Ahhh yes 😍 that Costco Vanilla Cake — ultra-soft, moist, bakery-style with that light, not-too-sweet frosting. Here’s a spot-on copycat you can make at home.
🍰 Copycat Costco Vanilla Cake
Vanilla Cake Layers
- 2½ cups cake flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs (room temp)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp clear vanilla extract (important for flavor!)
Costco-Style Vanilla Frosting
(Light, fluffy, not overly sweet)
- 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1½ tsp clear vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
🧁 Instructions
1️⃣ Bake the cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch pans.
- Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat in butter until crumbly.
- Add eggs one at a time.
- Slowly mix in milk and vanilla until smooth.
- Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
2️⃣ Make the frosting
- Beat butter until very fluffy (3–4 minutes).
- Add powdered sugar gradually.
- Stream in cream and vanilla.
- Beat until light and airy (Costco-style texture).
3️⃣ Assemble
- Level cake layers
- Frost generously between layers, top, and sides
- Optional: decorate with piped rosettes or white sprinkles (very Costco 😄)
✨ Pro Costco Secrets
- Cake flour = soft, bakery crumb
- Clear vanilla gives that signature flavor
- Don’t overbake — Costco cakes are super moist
- Chill cake briefly before slicing for clean cuts
Optional Add-Ons (Costco Vibes)
- Fresh strawberries between layers
- Light sugar syrup brushed on cake
- White chocolate curls on top
If you want, I can also:
- turn this into a sheet cake like Costco’s half-sheet
- add the classic strawberry filling
- or make a whipped-cream version instead of buttercre