From 1 Vanilla Cake To 10 Cakes!

How to quickly turn a plain vanilla cake into 10 fabulous cakes! 

The easiest way to create different desserts in no time!

From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes! Or how to turn a plain vanilla cake into 10 fabulous cakes! It sure is the easiest way to create new desserts in no time!

Really that easy?  Oh yes!!  Let me prove it to you!

This post is number 2 of a post series about how to create different desserts from the same base.

I had so many ideas that I thought it would be a great no, a brilliant idea to make a post series! 😉

Today, I will share 10 great recipes to help you turn a plain vanilla cake into totally different desserts… And I mean fabulous desserts!

You won’t believe how easy it is!

Remember how it was easy to turn 1 pie into 10 pies?

Well, good news! It’s even easier with a plain vanilla cake than it was for my pie! ha! ha!

I’m all about Simple things, and there’s nothing I like more than Simple homemade desserts! So just imagine how I like a cake that I can transform into many different ones! Just love it! 😊

 

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From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!… What’s the trick?

The trick here is always to use the same vanilla cake recipe. Of course, I will share my recipe later but feel free to use your favorite one.

So, to that plain vanilla cake, we will add different toppings and garnishings; chocolate sauce, fruit sauce or coulis, different icings, or a mix of sauce and fruits. See? There is no limit here!

Even though I only share my ten family’s favorites here, there are tons of other options. Really! I might share them too…someday…

From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!…Some good tips

Here are a few tips to help you create different desserts from the same recipe. You can:

Use different cake molds of different sizes and shapes. Such as;

• Chimney or Bundt cake mold, they really are my favorite ones! I just love the shape of these big cakes!
• A loaf pan, your cake would be so easy to cut into lovely slices.
• A large rectangular cake pan and cut your cake into 1×3 inches pieces…or any other size you like!
• A square cake pan to create fabulous square-layered cakes ( different than the round ones we always see… )
• And, of course, you can transform any cake into cupcakes!

I like cake, any cakes… and I love desserts, all desserts!! ha! ha! I love them so much that I made a book about my favorite ones! 😊

Now, some other good tips;

– Use any icing you like. I often use the icing of one recipe to frost a cake from another.

– Make a bit more icing for layer cakes. Even though nude cakes are very trendy, there is nothing like a good old-fashion cake! You know, a cake with a lot of buttercream icing! 😉

– Double the recipe and freeze the remaining cake for later. Or bake a cake and a batch of cupcakes that you can freeze for another time.

– Using a good cake frosting spatula will make frosting easier.

– I always cut the sides of my cake before cutting it into squares or rectangles. It’s easier to have all look-alike pieces.

– A rotating plate is also very useful… but you can easily live without it! ha! ha!

– Maybe just like me, you have problems baking the perfect flat cake. My cakes were always too puffed up to make beautiful layer cakes, but I found fabulous tips here to make the nicest flat cakes. And I don’t have that problem anymore!

– Never be afraid to test and try new icings or toppings; believe me, almost everything goes on a cake! ha! ha!

From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!…The recipes

Now time for the recipes! Yay!!

First, I will share my favorite vanilla cake recipe. I made that recipe so many times that I stopped counting!

I try to always have one in my freezer; it makes a great last-minute dessert.

But as I said earlier, feel free to use your own recipe…with the wonderful toppings I will share right after! 😉

**Easy Vanilla Cake**

That recipe will make one cake or 12 cupcakes. Simply double the recipe for a double-layer cake.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1-1/2 cup of white flour
• 1/2 cup of softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 2-1/2 tbsp of vanilla
• 1-1/2 tsp of baking soda
• 1/4 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 cup of milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Grease and flour a 9-inch square or round cake pan.
3. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition.
5. Stir in vanilla.
6. Combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl.
7. Add to the butter mixture, and mix well.
8. Add milk and stir until smooth.
9. Pour the batter into the cake pan.
10. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
11. Let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
12. Unmold and let cool completely before icing.

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**Cream Fudge Icing**

How I love that icing! A bit sweet, but can a dessert never be sweet enough? 😊

To make this icing even more decadent, I also top it with small pieces of fudge cream and chopped nuts…so delightful!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• -2-3/4 cup of icing sugar
• -1/4 cup of whipping cream
• -1 tsp of vanilla

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, heat butter over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes until it starts to turn brown. Remove from heat.
2. Add icing sugar, vanilla, and cream, whisking for a few minutes, until smooth and creamy.

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**Maple syrup sauce**

I can’t tell how much I love maple syrup! It’s my favorite special ingredient, and I add it almost everywhere! ha! ha!

I pour that sauce warm or hot over each cake, single parts, or even over apple pie! So yummy!… and don’t forget to add vanilla ice cream too!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of maple syrup
• 1/2 cup of cooking 35% cream
• 1 tbsp of cornstarch

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, mix all ingredients. Heat over medium-low until it begins to simmer.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Pour warm or cold over cake portions.

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**Strawberry and chocolate coulis**

Just imagine how good this is! Strawberry and chocolate, what a perfect match! You could also switch strawberries for raspberries, pears, or even bananas… or skip the fruits and serve only the chocolate sauce with nuts or peanuts!  😉

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 cups of sliced or halved strawberries
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 tsp of cocoa powder
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1/4 cup of whipping cream
• 2 tbsp of whipping cream
• 1 tbsp of corn starch

Instructions:

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and water in a saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat, add butter and cream, and stir until sauce is smooth. Put back over medium heat.
3. Combine corn starch and remaining cream, stir into the chocolate sauce and mix well until thickens.
4. Remove from heat, and let cool.
5. Garnish each part of vanilla cake with strawberries and pour chocolate sauce over.

