Make the best Eggless Vanilla Cake at home with this super easy recipe. A buttery, flavorful, moist and delicious vanilla cake that will soon be your favorite! Tastes the same as you get in a bakery! With its excellent vanilla flavor, this cake has a soft and moist crumb with a fluffy texture. Whether you run out of eggs or have someone home with an egg allergy, this is a great recipe for you to try!
Earlier I had shared an Eggless Sponge Cake here. A sponge has that extremely fully, airy and light structure which really can’t hold the decorations well. So the recipe shared in this post is my go to, for an Eggless vanilla cake that works well for decorations. It is neither too airy nor too dense but makes a fantastic base cake for all your decorations, especially for layered & tiered cakes.
Eggless Vanilla Cake
There are numerous recipes to make a vanilla cake. While some recipes use the whole eggs, some use a mix of whole and additional egg whites. But a basic vanilla cake always uses eggs which play an important role that determine the texture and color of the cake. An eggless vanilla cake needs an egg substitute.
There are various ingredients like egg replacer, yogurt, flaxmeal and buttermilk which work very well as egg substitutes. However this eggless vanilla cake recipe uses condensed milk and an acidic ingredient (vinegar or lemon juice) as an egg substitute.
Condensed milk is the star ingredient of this recipe & it does a magic by imparting a lovely bakery flavor and texture to the cake. We all know how amazing sweetened condensed milk smells!
Vinegar, condensed milk and the leavening ingredients together work like a charm in aerating the batter which bakes up to a lovely eggless vanilla cake.
My Recipe
This cake can be baked with either all-purpose flour or cake flour. While all-purpose flour works well too, cake flour makes the cake lighter. I have used cake flour here. If you do not have it you may want to make your own following my instructions in the step by step photo guide.
This recipe makes a 7 or 8 inch eggless vanilla cake. I made 2 cakes and frosted with a simple vanilla buttercream frosting. To make 2 layered cake, double the recipe and bake them in 2 pans at one time.
I had baked this a few times earlier and made a whipped cream frosting which turned out delicious too. If you do not prefer to frost the cake, do add 3 to 4 tbsps. powdered sugar as mentioned in the recipe.
If you do not have an oven you can check this no bake chocolate Biscuit cake. However if you want to bake this cake in a pressure cooker, you may read this post on Cooker cake recipe. Follow the same instructions to bake this cake.
If you are a beginner do read my tips and faqs section below.
For more Cake Recipes, you can check
Eggless Black forest cake
Fruit cake without egg
Eggless chocolate cake
Banana chocolate cake without egg
Eggless carrot cake
Eggless banana bread
Butter cake
Banana cake
How To Make Eggless Vanilla Cake (Stepwise Photos)
Preparation
1. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. Grease a 7 or 8 inch pan. Line it with parchment paper.
2. Preheat the oven to 170 C for at least 15 mins. If using a pressure cooker, add 1 heaped cup salt to a cooker. Spread it evenly and place a plate. Place a trivet or ring. Remove the gasket and whistle. Cover it. Heat on a medium high flame for 10 to 12 mins.
3. This cake works well with all-purpose flour but cake flour makes it lighter. Skip this step if you want to use all-purpose flour.
Fluff up the all purpose flour in the jar with the help of a fork. Using a spoon fill 1 and a ¼ cup of all purpose flour to measuring cups. Level them with a straight edged knife or spoon.
Remove 2 tbsp flour from 1 cup and ½ tbsp flour from ¼ cup. Add the removed flour back to the jar. Next fluff up the corn flour in the jar and measure 2 & ½ tbsp corn flour and add it to the cups. Sieve them together at least 3 to 4 times this helps the cake to turn light. Your cake flour is ready.
Make Cake Batter
4. Place a sieve over a large mixing bowl. Add 1 ¼ all-purpose flour or cake flour to a sieve.
5. Next add 1 tsp baking powder.
6. Add ½ tsp baking soda.
7. Then add 1/8 tsp salt.
8. Sieve them and repeat it thrice. If you do not plan to frost the cake, then you may need another 3 to 4 tbsps powdered sugar. Mix well.
9. Pour condensed milk. I use about 200 ml. i.e. approximately ½ of a 400 ml can.
10. Next pour 1/2 cup water.
11. Pour ¼ cup melted unsalted butter. I melted it in a small pan. You can also do it in a microwave.
12. Add in vanilla extract.
13. Pour vinegar. I used organic apple cider vinegar.
14. Mix well until just combined.
15. Make sure there are no lumps. The mixture will begin to react immediately due to vinegar and you will see bubbles. Avoid over mixing it at this stage.
16. Transfer the batter to the cake pan. Knock it gently to the counter a few times.
Baking Eggless Vanilla Cake
17. Place it in the center rack in your oven. Bake it for 23 to 25 mins until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine was done at 25 mins. Do check at 23 mins as the timings slightly differ from oven to oven. If baking in cooker, place the cake tray on the trivet or ring. Cover and bake for 45 to 55 mins on a low flame.
