Once I suppose again to the entire reminiscences I had with my Dad, who handed away out of the blue once I was 18, I’m met with pleasure, consolation and immense love. He wasn’t an ideal mother or father or human, he was extremely flawed and his life was taken too early due to it — however he had a gold coronary heart, and I’ll always remember the best way he made me really feel. I’m crying as I write this as a result of 15 years later, his reminiscence remains to be with me practically day by day. His loving coronary heart, his heat embrace, his large gigantic snigger and presence, and naturally, the recipes we made collectively.
Dad particularly cherished to bake sweets and his yellow cake was our go-to dessert. He made it particular with a number of twists right here and there, and all through the years, I feel I’ve made it even higher. In the present day, I’m celebrating him and sharing his reminiscence by way of meals with all of you. I hope you get an opportunity to bake this cake! It’s an enormous hug, and further scrumptious with sprinkles on prime. A giant thanks to my Dad, who impressed my love of baking — I’ll at all times love you.
What’s yellow cake?
You might have grown up on boxed, store-bought yellow cake and questioned “wait, what does yellow cake style like?” In the event you didn’t already know, white cake and yellow cake are literally totally different when it comes to elements, which supplies them a special look AND taste:
- White cake usually makes use of all egg whites and no egg yolks, together with a mix of butter and shortening. The shortage of egg yolks means the cake is lighter in shade and has much less fats, which results in a spongier, lighter texture.
- Yellow cake has each complete eggs and further egg yolks and is made with all butter (no shortening), giving the cake a yellow shade. The egg yolks add extra fats, giving the cake a denser, extra moist texture.
Substances in the perfect yellow cake you’ll ever make
Transfer over, boxed yellow cake, we’re making the true deal from scratch. My Dad’s unimaginable yellow cake has a number of particular elements that give it probably the most excellent texture and taste. Don’t neglect about that fluffy chocolate buttercream! Right here’s all the pieces you’ll have to make it:
- Flour: be at liberty to make use of all-purpose flour or cake flour on this recipe. See my notes on the variations under!
- Baking staples: you’ll want each baking powder and baking soda, plus salt and vanilla extract. Discover ways to make your personal vanilla right here.
- Butter: as I discussed above, butter is a key part within the texture of yellow cake. I like to make use of salted butter in my baked items, however you can too use unsalted butter. In the event you use unsalted, simply add a pinch extra salt to this recipe.
- Sugar: you’ll want granulated sugar to sweeten the cake.
- Eggs: the important thing to the right yellow cake? Egg yolks! This yellow cake recipe makes use of each eggs and egg yolks.
- Yogurt: you’ll additionally want some vanilla yogurt for added moisture. I like to recommend utilizing whole-milk yogurt, or no less than 2% yogurt.
- Buttermilk: one other particular ingredient? Buttermilk! The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking brokers to present the cake an exquisite crumb texture and a steadiness with the sweetness. Discover ways to make buttermilk right here with simply 2 elements.
- For the frosting: we’re making my Dad’s fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting [LINK], which is made with butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, cooled espresso, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt.
Utilizing all-purpose flour vs cake flour
Cake flour will produce a really gentle and delicate crumb on this yellow cake recipe, but it surely’s not at all times accessible. All-purpose flour can even work completely effective! Alternatively, you need to use 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour and ¼ cup of cornstarch to attain a light-weight and ethereal crumb on this recipe.
A simple swap for buttermilk
As I discussed, you can also make your personal buttermilk proper at house utilizing milk and both lemon juice or white vinegar! Take a look at my full tutorial right here.
In the event you would not have these elements readily available, be at liberty to make use of complete milk instead of the buttermilk.
Can I make this yellow cake gluten free or vegan?
Sadly, no, I can not advocate a gluten-free flour substitute on this do-it-yourself yellow cake recipe, nor can I like to recommend swapping the eggs for flax eggs. Sorry!
My favourite cake-baking instruments
Get all of my go-to kitchen necessities right here!
