This vanilla sheet cake with buttercream frosting is a delicious fluffy white velvet cake baked in a sheet pan. Top this with your homemade bakery-style buttercream frosting and you have a winner.
Post contains affiliate links and we earn commissions if you shop through the links on this page. For more information please read the disclaimer on the About Us page.
Sheet Pan Cake
Use this recipe anytime you crave something sweet or even as a birthday cake. Who said the cake must be round for a birthday anyway? While this can be made as a layer cake, this recipe has all the deliciousness of a layer cake, but without all the effort.
This sheet cake is just baked in a half sheet pan, cooled, and frosted.
You can certainly make a fancy layered cake using two 9-inch cake pans with this recipe or make this in a 9 X 13 cake pan or use a half sheet pan as I have today.
Top this scrumptious cake with a creamy vanilla buttercream frosting.
White Velvet Cake
This sheet pan cake is a white velvet cake that is based on a lovely red velvet cake recipe. This white cake has just the perfect amount of moist and tender crumb that is ideal for any occasion.
What is so special about a velvet cake?
A velvet cake gets its flavor and velvety texture from buttermilk. This creates a moist and tender cake
Make Your Own Buttermilk
Buttermilk is the liquid that is left behind after churning cream and making butter. I like the thickness of the buttermilk in the store. However, if you have whole milk at home, you can make your own in a pinch.
There are three different ways to get the job done.
First Method
Add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 Cup of whole milk.
Second Method
Add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 Cup of whole milk.
Third Method
Add 1 ½ Teaspoons of cream of tartar to 1 Cup of whole milk.
No matter what method you use to make your own buttermilk:
Mix the ingredients and let sit 5 minutes. The milk will start to curdle and thicken. The result is homemade buttermilk.
What Frosting Goes with White Velvet Cake?
Since I used a sheet pan today, I made a delicious, simple buttercream frosting. However, there are so many great options…it is so hard to choose. Here are a few of my favorite icing recipes.
I have used marshmallow frosting with this cake.
Cream Cheese Frosting pairs nicely with the tang of the buttermilk in the cake recipe.
Another perfect pairing is using Ermine frosting.
Make Your Own Cake Flour
Two Ingredients for Making Cake Flour
Yes, there are just two ingredients needed to make this fine-textured, light flour. However, if you can purchase cake flour, that is really the best option.
You can find out more about making your own cake flour.
Hints to Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe
Today, I took the easy route and just baked this cake in a sheet pan. The result is a delicious cake that can be served as frosted bars too.
This cake is great for stacking too. However, if you are looking to make a fancy presentation make sure to chill the cakes before frosting and filling.
When baking, it is better to use a scale and weight ingredients. However, I must admit, I do not always follow this recommendation. It does make recipes fool-proof if you follow this practice. Baking is different than cooking, where you can get away with not being quite as exact.
If you have your ingredients at room temperature, it will help ensure that the ingredients mix together better.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Freshness
The texture and moistness of this cake is best the day of baking.
This is also a perfect make ahead recipe.
- Store the frosted (with buttercream) cake for 2 days in an airtight container at room temperature
- Keep for 5 days covered in the refrigerator.
- Freeze the cake unfrosted for 2 months. To serve, thaw, frost, and enjoy.
Vanilla Sheet Cake with Buttercream Frosting
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Cups All-purpose flour Sifted
- 1 1/2 Cups Cake flour Sifted
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1/3 Cup Vegetable Shortening at Room Temperature
- 3 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract Can use clear for a whiter batter
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Sift together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Set this aside.
- Prepare your baking container. Today, I used the half sheet pan. I sprayed with a light amount of oil. If baking in two 9-inch round cake pans, then I would butter and flour them. Cut 2 circles of parchment paper and line the bottoms. This will assure that your cakes come out after baking.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the vegetable oil, shortening and vanilla. Beat until light, fluffy, and creamy.
- Add the eggs one at a time.
- By hand, fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
- As soon as the batter comes together and there are no lumps, pour into your baking container(s).
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake springs back or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cake before frosting. See the post for three different kinds of frosting recipes that I have used on this cake.
Your Own Private Notes
Video
Nutrition
A few of my favorite things
The Power of Positivity
If you loved this post, please share. It helps to show me that these types of posts are helpful – thank you!
I hope that you liked this recipe. If you are looking for more ideas on what to make, here are a few other recipes that you may enjoy.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
Soft and Sweet Textured Velvet Crochet Blanket - Pattern Princess
Tuesday 31st of August 2021
[…] Vanilla Sheet Cake with Buttercream Frosting […]