An ideal birthday cake recipe, this classic dessert bakes up moist and fluffy. Get a basic vanilla cake recipe and cake decorating ideas here.

This Basic Vanilla Cake recipe is the perfect base for all of you cake-making needs. This recipe makes enough for two layers -- just top with your favorite frosting.

We love the light texture that cake flour gives baked gods, but we didn't want you to buy a whole box of it. So we used a cheat—all-purpose flour mixed with cornstarch.

Assemble the cake: Put 1 cake layer on a platter; spread 1 cup frosting on top. Top with the second cake layer, then cover the whole cake with the remaining frosting. Decorate with sprinkles.

We created the perfect vanilla cake — it tastes great on it's own, but added flavors and mix-ins make it a great recipe to build upon and customize.

In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, butter, milk, salt and eggs until the consistency of a batter. In a second bowl, mix the sprinkles, chocolate candies and vanilla morsels.

Mix the sugar, vanilla wafers, coconut, pecans and milk into the eggs. Pour the mixture into the tube or Bundt pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Combine the berries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl. Toss to coat the berries.

Beat in 3 room-temperature eggs one at a time, then 1 tablespoon vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture in three batches on low speed, alternating with 1 1/4 cups buttermilk.

Combine the buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla in a bowl or large measuring cup and whisk until smooth. Combine the sugar, cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and ...