2 Birthday Cake Recipes

A split image showing two different birthday cakes. The left side features a chocolate frosted cake on a white stand. The right side displays a slice being taken from a vanilla frosted cake with colorful sprinkles on the edges, also on a white stand. Text in the center reads "BIRTHDAY CAKE.
3.50 from 42 votes

2 birthday cake recipes that everyone must keep in a drawer in case you want to surprise your loved ones with an amazing birthday cake. Whether you are making a birthday cake for girls or a birthday cake for boys, these recipes are just for you; vanilla birthday cake and chocolate birthday cake. These birthday cakes are great for kids but adults will also be happy to receive such a birthday gift.

A split image showing two different birthday cakes. The left side features a chocolate frosted cake on a white stand. The right side displays a slice being taken from a vanilla frosted cake with colorful sprinkles on the edges, also on a white stand. Text in the center reads "BIRTHDAY CAKE.

2 Birthday Cake Recipes

3.50 from 42 votes
Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
WORK TIME 20 minutes
DIFFICULTY Medium
Cuisine World
Servings 16 yields

Ingredients
 

Vanilla Cake

For the cake:

  • 2 â…“ cups 290g Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon Baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup 115g Butter, softened
  • ½ cup 120ml Oil
  • 1½ cups 300g Sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 cup 240ml Buttermilk (more if needed)
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • â…” cup 150g Butter, softened
  • ½ cup 120ml Heavy cream, cold
  • 1¼ cups 160g Icing sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1¾ cups 400g Cream cheese

Decoration:

  • Confetti sprinkles

Chocolate Cake

For the cake:

  • 1¾ cups 220g Flour
  • ¾ cup 75g Cocoa powder
  • 1½ teaspoons Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder
  • 1¾ cups 350g Sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup 240ml Buttermilk
  • ½ cup 120ml Vegetable oil
  • 1 cup 240ml Coffee
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • ¾ cup 175g Butter, softened
  • 1½ cups 335g Cream cheese, room temperature
  • â…” cup 67g Cocoa powder
  • 1½ cups + 2 tbsps. 200g Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • DIRECTIONS
    Vanilla Cake
    1. Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line two 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans with parchment paper and grease bottom and sides.
    2. In one bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, add salt, stir and set aside.
    3. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs, one at the time, beating until combined after each addition. Add oil, vanilla extract and beat until incorporated.
    4. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning by adding 1/2 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk. Then repeat this process. Beat until fully incorporating after each addition.
    5. Divide the batter between prepared pans. Bake for about 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    6. Allow the cakes to cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan, then release from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
    7. Make the frosting: in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl beat heavy cream to stiff peaks. Then fold into the cream cheese mixture.
    8. Assembly: Place one cake layer with flat side down. Spread a layer of frosting, place the second layer of cake on top of the frosting, flat side up. Spread evenly the frosting on top and sides of the cake. Decorate the edges of the cake with sprinkles.
    9. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
    Chocolate Cake
    1. Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350ËšF (180CËš). Butter two 8-inch (20cm) cake pans and line the bottoms with a parchment paper, grease the sides. Lightly dust with cocoa powder. Set aside.
    2. To a large bowl add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir well and set aside.
    3. In a separate bowl mix buttermilk, coffee (or water), eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
    4. Add the wet mixture to the dry, whisk until incorporated.
    5. Pour the batter into prepared pans.
    6. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
    7. Make the frosting: in a large bowl beat butter until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese and beat until combined and smooth. Add cocoa powder vanilla extract and salt. Beat until combined. gradually add powdered sugar, beat on low speed until combined and creamy.
    8. Transfer the frosting into a piping bag. Cut the top of the cakes.
    9. Place one cake layer with flat side down. Spread a layer of frosting, place the second layer of cake on top of the frosting, flat side up. Spread evenly the frosting on top and sides of the cake.
    10. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before serving.
    Frequently asked questions and tips:
    Why buttermilk?
    The use of buttermilk in cakes and cupcakes helps the cake to get a moist and airy texture, in most of my recipes I use buttermilk and indeed you can feel the difference.
    What can we use instead of buttermilk?
    If you cannot find buttermilk in your country, you can make a home buttermilk: stir 1 cup (240ml) of whole milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, let stand for 10 minutes before use. If you still prefer not to use buttermilk you can use whole milk instead.
    How to adjust to 9inch (23 cm) pan?
    If you prefer to make the cake in a larger pan such as 9-inch, you should multiply all the ingredients by 1.33
    Can this recipe be used for cupcakes?
    This recipe is very similar to a cupcake recipe, but instead of adapting this recipe for cupcakes, I have prepared full and detailed recipes for you: Vanilla Cupcakes, Chocolate Cupcakes
    How store the cake?
    The cake can be stored covered, in the fridge, up to 5 days.

Video

YouTube video
Nutrition information is automatically generated and thus we can not guarantee it is 100% accurate.

10 Comments

  1. Just eat poop says:

    You need to try and make a shocolate instead of chocolate birthday cake for your kid if they haven’t gotten straight A’s all year. You dry a bucket of your own BM, then you grind it up into fine powder the same as cocoa powder, then use use all the other same ingredients as you would a chocolate cake except that you use shit power instead of cocoa powder, so you get shit-chocolate cake, shocolate” cake.”

    October 31, 2021
    1. Thankyou so much fir this top tip, I’ll be sure to give it a go for my sons up coming birthday party!
      Eek so exciting the little fella is turning one
      God bless x

      May 24, 2024
  2. Marienette says:

    Can You Write All The Tools That Are Need For That Vanilla Cake Please.
    By Tomorrow.
    Thank You!

    January 27, 2022
  3. funmilayo says:

    thanks for the recipe, please with the recipe above can l use cake flour with it and what is the quantity. thanks

    July 6, 2022
  4. Claire Spencer says:

    what type of flour is used please? Self raising? Plain?

    October 2, 2022
  5. Kelly Hillyard says:

    Can anyone tell me if these cooking temperatures are for fan oven plz, im about to make the vanilla cake and i dont want to mess it up ty

    April 28, 2023
  6. I am so excited to try this vanilla recipe and can’t wait to give some to my friends and family.

    May 23, 2024
  7. What can I use instead of vegetable oil like what’s the closest because I don’t have it and please please tell me I need to make it

    June 11, 2024
    1. The Cooking Foodie says:

      Oil is a must ingredient in this recipe. You can skip it.
      You can use any oil: sunflower seed oil, canola oil, grape seed oil and others.

      June 13, 2024
  8. What can I use instead of vegetable oil what would be the closest

    June 11, 2024
3.50 from 42 votes (42 ratings without comment)

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