French Vanilla Cake with French Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

This French vanilla cake uses traditional ingredients to provide true flavor, and it's topped with a sweet French vanilla buttercream frosting to take it over-the-top.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 767 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 4 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 (7 inch) vanilla bean
• 0.75 teaspoon salt
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 0.125 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon almond extract
• 1.25 cups white sugar
• 0.75 cup whole milk, at room temperature
• 0.5 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 0.33 cup heavy cream
• 0.13 teaspoon salt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Step 2

Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a bowl until well combined.

Step 3

Cream together white sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in egg yolks and beat until incorporated. Add in whole eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat mixture on medium-high speed until very fluffy, and mixture has lightened in color, 3 to 5 minutes more.

Step 4

Slice vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Use the back of a knife to scrape seeds out of both halves, and add seeds to the butter mixture. Set vanilla bean pod aside to use for the frosting. Mix vanilla bean seeds into the butter mixture on low speed until incorporated.

Step 5

Add vanilla and almond extracts to the batter and mix on low speed until incorporated. Pour in half of the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Add milk and sour cream and mix until combined. Pour in remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly between the cake pans and smooth into even layers.

Step 6

Place pans into the preheated oven and bake until centers of the cakes spring back lightly when touched, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow cakes to cool in pans for 15 minutes before running a knife carefully around the edges of the pans to loosen. Transfer cakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7

While cakes are in the oven, begin making the frosting. Add reserved vanilla bean pod to a small saucepan and pour in heavy cream. Place pan over low heat and cook until mixture is just warm, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow mixture to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before placing into the refrigerator until chilled, about 30 minutes more.

Step 8

When heavy cream mixture is chilled, finish the frosting. Place 1 cup butter into a large bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Mix in powdered sugar gradually, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Step 9

Remove vanilla bean pod from chilled heavy cream. Discard vanilla bean pod. Pour heavy cream into the butter-powdered sugar mixture. Add in vanilla extract and salt. Beat mixture on low speed until cream is incorporated, then turn mixer speed up to medium-high and continue to beat until frosting is light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes more.

Step 10

Pipe a layer of frosting to the top of one of the cakes and set 2nd cake on top. Frost cake as desired with remaining frosting.