Classic Yellow Cake Recipes

FLUFFY CLASSIC YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Prepare two 9" (22 cm) round cake pans by greasing them and then adding some flour and tapping it around the pan to coat. Tap the excess flour out of the pan. Measure out all of your ingredients for each section of the recipe and keep each grouping together to help with the workflow of the recipe
• MIX THE DRY INGREDIENTS: Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl and then whisk together to combine. Set aside.
• MIX THE WET INGREDIENTS: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients and set aside.
• MAKE THE MERINGUE: In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium/high speed until they start forming medium peaks. With the mixer still running, slowly stream in the sugar and keep beating until you reach stiff peaks.
• COMBINE THE COMPONENTS: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl and stir together with a rubber spatula. Once the dry ingredients are saturated, add about 1/2 cup of the egg whites into the mixture and stir it in completely to lighten the batter. Next add in 1/2 of the rest of the egg whites and gently fold them in being careful not to deflate them. Add in the rest of the egg whites and fold them in gently until completely combined.
• Bake the cake at 350 F (177 C) for 20-23 minutes until the cake is set and a cake tester comes out with moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
• Store uneaten cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

CLASSIC YELLOW CAKE BATTER

Steps:

• Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. Butter should be soft enough to hold a thumbprint but still keep its shape. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.
• Beat in 4 eggs plus 2 yolks, one at a time, until combined. Beat in vanilla extract.
• In another large bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low, add 1/3 the flour mixture to butter mixture, beating to combine.
• Beat in 3/4 cup buttermilk, another 1/3 the flour mixture, another 3/4 cup buttermilk, and remaining flour mixture until just combined. Scrape down bowl as needed.

CLASSIC YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour 2 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
• Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Stir to combine.
• Add oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl occasionaly.
• Pour batter Into prepared pans and if necessary spread evenly. Bake at 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Cool in pan 10 minutes. Then turn onto wire rack to cool completely.

YELLOW CAKE MADE FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating just to combine. finally, stir in vanilla. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost and enjoy.

SUPER-MOIST YELLOW CAKE WITH RICH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Butter two 9"-diameter cake pans and line each bottom with a parchment paper round; butter parchment. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix 3 cups (345 g) cake flour, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until combined, about 30 seconds.
• With the motor running, add ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces, then increase speed to medium and beat until butter is in small pieces and mixture looks sandy, about 3 minutes.
• Turn off mixer and add 4 large eggs, room temperature, 2 large egg yolks, room temperature, 1½ cups buttermilk, room temperature, and 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until pale yellow and fluffy, about 1 minute (be careful not to overmix batter). Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake cakes until tops are golden and spring back when gently pressed, 30-35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cakes cool in pans 15 minutes. Run a small knife or offset spatula around inside of pans to loosen cakes, then turn out onto rack. Remove parchment and let cakes cool completely, about 1 hour.
• While the cakes are cooling, sift 4 cups (440 g) powdered sugar and 1½ cups (126 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer with clean beaters (or paddle) on medium speed, beat 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, and ¾ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add half of dry ingredients and beat on low speed until incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. buttermilk, room temperature, and beat until thoroughly combined. If frosting is too stiff, thin with more buttermilk (1-2 Tbsp.) until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Using a large serrated knife, slice domed tops from cakes. Place 1 layer on a large plate or cake stand and spread a thick layer of frosting on top with an offset spatula. Place second cake layer on top and generously frost top and sides of cake with remaining buttercream. Smooth sides and create decorative swoops and swirls on the top.