Ever stood in the kitchen at 6 a.m. thinking, “Can I really bake a birthday cake from scratch before brunch?” Spoiler: yes, you can—and this simple birthday cake is here to prove it!
Why This Simple Birthday Cake Rocks
This simple birthday cake is all about classic flavor and minimal fuss. A soft vanilla sponge, crowd-pleasing buttercream, and optional sprinkles—it’s the perfect canvas for any celebration and requires zero cake-decorating skills. Trust me, your guests will swear it came from a bakery.
🍰 Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Buttercream Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk or cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: sprinkles, food coloring, or fresh fruit for garnish
Substitutions:
- Gluten-free? Use 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Dairy-free? Use plant butter and milk.
- Low sugar? Swap sugar in frosting for a sugar substitute.
🔧 Tools & Kitchen Gadgets Used
- Two 8-inch cake pans
- Electric mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula & spoons
- Cooling racks
- Offset spatula for frosting
- Cake stand or plate
- Measuring cups & spoons
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C); grease and line pans.
- Mix dry: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter, then add eggs one at a time, and vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry mix and milk, stirring gently.
- Divide batter into pans; bake 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan 10 mins, then finish cooling on racks.
- Make frosting: beat butter, add sugar, vanilla, and enough milk to reach spreadable consistency.
- Assemble: stack cakes, frost top and sides, smooth edges.
- Decorate with sprinkles, fruit, or a drizzle of colored frosting.
- Serve and soak up the birthday cheers!
📊 Calories & Nutritional Info (Per Slice, 12 slices)
- Calories: ~380 kcal
- Protein: 4 g
- Carbs: 55 g
- Fat: 16 g
- Sugar: 30 g
Sweet, simple, and oh-so-satisfying.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing the batter → dense cake (stir until just combined).
- Skipping pan prep → cake sticks—grease well or use parchment.
- Frosting warm cake → meltdown frosting city.
- Not leveling cakes → use a serrated knife or leveler for flat tops.
🎨 Variations & Customizations
- Keto: almond flour, sugar-free sweetener, and cream cheese frosting.
- Citrus: add lemon zest to batter and frosting.
- Chocolate swirl: add ¼ cup cocoa to half the batter for a marbled effect.
🤔 FAQ: Simple Birthday Cake
Q1: Can I bake ahead?
A: Yes—bake layers a day early, wrap tightly, and frost later.
Q2: Freeze-friendly?
A: Freeze unfrosted layers up to 3 months.
Q3: Dairy-free?
A: Use plant butter, non-dairy milk, and vegan sugar.
Q4: Gluten-free?
A: Use reliable 1:1 GF flour blends.
Q5: Is it suitable for kids?
A: Totally—fun, simple, and rainbow-friendly.
Q6: How do I store it?
A: Store covered at room temp (2 days) or refrigerate (up to 5 days).
Q7: Can I add fruit inside?
A: Yes—spread jam or fresh berries between layers.
🥂 Final Thoughts
This simple birthday cake proves that big celebrations don’t require big effort. It’s delicious, fuss-free, and endlessly adaptable. So, bake it, frost it—with love—and bask in the applause. You’ve got this cake thing down.