18. When the cake is done, a skewer inserted comes out clean.
19. Transfer the cake pan to a cooling rack and let cool for 15 mins. Later invert it on a wire rack.
20. Remove the parchment paper and allow to cool completely.
21. I made a simple and quick buttercream frosting. I haven’t shared the pics of the same as the post is already lengthy and may intimidate many. If you are interested please follow the instructions in the recipe card.
I have not included the time taken to make the frosting in the recipe card. You can make a rough estimation of 2 hours for the frosting if you are a beginner.
Soft, moist and delicious eggless vanilla cake is ready.
Pro Tips
- Measure the Flour correctly: A lot of readers have made this cake successfully but some could not get the right results. A dry or dense cake is a problem with too much flour or with not enough liquid. Please weight the flour if possible or fluff up the flour and spoon to the measuring cups. This step makes a huge difference.
- Butter: You may use oil in the recipe. This results in a more moist cake. But butter improves the flavor and you may smell the oil in your cake if you don’t use the right kind. I have tried it only with virgin coconut oil.
- Condensed milk: There is no substitute to sweetened condensed milk.
- Baking powder & Baking soda: Please test your baking powder and soda before using to ensure they are still within the shelf period. These 2 ingredients cannot be substituted and cannot be replaced for one another.
Trouble shooting
Cake recipes are sensitive to weather conditions and temperatures. Even the best recipes may require troubleshooting at times. These are tried and tested troubleshooting tips that may help. But it is important to measure the ingredients correctly and make sure they are at room temperature before making the batter.
- Dry cake: Increase 1 to 1.5 tablespoons butter in the recipe.
- Dense cake: Add 2 tablespoons more milk.
- For a moist cake: Make a simple sugar syrup and drizzle it over the cooled cakes. For details you may check my Black forest cake recipe.
Faqs
An egg substitute like buttermilk, condensed milk, flax meal or yogurt make eggless cakes fluffy. However each recipe is different and needs some experimentation.
If you are trying to troubleshoot a dry eggless cake, add a few tbsps of yogurt, milk, buttermilk or butter while making the batter. These ingredients will incorporate some amount of fats and liquid into the batter and help the eggless cake to remain moist.
Overmixing the cake batter can make your cake sticky. So mix the dry and wet ingredients just until combined.
Too much flour in the batter or too little liquid can be one of the reasons for a dry cake. Always weigh or measure the ingredients precisely.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Eggless Vanilla Cake
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1¼ cup all-purpose flour or cake flour (150 grams)
- 200 ml sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 tablespoon powdered sugar (skip, for less sweeter cake)
- ½ cup water (or orange juice for orange flavor)
- ¼ cup melted unsalted butter (60 ml)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or 1 tbsp orange zest)
- 1 tablespoon vinegar (i use apple cider vinegar)
For white chocolate frosting (Frosting 1 – method 1)
- 100 grams white chocolate (or any chocolate)
For the buttercream frosting (Frosting 2 – method2)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (soft but cold)
- 1¾ to 2 cups powdered sugar sifted or icing sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons milk (use only as needed)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preparation
- Ensure all your ingredients are at room temperature. Grease and line a 7 or 8 inch cake pan. Line a parchment paper. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 170 C for at least 15 mins. If using a pressure cooker to bake, please check the notes.
- Place a sieve over a large mixing bowl. Fluff up the flour in the jar and spoon it to the measuring cups and level with a straight edged knife.
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the sieve.
- Mix them all with a spoon and sieve the ingredients to the bowl. Repeat the sieve twice more.
- Add sugar to the bowl and mix it well. Make a well (space) in the center of the bowl. (check step by step pictures)
- Pour the condensed milk, water, melted butter, vanilla extract and vinegar.
- Mix them gently just until well combined. The cake batter has to be smooth and lump free. Do not over mix.
- Transfer the batter to the greased cake pan. Gently knock it against the kitchen counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
How to Bake Eggless Vanilla Cake
- Place the cake tray in the center rack inside the oven. Bake for 23 to 25 mins or until a tester inserted comes out clean. Mine was done at 25 mins. But the timing may vary slightly depending on your oven.
- When the cake is done, a skewer or a tester inserted comes out clean. If you find the cake still moist bake for a little longer.
- If baking in a cooker, open the lid of the hot cooker. Place the cake tray with the help of a Indian tong or pakkad. The cooker must be hot at this time. Cover the lid. Regulate the flame to low heat. Bake for 45 to 55 mins.
- Transfer the cake pan to a cooling rack and let cool for 15 mins. This is important else your cake will sweat.
- Invert the cake pan over the wired rack. Cool this completely before frosting or slicing.
Make Chocolate Frosting – Method 1 (optional)
- Chop the chocolate and add it to a bowl.
- Melt this in a microwave stirring at 30 mins interval until it melts. Or You can also melt it in a double boiler method by placing it in a bowl of hot water.
- Keep stirring until it melts & turns smooth.
- Pour this over the cooled eggless vanilla cake and spread with a spatula.
