Home/Recipes/Vanilla Buttermilk Birthday Cake

Vanilla Buttermilk Birthday Cake

Name: Vanilla Buttermilk Birthday Cake
Total time: 3 h
Yield: Serves 16
Ingredients: 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided, plus more for the pans; 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more for the pans; 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, divided; 4 eggs; 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, more or less to taste; 1 cup low-fat buttermilk; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons nonfat milk

Serves 16

Time 3 hr

Gently sweet and moist, this vanilla layer cake uses applesauce and tangy buttermilk to cut back on much of the fat in a traditional birthday cake.

Special Diets:

Vegetarian

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided, plus more for the pans
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more for the pans
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, divided
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, more or less to taste
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons nonfat milk

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Method

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Butter three 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper and butter the parchment.

Dust with flour, shaking out any excess.

In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup of the butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy, about 3 minutes.

Add applesauce, 1 tablespoon of the vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt.

Add to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk and beating well after each addition.

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake until cakes just bounce back when touched in the center and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out cleans, about 30 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.

In a large bowl, beat remaining 1/4 cup butter, powdered sugar, milk, remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.

Loosen edges of each cake with a knife.

Place 1 cake layer (top side up) on a large plate, discarding parchment paper.

Top with 1/3 of the frosting.

Repeat with remaining cakes and frosting (leave sides unfrosted) and serve.

Nutritional Info:

Per serving: 320 calories (90 from fat), 10g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 70mg cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 52g carbohydrates (3g dietary fiber, 34g sugar), 4g protein.

Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember - we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information.
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Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided, plus more for the pans
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more for the pans
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, divided
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, more or less to taste
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons nonfat milk

Shop recipe on Amazon

Exclusively for Prime members in select ZIP codes.