Perfect Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe with Easy Vibrant School Colors Frosting
A moist and tender vanilla sheet cake topped with vibrant, customizable school colors frosting. Perfect for school events, fundraisers, or any celebration needing a colorful, crowd-pleasing dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 50-55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
- For the frosting:
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring in chosen school colors
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch sheet pan with butter or non-stick spray and lightly dust with flour.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter and 1¾ cups sugar on medium speed for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides as needed.
- Mix in 1 tbsp vanilla extract until combined.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and 1 cup milk to the butter mixture in three parts, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- For frosting, beat 1 cup softened butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar on low speed to avoid sugar clouds.
- Add 2 tbsp milk and 2 tsp vanilla extract, then beat on medium-high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
- Divide frosting into bowls and mix in gel food coloring to desired vibrant hues.
- Frost the cooled cake using an offset spatula, applying frosting in stripes or blocks to match school colors.
Notes
Use gel food coloring to prevent bleeding and fading of frosting colors. Always use room-temperature ingredients for best texture. Do not overmix batter to avoid toughness. If frosting is too thick, add milk; if too thin, add powdered sugar. For gluten-free, use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. Dairy-free substitutions include plant-based butter and almond or oat milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 3
Keywords: vanilla sheet cake, school colors frosting, easy vanilla cake, vibrant frosting, school fundraiser cake, colorful cake, simple vanilla cake