White chocolate cake with creamy white chocolate buttercream is an easy dessert you’ll want to make over and over again!
Can we please discuss how many times I had to refrigerate this cake while I was frosting it? Too. Many. Times.
It’s heating up here in Phoenix but I still haven’t turned on my AC yet because I’d rather be hot than cold. I only turn it on when it seems like Cookie is overheating. Melting frosting is an irritation; melting Cookie hurts my heart.
But this WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE (!!!) turned out pretty well despite the heat, doncha think? Sweet, soft, and covered in the creamiest white chocolate frosting, this cake is definitely one of my new favorites.
Why you’ll love this white chocolate cake:
- It’s really easy to make. Like, really easy.
- You don’t need a stand mixer to make it!
- The ingredients are all pantry staples so you can probably make it RIGHT NOW!
How to Make White Chocolate Cake
Melt unsalted butter in a medium saucepan, then add water and bring that to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add chopped white chocolate, then stir until the chocolate melts.
Note: It’s important to stir in the white chocolate off the heat because white chocolate scorched very easily.
Transfer that mixture to a mixing bowl to cool for 10 minutes.
Once the mixture has cooled, add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla and stir until well combined.
Baker’s tip: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand (and who does?) you can substitute an equal amount of whole milk to which you’ve added 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then it’s ready to use.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a second mixing bowl and stir to combine.
Gradually stir chocolate mixture into the flour mixture, stirring until well combined. Be sure to scrape up from the sides and bottom of the bowl so all of the flour gets mixed in.
Divide the batter between two 8-inch round cake pans and bake for about half an hour, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool the cake layers, then you’re ready to make the frosting.
How to Make White Chocolate Buttercream
Place room temperature unsalted butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until it’s light and creamy. Beat in powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Add melted white chocolate and beat again until incorporated.
Then just frost your cake, decorate as desired, and EAT.
Next on my baking list is something no-bake because pretty soon it’s going to be too hot to turn on the oven. But until then I’m going to enjoy slices of this cake frozen. Because frozen white chocolate cake beats ice cream any day :).
White chocolate cake with ice cream beats that though. . .
A few more cakes (in case you’re hungry)
Chocolate Banana Cake
Death by Chocolate Cake
Strawberry Layer Cake
White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Did you make this white chocolate cake? AWESOME! Let me know what you think with a rating and a comment below. And post a pic on Insta! Tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see your creations!
White chocolate cake with white chocolate buttercream is an easy dessert that satisfies all your white chocolate cravings!
- White chocolate cake layers
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water
- 2 ounces white chocolate chopped
- 3/4 cup buttermilk*
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces white chocolate finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons milk or cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray and lightly dust with flour. Set pans aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Add the water and bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and use a rubber spatula to stir in the chopped chocolate; continue stirring until the chocolate is fully melted.
- Pour the mixture into a medium mixing bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside.
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Gradually stir in the chocolate mixture; stir until well combined, taking care to scrape up from the bottom of the bowl. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake 26 to 32 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes, then carefully invert the onto the racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at 50% power in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
- Place the butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy, about 1 minute. With mixer on low, beat in 3 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of the milk, and the vanilla and salt until well combined.
- Add the cooled white chocolate and mix on low until incorporated. Turn mixer to medium and beat until frosting is very creamy, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add additional powdered sugar to thicken frosting or additional milk to thin it out to a spreadable consistency.
- Set one cooled cake layer on a cake stand or cardboard cake circle and spread a layer of frosting over the top. Top with the second cake layer and frost the cake with the remaining frosting. Decorate as desired and serve.
*You can substitute whole milk mixed with 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar; allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes before you use it.
Uneaten cake can be stored, covered, at room temp for up to 2 days or (tightly wrapped) in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Lisa E says
Unfortunately, my layers did not come out like I had expected. Very thin. Had to make a second batch and make it a three layer cake to get the height I wanted. The cake was very most and yummy (almost like a chiffon cake) and the frosting was a perfect balance with the cake and not too sweet. I had never made a white chocolate cake and it was a special request from a family member. Will be making again. Thank you!
grace says
white chocolate is the best and i would happily eat a piece of this cake every day for the rest of my life. haters can keep their milk and dark chocolate. 🙂
Kelsie says
Agree! Thank you!
Marissa says
We turn on our A/C the minute it gets too hot in…July. lol! So much different in AZ!
Your cake really did turn out beautifully, so worth the extra effort to keep it cool. Line up a dozen cakes for me to choose from and I’ll go with this simple combo every time. Delicious!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
We’re wimps — we always turn on our AC when the temperature rises. Anyway, what a swell looking cake! Worth turning on the AC so it’s easier to frost. 🙂
Marie says
This cake looks amazing. My sister in law loves white chocolate in cakes so I’m saving this recipe for her birthday
David @ Spiced says
A/C? Say what? We still haven’t turned the heat off here. I think the troubles with the cake and refrigeration are a clear sign that you just need to move up here. I can help you eat the cake…because I’m nice like that. 🙂 This cake looks stunning, and I second your thoughts about cake and ice cream together. Yum!
Shashi at SavorySpin says
I tried my best to hold off on turning on the AC too down here in Athens, Georgia – even gave my dogs a haircut – but when they were acting like they were having a hard time walking to get their food I figured it was time to turn it on 🙂
BTW – this cake looks so darn good, Kelsie! Such a showstopper!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
This is such a pretty, elegant cake. As much as I’m looking forward to summer, I am dreading the whole melting business – it makes taking photos of things like cake and ice cream sooo much harder! If only we had central a/c right!? Have a great Easter week my friend!!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
This cake looks beautiful Kelsie, it would really make a stunning celebration cake.
I would love to give this a try 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I would have never guessed you had a problem frosting this beauty just by looking at it – I mean, it is PERFECTION! I absolutely LOVE white chocolate ALL the things (mostly because I’m allergic to cocoa and can’t have normal chocolate, but also because it is so dang delish) – so this cake is absolutely screaming my name!!! I love that you doubled up on the white chocolate – both in the cake AND in the frosting! This is just heavenly, girl! Can’t wait to try it! Cheers!
Jo Thrasher says
OMG I can’t imagine doing anything with icing in AZ. Looks like you didn’t let that slow you down though!
Laura says
Kelsie! This cake looks perfect. And, I kid you not, I’ve been looking for a white chocolate cake to make for Easter, so you can be sure this will be on my table! Can’t wait to make it! Thanks!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats says
This cake was definitely worth the trouble! I love the sound of a white chocolate cake!! And your pictures are beautiful. I always love the step by step pics!!
Carlee says
I absolutely love white chocolate buttercream, but have never made a white chocolate cake. I need to change that asap!
Milena says
We just emerged from a spring snow storm so reading about how it is hot down there makes me a bit jealous:) Thank you for bringing this cake to the table to soothe my unsettling feeling, lol. This is a recipe I need to keep handy – there are major white chocolate lovers in our family. Pinned!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
This is by far my two fellas favorite cake! My son and hubby request this every year! Can’t wait to make your version!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Your cakes always look amazing Kelsie! This would be a showstopper on the Easter dessert table! Bet it would disappear quickly! Well done my friend!
Kim Lange says
Looks pretty amazing there Kelsie! xo Pinning!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Lol….oh the joys of being a blogger, right 😉 ? Well, it looks perfect to me! I can’t say the weather is that warm here yet, but at least the snow is pretty much gone. Love a big hunk of this with some berries on the side…this would definitely make my Monday! Have a good one, my friend 🙂