The Perfect Vanilla Layer Cake (and a Birthday Surprise!) | Happy Baking with Erin Jeanne McDowell

In this episode, I’m making a dreamy (and dare I say PERFECT) Vanilla Layer Cake—perfect for celebrations of any kind! Fluffy vanilla bean cake layers, silky vanilla buttercream, and creamy vanilla custard filling make this a truly special cake - deserving of a special delivery! Watch to the end to watch me turn this cake into a birthday surprise for a total stranger, after receiving an email request from her mom! 🎂🥰🎂 GET THE PERFECT VANILLA CAKE RECIPE on my website:
https://www.erinjeannemcdowell.com/re...

(😉 Here's the cake box used in this episode: https://amzn.to/3WQrV7Z )

►► CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:29 Layer Layers Layers
10:29 Custard!
19:07 Russian Buttercream
25:48 Filling a Pastry Bag
27:22 Cake Assembly
37:02 Getting Smooth Sides
51:02 Get It To The Party
54:30 Surprise!
56:14 Outro

☺️ ☺️ PERFECT VANILLA CAKE INGREDIENTS ☺️ ☺️
Makes one 3 layer 9 inch/23 cm cake

►►Vanilla Bean Cake Layers
450 g / 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
8 g / 2 teaspoons baking powder
4 g / 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
285 g / 10 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
396 g / 2 cups granulated sugar
5 g / 1 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 7 g / 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 g / 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
245 g / 8 large egg whites, at room temperature
305 g/ 1 1/3 cups whole milk, at room temperature
60 g / 1/4 cup vegetable oil

►►Vanilla Custard Filling
460 g / 2 cups whole milk
235 g / 1 cup heavy cream
2 g / 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
7 g / 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1 vanilla bean, halved and scraped
99 g / 1/2 cup granulated sugar
28 g / 1/4 cup cornstarch
145 g / 7 large egg yolks
28 g / 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

►► White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Buttercream
454 g / 16 ounces (2 cups) unsalted butter, at room temperature
7 g / 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 15 g / 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 g / 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
397 g / one (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
226 g / 8 ounces finely chopped white chocolate, melted

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►► VIDEO CREDITS 🎥
☺️ Producer/Director: Gabriella Mangino
☺️ DP: Faki Malik
☺️ Editor: Josh Dion
☺️ Graphic Design: Tart NYC
☺️ Motion: Joe Rufa