Description
Whipping up this cream cheese cake brings pure comfort straight to your kitchen table. Smooth, creamy, and utterly delightful, this classic dessert guarantees smiles with each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1¼ cups buttermilk
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4–5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare your oven by heating it to 325°F and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Grab your electric mixer and whip the cream cheese until it becomes completely silky and free of lumps.
- Pour the vegetable oil and granulated sugar into the cream cheese, blending until the mixture looks smooth and integrated.
- Crack the eggs into the mixture one at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition to ensure even distribution.
- Pour the vanilla extract into the batter and stir until it’s fully incorporated.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1½ teaspoons salt, whisking them together gently.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring carefully to prevent overmixing.
- Slowly pour 1¼ cups buttermilk into the batter, stirring until the consistency becomes uniform and smooth.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center.
- Remove the cake and let it cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour.
- For frosting, use an electric mixer to blend 2 sticks of softened butter and 8 oz cream cheese until completely smooth.
- Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon salt to the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly.
- Gradually incorporate 4-5 cups of powdered sugar, beating until the frosting reaches a thick, spreadable consistency.
- Once the cake has cooled, generously spread the frosting across the entire surface.
- Refrigerate the frosted cake for a minimum of 30 minutes to set the frosting and enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese and eggs for the smoothest, most even batter texture.
- Carefully fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients to prevent overmixing, which can create a tough cake.
- Check cake doneness early by inserting a toothpick at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking and drying out the cake.
- For a lighter frosting, swap some powdered sugar with whipped cream or reduce sugar for less sweetness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg