Old-fashioned vanilla mayonnaise cake is so flavorful and moist you won’t even need to frost it. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy a mouthwatering, tasty cake.

Easy Vanilla Mayonnaise Cake is decadent, delicious and simple to make. Simply mix, pour and bake and you’ll have incredibly moist cake in less than a hour.

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Admit it. You paused for a moment when you read the words mayonnaise and cake side by side in this recipe title.

I hesitated a bit the first time I learned about using mayonnaise in baking too, but rest assured vanilla mayonnaise cake is decadent, sweet and lusciously moist.

After the initial shock factor has passed and you realize that mayonnaise is mostly just oil and eggs, it makes sense that mayo can be added to cakes and other baked goods.

Peruse any vintage cookbook and you’ll find cake recipes using all kinds of uncommon ingredients.

Sour cream is the secret ingredient in chocolate sour cream bundt cake, and tomato soup adds a rich flavor to the cinnamon and nutmeg spiced tomato soup cake.

Mayonnaise may not be as conventional in modern times, but grandma and great-grandma would have made an old-fashioned vanilla mayonaise cake similar to this one.

And everyone would have raved over the moist, tender crumb and rich flavor.

More Delicious Cakes You’ll Love:

• Cream Cheese Pound Cake Loaf
• Homemade Chocolate Chip Cake
• Easy Preacher Cake
• Applesauce Bundt Cake
• Vanilla Pudding Cake
• Easy Butterscotch Cake

Vanilla Mayo Cake from Scratch

Mayonnaise is basically oil and eggs and while generations before us likely made their own mayo, there are some delicious ones available in your local grocery store.

I used Duke’s mayonnaise, but you can use any real mayonnaise, including a store’s generic brand. I haven’t tested the recipe with Miracle Whip or other mayonnaise alternatives.

• Don’t Use Olive Oil Mayo. Mayo adds tons of moisture to cake. As long as it’s made with a neutral flavored oil, the mayonnaise can’t really be tasted. Olive oil lends a stronger flavor to mayo which could be detected in the finished cake.
• Use Full Fat Mayo. Light mayo will work but could have a slight effect on the final texture of the cake. Mayonnaise is used in place of oil so you are simply substituting one fat for another.
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients. Bring eggs and mayonnaise to room temperature before adding to the cake batter and it will mix up smoother and creamier. Some lumps are to be expected.
• Don’t Overbake. Vanilla mayo cake from scratch is moist with a tender crumb. Overbaking can deplete moisture, so use a toothpick to check for doneness and pull the cake as soon as the toothpick comes out clean.

How to Make Vanilla Mayonnaise Cake

It’s really easy to make old-fashioned vanilla mayonnaise cake.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Granulated Sugar
• Mayonnaise
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• All-purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Milk
• Powdered Sugar (optional)

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe is available below)

Combine the wet ingredients. First, you’ll mix the sugar and mayonnaise on low speed in a stand mixer until combined.

Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing on medium speed to incorporate.

Mix the dry ingredients. Next, in a separate mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Make the batter. Next, with the mixer on low speed, alternate adding flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until combined.

Bake the cake. Then, you’ll transfer the batter to a prepared bundt pan. Bake for about 42-47 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool and serve. Last, you’ll let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then use a knife to carefully loosen the edges of the cake from the pan.

Invert the cake onto a serving plate and cool completely. If desired, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes and Adaptations:

• You can enjoy this cake plain, or dress it up by adding some fresh fruit, whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream. You could also top with your favorite glaze or icing, if you’d like.