I had a sort of epiphany when I wrote the recipe for this small batch chocolate cake: I think every cake recipe should be available in this tiny size. There are just so many occasions that call for less cake - date night, first birthday smash cakes, small gatherings of 2-4 people, and so on. So I moved right along to testing the most popular cake flavor of all: vanilla. I’m so happy to say that this recipe yields the perfect portion, is extra soft and moist, and is really easy to throw together!
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This small batch vanilla cake is basically a mini version of my favorite vanilla cake recipe. It can be made into three 4-inch layers or one 6-inch layer. The layer cake version is so cute and if you don’t already have 4-inch cake pans, here are the ones I used. But be warned, once you make a tiny layer cake, you’ll probably come up with every excuse to make more of them because they’re so cute!
These mini vanilla cake layers are extra soft and moist for a few reasons. The softness has a lot to do with the cake flour in this recipe, which produces a much fluffier cake than all-purpose (or plain) flour due to its lower protein content (the more protein in your flour the stiffer the dough and less ability to maintain moisture). You can find cake flour in the baking aisle at most grocery stores, but if all you’ve got is all-purpose flour in your pantry, here are instructions for how to make your own cake flour in a pinch.
The sour cream in this recipe is the other key ingredient that locks in the moisture and gives this cake amazing texture. It might seem extra, but don’t skip it! I am a firm believer that it makes all the difference in the final cake.
I paired this vanilla cake with my favorite vanilla buttercream recipe, dyed light pink to make it extra cute. That’s an optional step and you can feel free to pair this cake with pretty much any buttercream or frosting flavor imaginable. It’s vanilla. It goes with everything. Here are some alternative ideas:
- Chocolate Buttercream
- Strawberry Buttercream
- Raspberry Buttercream
- Lavender Buttercream
- Brown Butter Frosting
- Funfetti Buttercream
- Cream Cheese Buttercream
- Salted Caramel Buttercream
I hope you love making this small batch vanilla cake recipe! Let me know who you made it for in the comments below + be sure to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create!
