28 vanilla frosting recipes

Black Forest ice cream cake: two layers of moist chocolate-coffee cake sandwich a slab of vanilla ice cream, frosted with whipped cream and crowned with cherry pie filling. A frozen showstopper.

Classic three-layer white cake with vanilla and almond extract, topped with rich chocolate frosting. A heritage recipe using egg whites for a pure, snowy crumb.

Neapolitan torte stacks chocolate, vanilla, and pink cake layers with green cream cheese filling and chocolate frosting. A retro Italian-flag-colored layer cake from boxed mixes.

Braided yeast bread wreath filled with dates, walnuts, bran flakes, and cinnamon, topped with vanilla confectioner's sugar frosting. A stunning holiday bread that's worth the rise time.

Yellow cake studded with mandarin oranges and pecans, topped with a cooked pineapple glaze, sliced bananas, and a fluffy vanilla pudding-Cool Whip frosting loaded with coconut and nuts.

The classic coconut-pecan frosting for German chocolate cake, cooked on the stovetop with evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla. Thick, rich, and loaded with coconut and chopped pecans. Makes 4 1/2 cups.

A three-layer chocolate cake with vanilla custard filling and rich chocolate buttercream frosting. Made from scratch with real unsweetened chocolate and whipped egg whites for a light crumb.

Bolognese sponge cake layered with vanilla custard and rum, frosted in coffee zabaglione buttercream, then crowned with chocolate-dipped almonds and walnut sides. From Il Cantoncino restaurant in Bologna.

Frosted chocolate drop cookies with rolled oats, sour cream-tendered crumb, and a vanilla glaze topped with a pecan half. Bakery-style cake cookies from a 1950s lunch counter.

Three-layer toasted coconut cake with a buttermilk crumb, coconut and vanilla extract, and a cream cheese frosting loaded with toasted coconut. A classic Southern bake for birthdays and holidays.

Mocha truffle cake: a flourless dark chocolate cake built with a pound of chocolate, a pound of butter, eight eggs, and strong coffee. Chilled overnight and frosted with vanilla whipped cream.

Ultra-moist zucchini cake loaded with cinnamon, chopped nuts, and vanilla, baked in a tube pan and smothered in tangy lemon cream cheese frosting. Shredded zucchini keeps every slice incredibly tender.