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From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!…More recipes!

**The Best Raspberry Icing**

That icing is so, so good! I suggest that you also add some fresh raspberries on top, and maybe some dark chocolate chips? ha! ha!

And it also makes the nicest cupcakes! 😉

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of softened butter
• 2-1/2 cup of icing sugar
• 1 cup of raspberries
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 2 tbsp (or so) of milk

Instructions:

1. Use a blender to puree raspberries.
2. Strain the puree to remove excess seeds.
3. Cream butter on high speed for about 8 minutes.
4. Add sugar a little at a time, whisking on low speed.
5. Once well combined, increase speed to high and continue to whisk until fluffy.
6. Add vanilla and raspberry puree, and continue to whisk.
7. Add milk, if needed, a little at a time until the right texture. Continue to whisk until smooth and creamy.

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**Spicy pear sauce**

That sauce is nothing but fabulous! I sometimes serve it over ice cream or vanilla yogurt, but my favorite way to do it is with vanilla cake and ice cream! You could also switch pears for apples or a mix of both.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of apple cider
• 1 cup of apple juice
• 2 tbsp of corn starch
• 1/2 tsp of 4-spice
• 2 cups of diced pears
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients except pears.
2. Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the mixture thickens.
3. Stir in pears and lemon juice and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until pears are tender.
4. Serve hot or warm on vanilla cake slices

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**Creamy Apricot Sauce**

What a great sauce to add on a cake! And it’s even better with a bit of whipped cream, or ice cream. It’s also the perfect sauce for pancakes or French toast.

Ingredients:

• One 14 oz can of apricot halves in their juice. And the apricot juice.
• 1 tbsp of corn starch
• 1/2 cup of apricot jam
• 1/2 cup of whipping cream
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Cut apricots into 1/4 inch slices.
2. Combine the apricot juice and cornstarch in a saucepan using a whisk.
3. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, occasionally stirring until thickening.
4. Add apricots and all other ingredients and continue cooking for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove from heat. Serve hot or warm.

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From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!…And some more!

**Creamy Cinnamon Sauce**

I really like this sauce! It goes well with a vanilla cake but also with any other cake! And feel free to add raisins or cooked apple slices to turn it into another delight!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup of condensed milk
• 1 tbsp corn syrup
• 3 tbsp of butter
• 1 tsp of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Heat the sugar, milk, and corn syrup over low heat until the sugar is melted.
2. Remove from heat. Add butter and cinnamon. Mix until smooth.
3. Serve hot or warm over cake or fruits.

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**The easiest Lemon Icing**

That is undoubtedly the easiest icing ever! But so delightful! I like to add some candied lemon slices to add a bit more texture and taste; they look so pretty! 😉 Also very easy to make. Here is an excellent article to show you how to make your own candied lemon slices... they are so good, I suggest you make a lot!

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2 tbsp of water
• 1 tsp of lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp of ground ginger

Instructions:

1. Mix well all ingredients until smooth.
2. Spread over a vanilla cake or cupcakes.
3. Garnish with lemon zest or candied lemon.

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From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!…The two last recipes!

**The Best Banana Sauce**

That is such a great sauce! I sometimes add one or two teaspoons of rum to enhance the flavor. And, of course, it’s even better with ice cream or whipped cream!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1-3/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 3 bananas, cut into slices
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Stir in sugar, milk, and cinnamon.
3. In a bowl, combine banana slices and lemon juice.
4. Gently add the bananas to the saucepan and cook for a few minutes, until the bananas are warm.
5. Pour over vanilla cake, waffles, or pancakes.

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**Quick Fudge Icing**

That is my go-to chocolate icing! Probably the one I made the most. I always add different toppings, such as roasted pecans or almond slices, marshmallows, peanuts, graham crumbs, raspberries…or a mix of a few of these! But my family’s favorite is definitely marshmallows and roasted pecans! 😉

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp of cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp of corn syrup
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of icing sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla

Instructions:

1. Mix sugar and cocoa in a small saucepan.
2. Add butter, milk, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Let boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
5. Beat for one minute with an electric mixer. Gradually add icing sugar and vanilla, beating well between each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is thick enough to frost the cake.
6. Frost any cake or cupcake and garnish with your favorite toppings.

 

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From 1 vanilla cake to 10 cakes!… To conclude

See? That was easy, right?

 

There are so many ways to create fabulous desserts! Don’t be shy to test any combination you like; I do that all the time, and I often make great discoveries!

I truly believe that simple desserts are the best! To me, there’s nothing better than a homemade dessert!

And never forget that a homemade dessert should look like a homemade dessert!  So stop stressing about it… just bake it! 😉

Speaking of homemade desserts, you must read this if you are a chocolate cake fan!  Of course, I share my favorite ones, but I have an important question too…

I’ve also created a recipe book, a dessert recipe book, of course!! My Top 50 best make-ahead desserts! 😊 All my favorite desserts are in it… well, not exactly all of them because I didn’t want my book to be 2000 pages recipe book! ha! ha! But you’ll find out that I chose good ones!

As always, I would love to hear from you 🖤.

Use the comment box for any questions, or even better, send me a quick email at  linda@soperfectlysimple.com to tell me about your favorite topping for vanilla cake. Please, send me the recipe! I just can’t wait to try it! … we never know; it might be part of one of my next posts!

And, of course, if you try one of the vanilla cake toppings I proposed, I need to know!! ha! ha!  I’m such a curious girl!

Stay tuned because, in the third part of this post series, we will talk about cheesecakes! 😉

*And if you liked this post, let your friends know! 😉 Please share it!

Talk to you soon!