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Slice of moist vanilla cake made from scratch with vanilla cake mix.

My Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

This upgraded vanilla cake mix recipe is simple, nostalgic, and foolproof—with a few smart tweaks like butter, sour cream, and extra vanilla to make it taste like a bakery classic.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 320 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Hand Mixer
  • Cake Pan
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 1 box vanilla cake mix
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your cake pans with parchment paper.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, melted butter, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using).
  • Mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
  • Pour into prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
  • Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before frosting and decorating as desired.

Notes

Try adding jam or fruit swirls for extra flavor. Vanilla buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or lemon glaze all work beautifully for decorating. Cake freezes well if wrapped tightly.
Keyword Cake Mix, Easy Baking, Vanilla Cake