Which is better canola or vegetable oil?

Canola oil generally has a higher smoke point, making it suitable for high-heat cooking like frying. Vegetable oil is more of a mixed bag since its composition varies by brand; it could be soybean, corn, or a blend. Health-wise, look at the saturated fat content; lower is usually better. Canola is often lower in saturated fat than some vegetable oil blends. Price is the final factor; vegetable oil blends are typically cheaper than canola.

Canola oil generally has a more neutral flavor than many vegetable oil blends, which can sometimes have a slightly noticeable taste depending on the source oils. For a cake where you want the other flavors to shine, canola is usually the safer bet. Texture-wise, both should perform similarly in terms of adding moisture.

For a vanilla cake, canola oil is generally a better choice due to its neutral flavor. Vegetable oil can sometimes have a slightly stronger taste that might affect the overall flavor profile of the cake. Canola will let the vanilla shine through more effectively.