8 super-simple vanilla cake recipes

Classic vanilla

Introducing one of the only cakes we ever make! It’s easy, fast and spectacular. (Tip: It looks best in two 8-in. cake pans; to use 9-in. pans, decrease the baking time to 30 min.) Get the recipe.

Vanilla cake in pink ombre

One of our best-ever cakes, it's a stunning (but easy) works of art. Warning: You might start making up reasons to celebrate! Get the recipe.

Vanilla bean cheesecake

Keep it classic with a creamy cheesecake. (Tip: For creamy, crack-free results, bake cake in a water bath, always wrapping the pan in foil so none of the water leaks in. As soon as it’s out of the oven, run a knife around the inside of the pan. Picture perfect every time!) Get the recipe.

Vanilla angel food cake

Airy, light and virtually guilt-free, a vanilla-fragranced cake is a perfectly dreamy dessert. Get the recipe.

Vanilla cake with seasonal berries

This super-simple sheet cake can be topped with your choice of icings and extras. In the spring and summer, we like fresh berries and juciy fruits. Get the recipe.

Cherry-vanilla cake with marzipan roses

An indulgent cake that makes any celebration extra-special. Get the recipe.

Tres leches coconut-vanilla cake

We gave this Latin American cake, traditionally made with three types of milk, a delicious twist with rich coconut milk. Get the recipe.

Maple-strawberry vanilla cake

A one-size fits all dessert. (With ingredients like maple syrup, fresh whipped cream and strawberries, it’s a hard dessert not to like.) Get the recipe.

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