Select your cake measurement
There are a number of totally different cake pan sizes you need to use to make this traditional yellow cake recipe:
- Three 6-inch spherical cake pans: bake for 30 to 40 minutes
- Two 8-inch cake pans: bake for 25 to 35 minutes
- One 9×13-inch pan: bake for 25 to 35 minutes
- 24 cupcakes: bake for 18 to 22 minutes
Learn how to make the perfect yellow cake
- Combine the dry elements. Begin by whisking collectively the flour and baking staples in a big bowl.
- Combine the moist elements. Cream collectively the butter and sugar within the bowl of an electrical stand mixer (or in a big bowl utilizing an electrical hand mixer) on excessive velocity till it turns into pale yellow. Scrape down the bowl, then add the entire eggs one after the other, beating the combination for 1 minute between every egg. Add the remainder of the moist elements BESIDES the buttermilk, and blend on medium velocity.
- Make the batter. Pour half of the flour combination into the moist elements whereas the mixer is on low velocity, then add the buttermilk, and eventually the remainder of the dry elements. Combine the batter on medium low till simply mixed.
- Divide, bake & cool. Divide the batter between three 6-inch cake pans or two 8-inch pans and bake the muffins. Let the muffins utterly cool earlier than eradicating them from the pans.
- Make the frosting. Whip collectively the chocolate buttercream in an electrical mixer or utilizing a hand mixer in a big bowl.
- Frost & take pleasure in! Use an offset spatula to frost the cake layers as you stack them up, then create a crumb coat on the skin of the cake (extra on this under!) I like to make use of a bench scraper to create a skinny layer of frosting across the cake. Chill the cake within the fridge, then end it off by including the remainder of the frosting to the skin. Serve instantly or retailer it within the fridge!
The important thing to superbly frosted cake
As I discussed above, I love to do a crumb coat on my muffins in order that the frosting seems lovely and clear. To take action:
- Use an offset spatula to frost every layer as you usually would, then frost the skin of the cake with a really skinny layer of frosting. I additionally like to make use of a bench scraper to make sure that the frosting is even on the skin of the cake.
- Place the cake within the fridge for 10-Quarter-hour. That is in order that the crumbs follow the skinny layer of frosting and never your important layer.
- Frost the skin of the yellow cake with the remainder of the chocolate frosting and serve!
The perfect frostings for yellow cake
I, in fact, love utilizing my Dad’s well-known chocolate buttercream for this yellow cake, however listed here are some extra frosting recipes you’ll be able to strive:
Don’t neglect the following tips for the right yellow cake
- Observe the recipe. Baking, as you could know, is a really actual science. Please observe the recipe elements and measurements until in any other case famous to make sure that the cake comes out completely.
- Measure your flour appropriately. On this recipe, be at liberty to weigh your flour OR use my tutorial right here to precisely measure your flour utilizing the spoon and stage methodology.
- Use room temp butter. Ensure your butter is at room temperature in each the cake batter and the frosting. You possibly can place your sticks of butter on the counter to come back to room temperature about an hour earlier than you intend to bake this yellow cake.
- Don’t overmix. Be sure to combine the cake batter elements till they’re simply mixed — don’t overmix. Overmixing will end in a denser, gummier cake texture.
- Grease your pans. I like to recommend lining your cake pans with parchment paper AND greasing the insides with nonstick cooking spray to forestall any sticking.
- Don’t overbake. Bake the cake layers till a tester inserted into the middle comes out largely clear with just some crumbs hooked up. Overbaking will end in a drier cake.
Learn how to retailer & freeze do-it-yourself yellow cake
- To retailer: be at liberty to retailer this yellow cake with chocolate buttercream coated on the counter at room temp for 1 day, then I like to recommend transferring it to the fridge for as much as 5 days.
- To freeze: be at liberty to freeze this yellow cake both frosted or unfrosted for as much as 2 months. I like to recommend freezing it unfrosted in particular person layers for the perfect outcomes. First, wrap every particular person layer in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil after which place the muffins in a zip-top freezer bag or hermetic container. While you’re able to serve it, merely thaw it within the fridge in a single day after which let the cake come to room temperature earlier than serving.
