Description
This elegant two-layer naked cake features a moist vanilla buttermilk sponge filled with just enough classic buttercream to highlight its rustic charm. By stripping away heavy frosting, this recipe focuses on pure flavor, tender crumb structure, and a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic suitable for any occasion.
Ingredients
- Cake flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
Instructions
- Prep oven and pans. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease three 8-inch round cake pans, dusting them lightly with flour after lining with parchment paper.
- Whisk dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well aerated.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a separate container, whisk the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until fully uniform.
- Cream butter and sugar. Beat the softened butter and sugar in a stand mixer for 3 to 5 minutes until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
- Mix the batter. Alternate adding the dry and wet mixtures to the butter in five additions, mixing on low speed until the final streaks of flour disappear.
- Bake and cool. Divide batter among the pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then let cool completely on wire racks.
- Assemble and scrape. Stack layers with buttercream in between and apply a thin, sheer outer coating, using a bench scraper to reveal the sponge underneath.
Notes
- Always use room temperature ingredients to ensure a proper emulsion and prevent curdled batter.
- Freeze cooled cake layers for 30 minutes before frosting to minimize crumbs and achieve a cleaner look.
- Use a digital scale to measure flour precisely rather than relying on measuring cups for consistent results.
- Keep your bench scraper clean and dry between passes to avoid smearing the icing across the exposed cake edges.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
