Simple Minimalist Vanilla Birthday Cake

Soft aesthetic design + customizable mini cake options

This minimalist vanilla birthday cake is dreamy, soft, and perfect for every celebration from birthday cakes for women, bff birthday cakes, and simple aesthetic cakes, to trendy bento cakes designs and birthday cake mini variations. Its clean look and modern style make it ideal for simple minimalist cake lovers, while the fluffy vanilla layers give you a bakery-level result without complicated steps. This recipe is intentionally easy, beginner-friendly, and great for busy people who still want a gorgeous celebration cake. Whether you’re crafting funny cake ideas for women, mini cakes birthday simple, or elegant small desserts, this cake is the perfect base.

table of contants

Time Breakdown

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes + cooling
• Servings: 8–10 slices (or 4–6 mini cakes)

Ingredients List

Vanilla Cake Layers

• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup (60 ml) neutral oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

Simple Vanilla Buttercream

• 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups (420 g) powdered sugar
• 2–4 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Decoration

• White or pastel frosting (for a minimalist aesthetic)
• Small sprinkles or a single flower (optional)
• Edible pearls (optional)

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.

• Two 6-inch or 8-inch cake pans
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Electric mixer (hand or stand)
• Rubber spatula
• Cooling racks
• Offset spatula
• Cake turntable (optional)

Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

1. Prepare your pans
   • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Grease pans, line with parchment, and lightly flour the edges.
2. Mix dry ingredients
   • Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Beat butter + sugar
   • In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for 2–3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
4. Add eggs + vanilla
   • Mix in eggs one at a time.
   • Add vanilla. Mix until creamy.
5. Add dry ingredients + buttermilk
   • Add half the dry mixture.
   • Add buttermilk.
   • Add remaining dry mixture. Mix until just combined. Batter should be smooth.
6. Bake
   • Divide batter between pans.
   • Bake 22–26 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and centers bounce back.
7. Cool completely
   • Let cakes cool 10 minutes in pans → then transfer to cooling racks.
8. Make the buttercream
   • Beat butter 2 minutes until creamy.
   • Add powdered sugar gradually.
   • Add vanilla, salt, and cream until smooth and fluffy.
9. Frost your minimalist cake
   • Add a thin layer of frosting between layers.
   • Apply a smooth outer coat for a simple aesthetic cake look.
   • Keep edges clean and straight for minimalist styling.
10. Mini Cakes Birthday Simple Option
    • Bake batter in a sheet pan.
    • Cut out small circles to create bento cakes designs or birthday cake mini stacks.

Pro Tips

• For smooth minimalist frosting:
  Dip spatula in warm water for flawless edges.
• Storage:
  Refrigerate up to 4 days in an airtight container.
• Mini cakes prep:
  Perfect for gifting bffs — wrap individual bento cakes in cute boxes.
• Make it funny:
  Add short messages like “Still Fabulous,” “Hotter Every Year,” or simple doodles for funny cake ideas for women birthday.

Nutrition Table

Serving Size	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Fiber	Sugar
1 plate	420	18g	35g	22g	4g	6g

Estimated values — may vary.

Conclusion

This simple minimalist birthday cake is the perfect blend of soft texture, clean design, and modern Pinterest-worthy style. Whether you’re making a cake for women, a tiny bento cake for your best friend, or a cute mini cake for gifting, this recipe gives you a flawless base every time. Easy, elegant, customizable and the perfect canvas for any aesthetic you choose.