Hi all, I need a recipe for a very plain cake. I would prefer it not be flavored and I've tried using a white cake mix without the flavoring and it doesn't work very well. Today while visiting my favorite cake store, there was a sign on the door saying they were going out of business and everything was 70% off. So I grabbed every Lorann flavoring oil they had. I want to try some of them out but they never seem to give much flavor so I'd like to get a recipe that I can try them in. Does anyone use them and have any ideas?

Well, I haven't used them, so I cannot help there, but for nearly every cake recipe I can think of, you still use vanilla and add the flavourings in addition to the vanilla. Just thought I would mention that. Vanilla is enhanced by other flavours and also enhances other flavours.
Hugs Squirrelly

Why wouldn't just a vanilla cake work? It's plain, other than white or yellow.
Great deal on 70% off on the oils!

I think it should work too, I think the thing is going to be to figure out how much of the oils to use. These oils were originally designed for use in candy, so you would only use a drop or two. I think it is going to be difficult to calculate how much to use in baking a cake. I honestly think that they would be more practical in flavouring the icing because they are expensive when you are not getting such a good deal as this.
Perhaps someone has used them in a cake and has a better idea of amounts to use.
Hugs Squirrelly

Squirly knows her stuff!! she Rocks!!!

I don't know about using the oils in cakes, but I thought I'd share my favorite white cake recipe. It's pretty basic and I've added all sorts of extracts with good results over the years.


2 1/2 c cake flour
1 2/3 c sugar
1 Tbsp + 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 c milk
2/3 c shortening
1 tsp vanilla (I have always added this in addition to any other flavorings)
5 egg whites

Sift dry ingredients together into mixer bowl, add everything but egg whites and mix just until combined. Beat on high for 2 minutes, turn down mixer and add egg whites, beat on high for another 2 minutes.

Bake according to pan directions.

Makes about 5 cups batter, it can be doubled or even tripled (if your mixer is big enough!). I use this recipe for all my white wedding cakes.


Let us know how the flavor experiment turns out!

Well I had tried the oils before in other cakes and there wasn't enough taste and if I added more, the taste become bitter. I had planned to use vanilla because I put a little in everything I bake. And thank you for the recipe edencakes. I'm going to try it today with a flavoring. Thanks for the help and advice everyone!

Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Let us know how the oils work out for you. When you had tried flavouring before and the cakes tasted bitter, what kind of flavourings were you using?
Hugs Squirrelly

how about using a white cake and flavoring your icing?

Debbie