How to Bake a Simple, Plain Cake from Scratch

Whip up this delicious, no-frills dessert for any occasion

Co-authored by Quynh La and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 Fact Checked

A plain cake is a simple dessert that’s easy to make at home—all you need is some basic baking ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, salt, milk, and baking powder. In this article, we’ll teach you exactly how to bake a plain cake recipe step by step so you can quickly and easily throw together a tasty treat that your friends and family are sure to enjoy.

Ingredients

1 cup (200g) of white sugar
½ cup (113g) of unsalted butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract
1½ (188g) cups of all-purpose flour
1¾ tsp (8.4g) of baking powder
¹ ⁄ ₂ c (120 mL) of milk

Makes one 9 in (23 cm) square cake

1

Preheat the oven to 350 °F and grease the pan.

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Set the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) first so it has plenty of time to heat up while you prepare the batter. In the meantime, rub a little bit of grease or butter and sprinkle a little flour along the bottom and edges of a 9 in (23 cm) square baking pan . ^{[1]
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2

Mix the butter, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl.

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Place ½ cup (113g) of unsalted butter into a mixing bowl, along with 1 cup (200g) of white sugar. Using a stand or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until they form a consistent mixture. Then, crack and mix in 2 eggs separately, giving each one time to incorporate into the batter. Once the eggs are mixed in, pour in 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract. ^{[2]
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- Don't worry about over-mixing—it's really hard to do when you're creaming your ingredients together.

3

Combine the dry and mixed wet ingredients.

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Grab a second mixing bowl and pour in 1½ (188g) cups of all-purpose flour, along with 1¾ tsp (8.4 g) of baking powder. Once the ingredients are incorporated, pour them into the bowl that has your mixture of butter, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Turn on your stand or hand mixer to stir all of the ingredients together. ^{[3]
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4

Pour in ¹ ⁄ ₂ c (120 mL) of milk.

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Add the milk to your existing batter and use your stand or hand mixer to combine the ingredients into a cohesive batter. Continue stirring until the batter looks smooth and no lumps are visible. ^{[4]
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5

Transfer the batter to the cake pan.

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Pour the batter directly into the pan that you greased and lined with flour already. If any leftover batter sticks to the bowl, use a rubber spatula to guide it into the pan. ^{[5]
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6

Bake the cake for 30-40 minutes.

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Slide the pan into the oven and let it bake. At the 30-minute mark, check the cake to see if it looks cooked all the way through—ideally, the cake’s texture will spring back to its original position after you press on it with your finger. Alternatively, quickly slide a toothpick into the center of the cake to make sure no batter is sticking to it. ^{[6]
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- If you have an instant-read thermometer , scan the cake to see if it’s 210 °F (99 °C).
- Avoid opening the oven door while the cake is in the middle of baking. Wait to open the door and test the cake for doneness until it's at or near the end of the baking time.

7

Cool the cake for 1 hour.

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Set the cake on a flat, heat-resistant surface or wire cooling rack. For the next hour (or however long it takes the cake to cool down), let the cake cool off completely—at that point, you’re ready to slice into and enjoy your delicious confection. If you plan on frosting your cake, be sure to do so after the cake has completely cooled (otherwise, your frosting will melt and run all over).

What Should You Know Before Baking a Cake?

Community Q&A

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Question

How long does it take to make a plain cake?

Community Answer

About 15 minutes to make the dough and 25 to 30 minutes to cook for an oven preheated at 160 degrees Celsius (320 Fahrenheit).

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What is vanilla essence?

Jerry Cat

Community Answer

Vanilla essence is also called vanilla extract. It is food-safe alcohol that has had vanilla beans soaking in it. It is generally not diluted, so you only need a tiny bit. The alcohol will burn off in the oven, so it is safe for children.

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Can I make this cake in a microwave oven?

Community Answer

You cannot make cakes in the microwave oven unless you have a special recipe designed for that purpose. Otherwise, the cake will not be baked properly. There will be hot spots and other places where the cake is raw, or it may even explode in the microwave, creating a terrible mess.

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Tips

To give your cake a little extra color or crunch, add a handful of chopped or slivered nuts, such as almonds or pecans. You could also scatter colorful sprinkles for a festive birthday cake or a crumbly streusel to make a simple coffee cake.

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If you don't have a stand or hand mixer, mix the batter by hand with a wooden spoon.

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Add frosting to your cake for a sweet topping. You can even flavor your frosting with things like coffee or strawberry jam.

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Things You'll Need

Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowls
Spatula
Mixer
Baking spray
9 in (23 cm) cake pan

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How to Bake a Simple, Plain Cake from Scratch

Ingredients

Steps

Preheat the oven to 350 °F and grease the pan.

Mix the butter, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl.