One of my favourite cake recipes of all time and one I have kept to myself for years! But it is the best vanilla cake recipe I know so now it can be a firm favourite of yours.
I was bought up with a family of women who loved to bake. My Grandma, Mum and aunties were all farmers so it was usual for there to always be something in the baking tins from vanilla biscuits, chocolate squares, to this cake and more. I have a few of my Grandma’s recipes on here, they are all delicious, simple to make and much loved by my family and very popular with followers of my blog. I often get asked if I have a vanilla cake that I love as I know how hard these can be to get just right. This recipe is lovely and light and also makes gorgeous cupcakes.
The original recipe I was given by my Mum included the recipe measurement of a teacup of sugar which is just delightful, and I love how the liquid measurements are done as well. See the recipe for that! It is a very light cake in terms of its flavour so is best when iced. A simple vanilla icing is lovely so I have included that in the recipe below.
This recipe makes a small cake, I usually make it in a ring tin. Many cakes are huge now, so if you are wanting to make a big cake then double the recipe.
So without further ado, here is the recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do.
Grandma's Wonder Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Plain White Flour
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 28 grams (2 Tablespoons) Butter, Melted
- 2 Medium Eggs
- Milk (see method for amount)
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Basic Vanilla Icing
- 1 1/2 Cups Icing Sugar (sifted)
- 1 teaspoon Melted Butter
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essense
- 2-4 Teaspoons Water
Instructions
Icing
- In a small bowl add the sifted icing sugar, melted butter and vanilla and stir
- Add water a teaspoon at a time and stirring well in between until you have the consistency you desire.
- Spread over cake, allow to set and serve.
It is as simple as that. Be sure to let me know in the comments below if you make it. Perfect for parties, cupcakes, afternoon tea or special occasion cakes. I would love to know this very special recipe is being shared and enjoyed for many more years to come.
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Happy Baking
Anna
Whitney says
Dont know what went wrong. It was good. But texture was sort if crumbly. Not sure what happened.
justamumnz says
Could it possibly have been overcooked? Hard to know without being there. How did you get on with the measuring of liquid to make up a 250ml cup?
Menimo says
I love this recipe, makes a delicious cake. Kids adore it and it is not an oversized monster of a cake
Rosenne Thomson says
Have made this cake of yours with a hand beater and I wasn’t happy nice but NOW I have a big cake mixer first one in all my 70yrs , hand beater in rubbish , what a difference Lovely cake 🙂
justamumnz says
That is so great to hear!
Kate says
I have made this cake twice and it is always an absolute hit! So moist and delicious! My third vanilla cake is currently in the oven to be devoured by some 10 year old boys for my sons birthday, he loves vanilla cake! I’m going to do plain buttercream icing with sprinkles! So excited!
levanilla says
Great Vanilla Cake Recipe! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
Devashish Tripathi says
Wow ! the recipe looks so yummy and delicious thanks for sharing this with us will definitely try this for my girlfriend’s birthday
Winni says
Amazing recipe. I will gonna try it tonight.
Jenny says
I have a very similar recipe from my mum. The only difference is her recipe says ‘1 large cup of flour’ and ‘1 small cup of sugar’. It’s the first recipe my children made on their own.
justamumnz says
Yes the original recipe had a tea cup of sugar!
FlowerAura Cake says
Among all the popular cake flavours vanilla is one of them. Many people like to have piece of Vanilla cake on parties like birthday. But baking a perfect vanilla cake is not easy but your recipe made it easy now.
Kenny says
Winning recipe! I was searching for a way to use up my surplus of cake flour. I appreciate the explanations about why the recipe is the way it is.
Kenny says
So great sharing! Thank you much, I did it for my son’s birthday, So happy!
justamumnz says
Awesome! I am so pleased to hear that.
Felipa says
This is a perfect cake for me to make for my sons 4 year old birthday party! He wants a white cake with white frosting and strawberries on top. I can’t wait!
justamumnz says
Brilliant!
Ronak Mehta says
Baked this cake for my birthday and it was an absolute hit! So moist and tasty. Thank you for doing what you do
justamumnz says
My pleasure
Melissa Marshall says
I saw you post this on Instagram and I saved it for a rainy day (literally!). ’m just baking this cake now and we are all looking forward to tasting it! it was such a breeze to throw together and minimal dishes which is always great! Thanks for sharing your nanas recipe! @theminimarshalls
justamumnz says
That’s lovely! Enjoy
Dandre says
That cake looks heavenly!! Especially, that drip of butter in the middle!! It looks so soft & perfect for any gathering!
Sharlene Sallabanks says
Anna, could I easily change this up to lemon flavoured cake by adding some lemon juice or zest?
justamumnz says
Yes! We make lemon cupcakes with this, I add zest of one lemon and a squeeze of lemon juice and ice it with lemon icing.
Nola Bennett says
I had been saving some elderly bananas to make a banana cake. Hb loves overripe bananas, had been ogling them for a few days. Finally relented. ‘OK, eat them I am going to make Just a Mum Who Bakes’ Grandma’s wonder cake’, add some coffee essence and I will be in cake heaven again Love that recipe.
justamumnz says
Oh that’s so lovely to hear.