etc. keep in ziplock bag in fridge. I have some frozen ready to pull and roll in treats. Moist, delicious, and so easy. Great way to have fun with little people too!
Kara
So glad you love this one, Karen! And great tip about not over-filling the cupcake liners. Thank you for mentioning that! And I LOVE the idea of using the leftover cupcakes too. I’ve done something similar with cake scraps or even cake layers that fell in the center and just weren’t great for decorating. I haven’t tried rolling them in chocolate crumbs or confectioners sugar, so I will definitely try that. Thanks for the great review of this cake and for the tips!
Nia
I like adding sour cream in all my cakes. Could I easily add 1/3 or 1/2 cup of sour cream without it messing up the recipe?
Kara
Hi Nia, I usually add sour cream to most of my cakes as well. For this cake, I replaced the sour cream with the french vanilla coffee creamer to give it more flavor, so instead of adding in more sour cream (which might throw off the ratios), I would just replace some of that french vanilla creamer with the sour cream. I’d just use about 1/3 of a cup though as the more creamer you replace, the less french vanilla flavor you’ll get. Hope that helps!
Trina
Hello,
Do the dry ingredients need to be sifted first? Thanks
Kara
Hi Trina, they don’t have to be. You can if you prefer to do that, but I usually don’t.
Sara
Hi, I’m about to make this recipe for one of my twin daughter’s first birthday, but I have a question first. is the French vanilla creamer you used sweetened? the one I bought by Coffee Mate turned out to be sweetened, it’s actually very sweet. Just want to make sure before I try this recipe especially since I see you also add sugar to the recipe. I wonder if the cake is going to be too sweet.
thanks!
Kara
Hi Sara, I do tend to write sweet cake recipes, but in my opinion, it’s not too sweet although everyone has different tastes. I do know there are people who prefer cakes that are barely sweet and my recipes are probably not for them. I think this one is really good though, but then again, I like sweets. 😉 I did also lower the amount of regular sugar that my cakes would normally call for, to account for the additional sugar in the creamer and pudding mix. I feel like the cream adds good flavor, but if you’re afraid it might be too sweet, feel free to lower the amount of creamer, but replace that same amount with plain milk…don’t just omit it. The liquid ratios need to stay the same. Also, I wouldn’t omit the creamer all together or lower it too much though as the creamer also contains a good amount of fat in it and that also helps with making the cake moist. It might not be moist enough if it’s entirely omitted, but you could probably lower it to 1/2 cup or so and replace that other 1/2 cup with plain milk. I have not personally tried that and I can’t say exactly how it would turn out, or if it would still be as moist and with as much french vanilla flavor, but it might be something to try out. I hope this helps!