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Vanilla skillet cake slice in a skillet.
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Easy Vanilla Cake in a Skillet

A family favorite this Easy Vanilla cake is baked in a cast-iron skillet. Vanilla beans flavor the inside of this moist and tender cake and a simple sprinkling of powdered sugar and cinnamon top this delicious cake.
Course Cake
Cuisine American
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6
Calories 478kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 10" cast iron skillet with cooking spray and dust with flour. Optionally you can use a 9" or 10" cake pan.
  • Measure the sugar into a bowl. Next, cut the vanilla bean in half longwise then open it up and scrape the seeds out with the flat side of the knife. Add the seeds to the sugar and thoroughly mix together. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl add the room temperature butter and beat for one minute on medium speed.
  • Add the sugar mixture to the bowl and beat for two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  • Mix the flour, salt, and baking powder together.
  • Add a ¼ cup of milk to the butter/sugar mixture then add ½ cup of the flour. Keep alternating adding the milk and flour; scrape the bowl occasionally.
  • Put the egg whites in a bowl and lightly beat to break up the whites. Add the beaten egg whites to the bowl and mix until combined. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared cast-iron skillet or baking pan. Bake for 35 minutes. If the top of the cake is getting too brown cover the cake with aluminum foil. The cake is done when an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
  • In a small sifter or fine-meshed strainer add the powdered sugar and cinnamon in layers then sift over the cooled cake.
  • Cover any leftover cake with plastic wrap and keep on the counter for up to two days.

Notes

Since ovens vary in temperature make sure to check the top of your cake for over browning.  You may have to lay a piece of foil over the top so it doesn't get too brown.
Check for doneness at 30 minutes and continue baking for a few minutes more if needed.
If you are using a cake pan the baking times can vary so check for doneness at 30 minutes.
How to scrape a vanilla bean - Cut the bean open lengthwise, the open the bean up to expose the seeds inside. Using the flat side of a paring knife, scrape down the length of the pod to remove the seeds.
What if I don't have a vanilla bean - Vanilla beans are expensive and are not used in a lot of recipes so there are options. 1 vanilla bean = 2 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla or 1 vanilla bean = 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.

Want to try another skillet cake?

Maple Apple Skillet Cake features a moist vanilla cake topped with sweet apples that bake into the cake batter. This cake is moist and sweetly delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cake slice | Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 80.2g | Protein: 6.9g | Fat: 15.8g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 523mg