Butter: Soften the butter so it creams effortlessly with the sugar. The first step of many baking recipes is to cream the butter and sugar. It’s especially important for both the texture and the white color of this cake. As the sugar mixes with the butter and air is added, the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
Sugar: Be sure you’re using white granulated sugar. Brown sugar, cane sugar and coconut sugar are not to be used here; their brown hue will discolor the velvet white cake.
Egg whites: While many cakes can be made with whole eggs, this white velvet cake recipe is a bit different. Egg yolks add richness to a mixture, as well as color. To be sure your cake comes out snow white, crack and separate your eggs. Use the egg whites for your cake batter and save the yolks for another project.
Vanilla extract: When a recipe relies heavily on vanilla for a majority of the flavor, I always splurge and buy the best vanilla extract at the store. You’d be amazed at what a difference it can make!
Cake flour: Cake flour creates white velvet cake’s signature delicate, fluffy texture. You can use all-purpose flour here but know the cake will come out much denser.
Leaveners: Test your baking powder and baking soda’s potency if they’ve been sitting in your cabinet for over six months. If they don’t react during your testing, add them to the grocery list.
Buttermilk: Did you know you can make buttermilk at home? If you already have milk and vinegar, fresh lemon juice or cream of tartar, then that’s one less item to buy at the store.
Cream cheese frosting: Just as with a good red velvet cake, we finish our velvet white cake with stark white cream cheese frosting. You’ll need one package of softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, a ton of confectioners’ sugar and a little bit of milk to whip up this tangy frosting.
Directions
Step 1: Beat the wet ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until soft and fluffy, three to four minutes. Add the egg whites, one at a time, then pour in the vanilla extract. Beat the mixture until it’s fluffy, one to two minutes.