Making Buttercream Frosting – Method 2 (optional)
- Beat soft butter until smooth for about 3 minutes on a medium speed, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
- Sieve the powdered sugar. Add half a cup at one time.
- Continue to mix it on a low speed. Then on a medium speed until well incorporated.
- Then continue to add in more sugar and then mix on low to medium speed.
- Add in vanilla and milk as needed. Mix until it turns smooth & fluffy.
- If the frosting is too thick to spread just add in a tsp of milk and mix on a low speed.
- If frosting is a bit runny, you can try refrigerating it for 1 hour. You can also add in more powdered sugar.
- Add a couple of tbsps of frosting to the center of the cake. Spread it well with a spatula. If making a layer cake, then place another cake over it.
- Add half of the frosting and begin to spread it from the center and then cover the sides. Refrigerate this for about 45 mins.
- Add the left over frosting retaining about half cup in the bowl. Spread this to finish off. Use the left over frosting as needed to smoothen.
- Refrigerate this further for about 20 to 30 mins. Smoothen the frosting with a dough cutter or scraper. Use sprinklers as desired.
- Slice the eggless vanilla cake and serve.
Notes
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Recipe source: Madhu. This recipe was first published in November 2017. Updated and republished in January 2022.
Will 2x recipe give me enough batter to bake in a 9*12 pan. Any inputs please?
Yes it will
Amazing Recipe! I have been making this for many years now. This time I am making a white forest cake. My family is excited.
So Glad to know Kiran
Thank you
Not bad, but unfortunately it was on the bland side and wasn’t fluffy as is expected from a cake. Your chocolate cake recipe is the best though!
Supriya,
Not fluffy means too much flour. You may have gone wrong measuring the flour. Fluff up the flour with a fork first and then spoon it to the measuring cup and level. After using so much condensed milk and vanilla your cake is still bland then use a different brand of those ingredients and use up the sugar I mentioned as optional in the recipe. I will update the recipe with metric measures so you won’t go wrong. Hope this helps.
very good recipe!
Thank you
Love it great recipe but I accidentally put way too much baking soda 🤣🤣🤣
Hi, can I double this recipe and bake in two 9 inch pans?
Sonali, yes you can you will get thinner layers.
How much sugar I can use as I am using evaporated milk and it don’t has sugar
Hi Dishika,
I haven’t tried this with evaporated milk. Not sure even if it will work because adding sugar means more moisture in the batter.
Hi can I use this recipe for cupcakes? I absolutely love this eggless recipe! If yes how many cupcakes would this make?
Hi,
You can bake 12 cupcakes
Hi. The cake is getting stuck at the top of my mouth. Any reason why? I have followed your recipe.
Hi,
Yes if the batter is overmixed the cake will turn sticky and will be exactly the way you said. Next time try mixing the liquid ingredients first in a bowl and then incorporate the flour in 2 to 3 batches.
Hi, can I bake this cake ahead
Hi, hope you’re well.
can I bake this cake ahead?
Hi Amena,
Thanks for asking. Yes you can bake this ahead. If you want to refrigerate oil works better.
Hi Swashi,
Thanks for replying back.
Hi! Could I use oil instead of melted butter in the cake? – would that result in a moister sponge? Thanks
Hi,
You can use oil and yes it turns moist
Hi Swasthi! Can we replace vinegar by lemon/lime juice here? Thanks!
Hi Insaaf
Yes you can use but vinegar gives the best results. Try with 1.5 tbsps lemon juice
Hi Swasthi ,
Can I use white wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar?
Thanks
Hi Vani,
Yes it works.
Hello, I tried it today and it turned out sooooo good!! Half of the cake is already gone, without frosting. Thanks for sharing!
Welcome Reena
Glad to know! Thank you!
yummy
Thanks Priyanka
Can I use oil for frosting
No
I’m planning to bake two mini numbered cakes and will be using a 6 cavity doughnut cake pan. Do you suggest any modifications? I’m a very inexperienced baker. Thank you!
Hi Clarie,
You have to cut down the baking time depending on the size of cavities.
Hi,
I have two nine inch pans I intend to use. Can you tell me the adjustment I need to make?
Or a 10 inch springform cake.
Thanks,
Hi Yash
Yes you can use two 9 inch pans. Don’t need to adjust anything except for the time. It should be done in 20 to 21 mins. You will have slightly thinner cakes than mine.
Hi I liked your recipe, but I have a doubt. Since I have apple cider vinegar mother, can it be used directly in place of apple cider vinegar ?
Please guide me. Thanks
Hi,
Thank you!
Yes I use the same with mother. Let it settle down at the bottom for a while then use it. Thanks for rating.
I use lime juice
I’ve tested four different eggless vanilla cake recipes the last couple of days, and this is by far the best!!
I substituted 1/4 cup of cornstarch for the AP flour, added 2 tbs of sugar and used an 8″ pan. The result was light, fluffy and looked perfect! Now I finally have that go-to recipe I’ve searched for so long! Thank you!:-)
Welcome Hanne
Glad it turned out good. Thank you!