need the perfect white cake recipe?

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A classic White Cake Recipe like this would definitely be my pick if I had to choose just one recipe to own. The beautiful texture makes this cake a joy to work with and it’s super versatile.

Dust it with powdered sugar and it makes a great coffee cake. For an amazing dessert just split into layers, fill with Whipped Lemon Mousse and serve with vanilla bean ice-cream and fresh berries…mmm. Even for the most special of days – a wedding- you can’t go wrong with the classic good looks and great taste of this deserving star of the cake world.

You can go from Classic White Cake to Lemon Scented Velvet Cake to Chai Spice Cake and back again with just a quick substitution or two. With this great basic recipe and a few simple additions you’ll never be short on ideas for amazing cakes that are the talk of the town.

I'm always adding new variations, but if you have one you would like me to work on, just drop me a line and I'll get right on it!

ingredients for the perfect white cake recipe

yields one 9" cake (3 layers)

1 ½ sticks butter (6 ounces)
2 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 ¼ cups milk
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
6-8 large egg whites (3/4 cup)

NOTE: All amounts are given in U.S. standard measures. Click here for international equivalents (page will open in a new browser window) .

Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare 2 x 10” round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining bottom of each pan with a wax paper circle cut to fit.

using an electric mixer beat butter and 2 cups of the sugar at high speed until lighter in color and fluffy.
sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt on to piece of parchment or wax paper.
mix the milk and vanilla together.
add the dry ingredients and wet ingredients alternately to the batter, ending with the dry ingredients.
in a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.
slowly add the remaining ½ cup of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
using a rubber spatula, gently fold a little of the egg whites into the batter, then the remaining whites, just until combined.

Cooks note:Do not over mix or the batter will deflate and you’ll lose all that air you worked so hard to incorporate!.

pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
cool the cakes in their pans for about 15 minutes then turn out of the pans on to a wire rack to cool completely.

let's kick this white cake recipe up a notch or two

WARNING: Once you try these white cake recipe variations, you’ll be making any old excuse to bake :-)

Dreamy Coconut Cake

This cake is fabulous with Mojito Mojo Cheesecake Filling.

Add to the basic recipe :
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ teaspoon coconut extract

add the coconut extract to the wet ingredients
fold the shredded coconut in by hand right before you fold in the whipped egg whites.

Great American Yellow Cake

This is another very versatile cake in itself. It makes amazing cupcakes and a great base for lots of other flavors.

Add to the basic recipe :

4 egg yolks

add the egg yolks one at a time, after creaming the butter and sugar, mixing well after each addition.

Lemon Scented White Velvet Cake

This is my favorite of all the variations of this recipe. It’s just the perfect compliment to the beautiful texture of this White Cake Recipe.

Add to the basic recipe :

2 tablespoons of lemon zest (2-3 large lemons)
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

add these right after you cream the butter and sugar

White Chai Tea Cake

This variation is fabulous with Chai Spice Cheesecake Filling.

Add to the basic recipe :

¾ cup Chai tea concentrate (Tazo brand or similar)
reduce milk to ½ cup

mix Chai tea concentrate and milk then add when wet ingredients are called for in the recipe.

perfect cake presentation the easy way

So you've got your perfect white cake recipe, right? Now for the perfect presentation. Try one of these beautiful bundt pans for a stellar cake presentation the easy way!

Just bake, dust with powdered sugar and you're good to go. Easy!

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