☀️ Super Soft Vanilla Breakfast Cake: The Ultimate Morning Treat
(A melt-in-your-mouth vanilla cake that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or anytime snacking!)
✨ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This incredibly soft and fluffy vanilla cake is:
✔ Quick & easy to make with simple pantry staples
✔ Perfectly sweet without being overwhelming
✔ Versatile base for endless flavor variations
✔ Great for meal prep – stays moist for days
✔ Family-friendly – kids and adults alike adore it
The secret? A special mixing technique that creates an ultra-tender crumb while keeping the recipe wonderfully simple. Let’s dive in!
📝 Ingredient Breakdown & Why Each Matters
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
Spooned and leveled for accuracy – too much flour makes a dense cake - ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
The perfect amount for a lightly sweet breakfast treat - 2 tsp baking powder
Our leavening agent – make sure it’s fresh! - ½ tsp salt
Enhances all the flavors – don’t skip it!
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
Whole milk adds richness, but any milk works - 1 large egg, room temperature
Provides structure and helps with rise - ¼ cup (60ml) melted butter or neutral oil
Butter for flavor, oil for extra moistness - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
The star flavor – use real vanilla for best results - Optional: 1 tsp almond extract
Adds wonderful depth to the vanilla flavor
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions (With Pro Tips!)
1️⃣ Preparation (5 minutes)
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Prepare pan: Grease an 8-inch round or square pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal
- Bring ingredients to room temp – this helps them incorporate better
2️⃣ Mixing the Batter (10 minutes)
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt
Tip: Sift if your flour is lumpy! - Combine wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter/oil, and vanilla until completely blended
- Combine wet and dry:
- Make a well in the dry ingredients
- Pour in wet ingredients
- Gently fold together with a spatula until JUST combined
Critical: Stop mixing when you no longer see flour streaks – overmixing causes toughness!
3️⃣ Baking (25-30 minutes)
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until:
- Top is golden
- Edges pull away slightly
- Toothpick comes out clean
- Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack
🍓 Serving Suggestions & Variations
Classic Ways to Serve:
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Drizzle with honey or maple syrup
- Top with fresh berries and whipped cream
- Spread with jam or lemon curd
Delicious Variations:
Blueberry Lemon:
- Add 1 tbsp lemon zest + 1 cup blueberries
Cinnamon Sugar:
- Mix 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon, sprinkle on top before baking
Almond Poppyseed:
- Replace 1 tsp vanilla with almond extract + 2 tbsp poppyseeds
Chocolate Chip:
- Fold in ½ cup mini chocolate chips
🔍 Troubleshooting FAQ
Q: My cake is dense. What went wrong?
A: Likely causes:
- Overmixed batter
- Too much flour (always spoon and level!)
- Old baking powder
Q: Can I make this dairy-free?
A: Yes! Use plant-based milk and oil instead of butter
Q: How long does it keep?
A: 3 days at room temp, 5 days refrigerated, or freeze for 2 months
Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: Absolutely! Use a 9×13 pan and bake 30-35 minutes
💡 Expert Tips for the Best Results
- Room temperature ingredients blend more evenly
- Don’t overmix – stop as soon as the batter comes together
- Check early – ovens vary, start checking at 20 minutes
- Let it cool – cutting too soon makes it crumble
- Boost flavor – toast the sugar first for a deeper taste
🎂 Perfect Pairings
☕ Morning coffee or tea
🍓 Fresh fruit salad
🥛 Glass of cold milk
🍦 Vanilla ice cream (for dessert!)
This versatile cake is sure to become your new breakfast staple! Once you master the basic recipe, try all the fun variations. Happy baking!
Made this recipe? Tag your creations #MorningVanillaCake! 📸