Extra cake recipes you’ll love
Get all of my cake recipes right here!
I hope you’re keen on my Dad’s extraordinary yellow cake recipe! In the event you make it make sure to depart a remark and a score so I understand how you preferred it. Get pleasure from, xo!
Dad’s Extraordinary Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
My Dad’s extraordinary yellow cake with chocolate buttercream frosting is the right dessert for celebrating birthdays and particular events. With the right crumb, sweetness, and fluffy frosting, that is really the perfect yellow cake recipe you may ever make!
Substances
- Dry elements:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all goal flour (or cake flour*)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Moist elements:
- 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 ¾ (350g) cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (113g) vanilla whole-milk yogurt (2% or greater for finest outcomes)
- ½ cup (120g) buttermilk (or sub complete milk)
- 1 batch Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the underside of three 6-inch spherical cake pans or two 8-inch spherical cake pans with parchment paper rounds. Spray the parchment paper and sides of the pan with cooking spray. (All of that is important to forestall cake from sticking!)
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Combine the dry elements: In a separate giant bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and put aside.
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Combine the moist elements: Within the bowl of an electrical mixer, add the butter and sugar and cream collectively on excessive velocity for 1 to 2 minutes or till combination turns into pale gentle yellow in shade. (Be at liberty to make use of a hand mixer for this if that’s your choice.) Utilizing a spatula, scrape the bowl down, then add within the eggs, one after the other, beating for 1 minute between every egg addition. Lastly add the egg yolks, vanilla and yogurt and blend once more on medium velocity till nicely mixed, about 1 minute longer. (NOTE: Don’t add within the buttermilk but.)
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With the mixer on low velocity, add half of the dry ingredient combination to the moist elements, then the entire buttermilk, adopted by the remaining dry elements. Combine on medium low velocity till simply mixed. (Alternating the flour and buttermilk will create an attractive crumb for the cake!)
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Bake the cake: Divide the batter evenly between the ready pans and easy the tops. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes within the 8-inch pans or 30 to 40 minutes within the 6-inch pans, till a tester inserted into the middle comes out largely clear with just some crumbs hooked up.
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Cool the muffins utterly earlier than eradicating them from the pan. To take action, run a butter knife across the edges of the pan, then invert them and place them on a wire rack. You may as well make them as much as a day forward, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and retailer at room temperature or within the fridge.
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Make the frosting: use my Dad’s well-known Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe for this cake.
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Frost the cake: Unfold about 2 tablespoons of the frosting in the midst of a cake stand or platter (it will assist anchor the cake). Invert the primary layer of the cake onto the stand so the flat facet of the cake is up. Prime with about ½ cup of frosting. Utilizing an offset spatula, unfold the frosting to the sting of the cake, making certain you may have an excellent layer. Place the following layer of cake, flat-side up, on prime of the primary layer, and repeat, topping with an extra ½ cup of frosting and spreading it to the sting. Place the third layer (if utilizing) flat-side up on prime, then frost the highest and sides of the cake with ½ to ¾ cup of frosting, utilizing a bench scraper to create a uniform, very skinny layer of frosting across the cake. It helps to do that whereas slowly spinning the cake stand, and gently urgent the scraper in opposition to the facet of the cake. (This step is named a crumb coat which can enable for an attractive, seamless look as soon as full.) Switch the cake to the fridge for no less than Quarter-hour, or till the crumb coat layer of frosting has firmed as much as the contact. As soon as the cake is chilled, repeat the method of frosting the highest and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting, utilizing an offset spatula. (Because the cake has been chilled, the crumb coat ought to enable for a smoother end.)
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Get pleasure from instantly or retailer the cake within the fridge for as much as 5 days, well-covered to make sure freshness.
Recipe Notes
In the event you desire a sweeter yellow cake, use 2 cups of sugar as a substitute of 1 ¾ cups.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Bold Kitchen | Images by: Eat Love Eats
