Nutella Cake with Creamy Frosting Recipe

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.

In another bowl, mix the milk, vegetable oil, Nutella, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix as this could make your cake dense.

Grease and flour two 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pans. Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cake cools, prepare the frosting. In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to whip until stiff peaks form.

Ensure that the frosting is thick enough to hold its shape but still creamy. You can taste-test and adjust the sweetness as you prefer by adding more powdered sugar.

Once the cakes have completely cooled, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the top, followed by the second layer of cake. Apply a light layer of frosting over the entire cake, creating a 'crumb coat' to seal in any loose crumbs.

After the crumb coat sets, apply a thicker layer of frosting to the top and sides of the cake, smoothing it out as desired. You can use a spatula or a cake scraper for a cleaner finish.

Once decorated, you can serve your delicious Nutella cake right away or let it chill in the fridge to set for 30 minutes for a firmer frosting. Slice and enjoy this irresistible dessert at your next birthday or holiday celebration!