Birthdays are the most worthy celebration that requires the cake. Weddings, retirements, and anniversaries are all great occasions for cake, but a birthday is the most popular occasion.
You can order a cake at your local bakery or pick out a design at your nearest supermarket. If you are short on time, local gourmet bakeries can do an excellent job. However, grocery store bakeries can provide a quick and easy solution. If you really want to celebrate someone’s (or your own) birthday, it is worth the effort. Baking a birthday cake from scratch is the best way to celebrate to the fullest. Preparing a birthday cake from scratch will make the celebration so much more enjoyable.
Mashed has the perfect, easy recipe to help you get started. The quarter-sheet cake is a 9-inch by 13-inch cake. It will make the traditional squares of cake we all love, with lots of frosting and sprinkles. This recipe is easy to follow and has step-by-step instructions. You’ll have more time to decorate and celebrate!
Make this delicious birthday cake by gathering all the ingredients
You will need to prepare all the ingredients for the vanilla cake in this birthday quarter-sheet cake recipe. 2 cups white Sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 1/4 cups baking powder, 2 1/4 cups baking soda, 2 1/4 cups baking powder, one teaspoon salt and 3 eggs. 3/4 cup oil, 1 cup milk, and 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract are also needed.
Let’s face it, and the frosting is the best part of any cake. To make this vanilla frosting, you will need 2 sticks of unsalted butter softened along with 8-10 cups of powdered Sugar, two tablespoons of milk and one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
Make the batter by mixing the dry ingredients.
First, heat the oven to bake a birthday cake. While you prepare the batter, let it heat up to 350° Fahrenheit.
Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl. Add the white Sugar, flour, and baking powder. Combine all dry ingredients until well-mixed. Before moving on to the next step, make sure that the mixture does not contain any large lumps.
To finish this recipe, add the wet ingredients.
After all dry ingredients have been well combined, it is time to add the eggs. Mix the eggs one by one until they are fully incorporated into the dry mixture.
Then add 3/4 cup oil and then 1 cup milk. Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract. Combine the butter with the milk until it is just combined. Make sure you don’t overmix the batter to avoid a dense, dry cake.
Make the cake batter to make this birthday cake.
After the birthday cake batter has been prepared, heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Now it’s time for the cake to bake. Spray a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. This will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan. Pro tip: Before pouring the batter into the pan, make sure you place a small piece of parchment paper in the bottom.
After the batter has been poured, place the pan in the oven. Bake the birthday cake for 30 mins until it is golden brown on top and completely set. After the cake has been baked, allow it to cool in the oven.
This birthday cake needs frosting.
Make the vanilla frosting for this festive birthday cake by adding two sticks of softened butter to a bowl. Mix the butter and 2 cups powdered sugar until it is fluffy. Add 2 tablespoons of milk to make the vanilla frosting. The butter, Sugar and milk should be combined. Next, add the vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon. Mix in the powdered Sugar slowly until the frosting is smooth. Once the frosting is formed, increase the speed of the mixer until it whips up fluffy frosting.
Decorate, frost and assemble the birthday cake.
After the cake has cooled completely, take it out of its pan. Place the cake on a rectangular cake stand, a platter or a cardboard board. It can also be left in the pan if desired. Frosting the top is an option.
Frost the cake by spreading a generous amount frosting on the top and then frosting the sides. To completely cover your cake, use a flat spatula to frost it or a piping bag with an icertip. Use an icing scraper to smoothen the frosting or a flat spatula. You can color some of the frosting with food coloring. Then, put the frosting into a piping bag. The tip should be cut off and “Happy Birthday!” written on it. In the middle of your cake, carefully cut off the tip. Sprinkle the top of the cake with lots of sprinkles. To finish decorating, add a border to the bottom and top with a piping tip. You have a quarter-sheet cake that will be perfect for any special occasion.
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups of white Sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup oil
- 1 cup milk plus 2 tablespoons of frosting
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract plus 1 teaspoon frosting
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened (for icing)
- For frosting, 8-10 cups powdered Sugar
Optional Ingredients
- Food coloring
- Sprinkles
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl. Mix together 2 cups white Sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 1/4 cups baking powder, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 cups of water.
- Mix the eggs one by one.
- Add 3/4 cup oil and 1 cup milk. Mix in 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract. Do not overmix the batter.
- After the batter has been prepared, spray a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Before pouring the batter, place a rectangle of parchment paper in the bottom.
- Bake the birthday cake for 30 mins until it is golden brown and completely set. After the cake has been baked, take it out of the oven and let it cool completely.
- Make the frosting for your birthday cake by adding 2 sticks of softened butter to a bowl. Mix the butter and 2 cups powdered Sugar until it is fluffy. Add 2 tablespoons milk to make the frosting. The butter, Sugar and milk should be combined. Next, add the vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon. Mix in the remaining powdered Sugar slowly until the frosting is smooth. Once the frosting is formed, increase the speed of the mixer until it whips up fluffy frosting.
- After your cake has cooled completely, you can place it on a rectangular or rectangular cake stand, a plate, or a cardboard board. It can also be left in the pan if desired. Frost the sides with a generous amount frosting. To fully cover your cake, use a flat spatula to frost it or a piping bag with an icer tip. Use an icing scraper to smoothen the frosting or a flat spatula. You can color some of the frosting with food coloring. Then, put the frosting into a piping bag. The tip should be cut off and “Happy Birthday!” written on it. In the middle of your cake, write “Happy Birthday!”
- Sprinkle the top of the cake with lots of sprinkles, and finish decorating by adding a border to the bottom and top with a piping tip.