A moist scratch mini 6 inch vanilla cake recipe you can make as a small layer cake for yourself, a small birthday party, a smash cake or even a dessert just for two. Sometimes you just don’t need a large cake.
You might just need a small smash cake or maybe there are only a few people in your household, then this two-layer, 6-inch mini cake is the perfect size.
This vanilla mini cake is not only cute, but it’s from scratch, it’s moist and it’s full of vanilla flavor. There are two layers of vanilla cake, then it’s all covered with a rich vanilla buttercream frosting.
You can decorate this mini layer cake any way you like, or you can just leave it plain for an easy dessert.
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!
Jump to:
Ingredient Notes:
Now let’s talk about just some of the ingredients that are in the cake and buttercream recipes. (The list of ALL ingredients are in the recipe card below.)
All-purpose flour: This recipe calls for plain all-purpose flour…no worrying about having to get cake flour or any special ingredients. Just make sure when you measure flour, that you spoon it into the measuring cup so that it doesn’t get packed into it. (See more about this in the FAQ section below.)
Unsalted butter: This will be used for both the cake and the buttercream. You’ll want to make sure to let it come to room temperature (don’t microwave it though) before using it.
Sour Cream: This is the star in this vanilla cake. Sour cream in cakes really helps give them a soft texture, makes them super moist and it enhances the taste as well.
Vanilla Extract: Make sure not to skip this as it’s what will give the vanilla cake a nice vanilla flavor. If you have access to vanilla bean paste, that’s even better.
How to make this cake:
Let’s talk about how to make this vanilla mini cake. (The detailed instructions are also in the recipe card below.)
Step 1:
First, you need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then grease and flour (or spray) two, 6 inch round cake pans that are 2 inches deep.
Make sure that you also set the butter out to come to room temperature on its own. You can cut it into chunks and it will warm up faster.
Step 2:
Next, in a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt) and whisk together.
Step 3:
In another bowl, add the liquid ingredients (oil, eggs, sour cream, milk and vanilla) and whisk together until everything is smooth.
Step 4:
Now, the mixing method for this cake is called the reverse creaming method. You can get a really soft cake by using this and it’s used when there is a high ratio of sugar to flour. I actually find this method easier than the old creaming method.
So, to do this, you’ll add the chunks of butter to the dry mixture and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed while you add the butter in.
Mix until the mixture resembles a coarse, sand-like texture. You basically want the butter to coat the dry mixture.
Step 5:
Now add half the liquid to the dry mixture and mix on medium until well combined.
Next, add the second half of the liquid mixture and mix on medium until well combined.
Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix again just until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Be very careful not to over-mix at this point.
Step 6:
Pour the batter into the prepared pans and make sure to smooth it level. Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 40-45 minutes.
While the cake is baking, make the buttercream.
Step 7:
For the buttercream, cream the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until it’s super smooth.
Step 8:
Add the confectioner’s, salt, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk and mix on low until combined, then on medium to medium-high until well mixed. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl then mix again.
Check the consistency and if it’s too thick add another tablespoon of milk and mix well. Cover well and set aside while the cake cools.
Step 9:
Once the cake layers have baked, cool on a wire rack, in the pans, for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 10:
Now turn the cakes out onto the racks and allow them to cool completely before covering them with buttercream.
The tops of these cake layers will flatten out a bit as they cool, but you can also level the tops with a knife to get them flat in order to decorate.
Step 11:
Add the buttercream to the cooled layered cake.
Step 12:
Pipe decorative borders and add sprinkles if desired.
Tips & FAQs:
Generally, you could probably classify any cake that’s smaller than an 8-inch cake, like a mini cake. This mini cake recipe is for a 6 inch, two-layer cake.
This cake will serve about 8 people. If you cut larger sizes, it will serve less and if you cut thin slices, you will get more servings.
Make sure not to pack the flour down into the measuring cup. Spoon the flour into the cup and level it off, but don’t scoop the flour. Packing too much flour into the measuring cup will end up adding too much flour to the cake batter and will make the cake dry and tough.
Unsalted is always best because you can estimate the proper amount of salt that will be added plus salted butter has a different water content than unsalted.
However, if you’re unable to get unsalted butter, you can use salted butter in the cake and the buttercream, but omit any additional salt that each recipe calls for.
It’s really important to make sure that the butter is at room temperature for both the cake and the buttercream.
Set it out an hour or two before you plan to make the cake. You don’t want to microwave the butter as that will heat it either too much or unevenly and can cause problems with the cake mixing method.
Sour cream is really best here as it makes for a softer texture and really helps give the cake moistness and a good flavor. If you can’t get it, you can substitute it with this plain yogurt.
Make sure and use full-fat yogurt though and not low fat. The fat helps make the cake moist.
Be very careful not to mix the batter for a long time. Scratch cakes should not be mixed for minutes at a time, or they will become dense. Stop mixing once the ingredients are well incorporated.
This cake is done baking when a toothpick inserted into the center of each layer comes out with a few moist crumbs on it or clean, but no raw batter.
This cake can be made ahead of time and frozen if desired. Let the baked cake layers cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and foil and place in the freezer for up to a month or two.
To thaw, place the wrapped cake layers on the counter at room temperature and let thaw completely, then remove the wrapping. Once defrosted add buttercream.
This cake can be stored, covered well, at room temperature for 2-3 days. After that, to prolong freshness, it can be stored in the refrigerator, well covered, for another 2-3 days.
That would take some calculating, but there is an 8-inch vanilla layer cake recipe already on the blog if you want to check that out here: Favorite Vanilla Bean Cake
This recipe should work ok for cupcakes, but since it’s a smaller batch, it won’t make a full two dozen. If you’d like a recipe that will make a full batch of vanilla cupcakes, you’ll want to check out this post: Favorite Vanilla Bean Cake (The instructions for making it into cupcakes are in the recipe card on that post.)
This cake is best served at room temperature. If cold, pop a slice in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
***I write recipes using volume (cups) measurements because here in the U.S., this is what people are used to seeing and using. For weight in metric measurements, click the ‘metric’ button under the ingredients in the recipe card. The weights are converted by a program, not me, and it’s a best guess. Please note that because I develop recipes using ‘cups’ I can’t guarantee that weighing the ingredients will produce the exact same results.
Video:
Recipe:
Mini 6 Inch Vanilla Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the vanilla cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (1 ½ sticks)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
- ⅓ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
For the vanilla buttercream:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
- 4 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar
- pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk (may add in another tablespoon if needed)
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour (or spray) two, 6 inch round cake pans that are 2 inches deep.
- Set the butter out, cut it into chunks and allow it to come to room temperature. Don’t microwave it, it needs to come to room temperature on its own.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) and whisk together.
- In another bowl, add the liquid ingredients (oil, eggs, sour cream, milk and vanilla) and whisk together until smooth.
- Add the chunks of butter to the dry mixture slowly and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed as you add the butter. Mix until the mixture resembles a coarse, sand-like texture.
- Add half the liquid to the dry mixture and mix on medium until well combined.
- Add the second half of the liquid mixture and mix on medium until well combined.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix again just until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Be very careful not to over-mix. (Mixing for a minute or more is too long.) Batter will be a little thick.
- Pour into prepared pans and smooth level. Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 40-45 minutes. The cake layers are baked when they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of each layer comes out with a few moist crumbs on it, or clean, but not raw batter.
- Cool on a wire rack, in the pans, for about 10-15 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto the racks and allow them to cool completely before covering with buttercream.
- The tops of these cake layers will flatten out as they cool, but the tops can be leveled with a knife if needed in order to decorate.
For the buttercream:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the confectioner’s, salt, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk and mix on low until combined, then on medium to medium-high until well mixed.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again.
- Check the consistency. If it’s too thick add another tablespoon of milk and mix well.
- Spread buttercream onto completely cooled cake and decorate as desired.
Notes
Nutritional values are an estimate. Piping tip used: Wilton 4B Make sure to check out the TIPS & FAQs for this recipe in the blog post, which may answer questions you may have. *This recipe card may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition
How to Share
I’d love for you to share this recipe link or tag it, but please do not share screenshots or copy/paste the recipe to social media as the content and photographs are copyright protected and we (bloggers) work really hard on our content. Sharing the link, tagging us on socials and pinning it is super appreciated though!
Other posts you might like:
Connie D
I made this cake for my mom’s 90th birthday. I have a crummy mixer so I ended up over mixing the cake. So my cake was a little dry and dense but the flavor was so good and the icing turned out great. I will definitely make this cake again and be more careful to not over mix the cake batter! Mom loved the cake! It was just the right size for the two of us!
Kara
I’m so glad you liked it! I’m bummed it came out a little dense. It’s easy to overmix and I’ve done it loads of times too. I hope you try it again. If you do, let me know what you think! 🙂
Abby
I love this recipe, but how do I adjust it to make it with 3 cake pans instead of two? I don’t see an adjustment tool, please help!!
Kara
If you want enough batter to fill three pans, then mix up a recipe batch plus a half. If one recipe makes two layers, then to get three you just add on another half recipe…just divide the recipe in half as best you can. You can mix up the recipe and a half at the same time. You don’t have to mix them seperately.
Bev
Hello- I’m making a smash cake for my grandsons first birthday. Can the cake layer be frozen ahead of time?
Kara
Oh yes, you can freeze the cake layers. Let the baked cake layers cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and foil and place in the freezer for up to a month or two. To thaw, place the wrapped cake layers on the counter at room temperature and let thaw completely, then remove the wrapping. Once defrosted add buttercream.
Marilyn 🇨🇦
I’m getting married on August 27 and I’m making my own cake.Well, I’m making three of them actually…But, I haven’t been very happy with the white cake recipe that I have been using so I made the 6 inch cake you have on your site just to sample the taste. No icing to throw off the flavour. Just cake.
Absolutely delicious!
I did not think I had any vanilla bean paste so I added regular vanilla, Only to find some vanilla bean paste in my cupboard so I added a teaspoon of that as well as the 2 teaspoons of vanilla.I am lactose intolerant so I substituted it for Silk brand original almond milk. I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful the flavour and the texture is on this cake. If anybody is thinking you’ve gotten some great recipes in the past that have turned out to be duds… I’m telling you…..do not worry about this recipe. You will not be disappointed! It’s fantastic!!!
Kara
Hey Marilyn, what a wonderful review! I’m so glad you loved this one. Frankly, vanilla cake is my favorite. 🙂 Thanks again for the great review and I hope the wedding baking comes out great with zero stress and that your wedding day is everything you hope for. 🙂
Marilyn
Got the right cake and the right man…what could be more perfect?
Stephanie
How long will the the frosting hold up in room temperature conditions? I’m trying to make a smash cake and wondering how I should time making the cake!
Kara
Hi Stephanie, the buttercream for this cake should be fine at room-temp (70s and below) for several days. I’ve kept it out for up to 4 days and it’s been fine as long as it’s not warm.
Brook
The cake is so good! I made it for my sons smash cake this weekend and of course we had what was left over. Can I also use this for cupcakes?
Kara
Hi Brook, so glad you loved it! This recipe should work fine for cupcakes, but since it’s a smaller batch, it won’t make a full two dozen. If you’d like a recipe that will make a full batch of vanilla cupcakes, you’ll want to check out this post: Favorite Vanilla Bean Cake (The instructions for making it into cupcakes are in the recipe card on that post.) Otherwise, as long as you’re okay making about 16 or so cupcakes instead of 24, then this recipe should work fine. You don’t need to change the temperature or mixing method, but you’ll want to bake them for less time. I’d start checking them at around 15 minutes or so, but you might need to bake them a little longer.
CHRISTINE
great tasting and super easy
Susan
Can this cake hold fondant onto instead of just butter cream? I know fondant can be heavy so I wanted to be sure before I tried it.
Kara
Yes, I think it would be just fine under fondant. I have a similar recipe for an 8 inch round cake size and I’ve used that under fondant before and it held up just fine.
Kaycee
I’ve never made a cake like this before and was so nervous. It turned out so good and tasted even better!!!! Thank you thank you thank you for the recipe! If I wanted to make a 4 inch cake, do you know how I could adjust measurements/cooking?
Kara
Hi Kaycee, so glad you liked this cake! Yay! So to adjust the measurements, I think you’d have to lower the amounts by about a third. That’s just ‘eyeballing’ it though. Anyway lowering it by that amount would be a little difficult because the measurements may end up in weird amounts and the cake may or may not turn out exactly the same since scratch cakes can be a little picky with ingredient ratios.
So, if it were me, I’d just mix up the entire recipe and pour it into the two 4-inch round cake pans about 2/3 of the way up (you know, as high as you would normally fill up the pan) and you’ll have a bit of batter left over. I’d take that leftover batter and make a few cupcakes out of it. You can cover the leftover batter and chill it until the cake layers bake, then you can make yourself some snack cupcakes. 🙂
I think that’s the easier solution. Hope this helps.
Kaycee
Perfect!! Going to try it out today. Thanks for getting back so quickly! I’m so glad I found your website!
Calli
Hi – I only have one 6inch cake pan. Do I need to adjust the name time to make one layer at a time?
Thank you!
Kara
No, if you’re just baking one layer at a time, it should take about the same amount of time to bake. Just chill the leftover batter and once the first one bakes, then bake the second. The second one might take a little longer to bake though since the batter will be a little chilled.
June
can i simply divide the recipe if i just want 1 layer of it ? cos am not gonna ice and layer the cake anyway
Kara
Yes, you can make only half the recipe. The measurements may be a little weird to measure, but it can be done.
Stacey
Delicious cake and buttercream! Will be making again. Thank you!
Kara
Wonderful Stacey! So glad you loved it!