Rich Yellow Cake Food

YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 325°F and spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper and set aside. You can also bake this as a sheet cake in a 9x13-inch pan, there is no need to line the sheet pan.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.4 Set aside.
• In a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, cream together the sugar, oil, butter, and vanilla.
• Add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time beating after each addition just until combined.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients in 3 parts alternating with the buttermilk in 2 parts. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Gently fold until only very small lumps remain. DO NOT use an electric mixer for this step.5
• Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. OR add the batter to the prepared 9x13-inch pan6 and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. A toothpick should come clean from the center when done.
• Transfer the cake pans to a wire rack and allow the cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely (about 1 hour before frosting). Once cooled, frost and assemble the cake as desired. If making as a sheet cake, leave the cake in the pan and frost it.

YELLOW BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds (see #6 in Cake Baking Tips), then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans. I recommend using nonstick spray for greasing.
• Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed for 3 full minutes. The creamed butter and sugar will be extra creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Turn the mixer down to medium-high speed and beat in the 4 egg yolks one at a time, letting each egg yolk fully mix into the batter before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla extract until combined.
• Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients and 1/2 of the buttermilk and beat on low speed until combined. Add 1/3 more of the dry ingredients and the rest of the buttermilk and beat on low speed until combined. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until combined. The batter is very thick. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high speed until fluffy peaks form, about 3 minutes. See photo and video above for a visual. Slowly and gently fold the egg whites into the thick cake batter. Avoid over-mixing as you don't want to deflate the egg whites.
• Pour/spoon batter evenly into cake pans.
• Bake for around 27-31 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. After about 18 minutes, tent the cakes with aluminum foil to prevent the tops and sides from over-browning. To test the cakes for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. The cakes may look a little spongey on top as a result of the whipped egg whites. (That's normal!)
• Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, 3 Tablespoons heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Do not over-whip. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or 1-2 more Tablespoons of cream if frosting is too thick. (I usually add 1 more.) Taste. Add another pinch of salt if desired.
• If cooled cakes are domed on top, use a large serrated knife to slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. This is called "leveling" the cakes. Discard or crumble over finished cake (or on ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with frosting. Top with 2nd layer. (If desired, if the edges seem extra crumbly, apply a crumb coat which is a thin layer of frosting all over the cake. You can see I did this in the video tutorial above. Refrigerate the crumb coated cake for 15 minutes before adding the rest of the frosting.) Spread remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I always use an icing spatula and/or a bench scraper for the frosting. Garnish with sprinkles, if desired.
• For extra neat slices, refrigerate cake for 30-60 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

BASIC HOMEMADE YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and set aside.
• Cream together the sugar and margarine.
• Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time.
• Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk until well blended.
• Spread batter evenly into greased and floured cake pans.
• Bake for 27 to 35 minutes on middle rack, until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes in pans before removing to wire rack.
• Cool completely and frost or fill as desired.
• Cake can also be baked in a 13 x 9 inch or Bundt pan.
• For orange marble cake: reserve 1 cup of the batter add to it 2 to 3 squares melted and cooled semi-sweet chocolate, add orange zest to remaining yellow batter and swirl chocolate batter through orange batter for marbled effect.

THE BEST AND RICHEST POUND CAKE FROM A MIX

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°.
• Lightly grease a 10-inch tube pan with vegetable shortening, then dust it with flour.
• Place the butter and oil in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until creamy, 1 minute.
• Add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each until the yolks of the eggs have just been incorporated.
• Add cake mix, 1 cup of flour, sour cream, evaporated milk, and vanilla.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the batter is thick and well blended, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer, scraping down the side of the bowl if necessary.
• Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan, and bake the cake until it is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed with a finger, 60 to 65 minutes.
• Remove the tube pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.
• Run a dinner knife around the edge of the cake, shake it gently to loosen it, and invert onto a rack, then invert it again onto another rack so that the cake is right side up.
• Allow the cake to cool completely, 20 minutes longer.

BUTTERY RICH YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter one 10-inch tube pan. Dust the bottom and sides of pan with flour, and tap out any excess. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until well incorporated, occasionally scraping down the sides of bowl.
• Mix together buttermilk and vanilla. Slowly add the sifted flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not overbeat.
• Pour batter into prepared tube pan, and until cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely on wire rack. Cake can be stored in freezer, double wrapped with aluminum foil, for up to 1 month.

HOMEMADE YELLOW CAKE MIX

Steps:

• For the cake mix: Whisk together the flour, sugar, dry milk, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Store in a resealable bag in a cool dry place for up to 3 months until ready to use.
• To bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment. Coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk 1 1/4 cup water, oil, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl until well combined and slightly frothy. Add the dry mix and whisk vigorously until well combined and smooth, about 50 strokes. Divide between the prepared cake pans. Bake until lightly golden and slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pans 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack right-side up to cool completely. Frost and decorate as desired.
• For cupcakes: Place liners in pans for 24 cupcakes. Fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F until golden, puffed and a toothpick comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Cool completely before frosting as desired.

MOIST YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9x13 inch pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

ALL-OCCASION DOWNY YELLOW BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a medium bowl lightly combine the yolks, 1/4 cup milk, and vanilla.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend. Add the butter and the remaining 3/4 cup milk. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed (high speed if using a hand mixer) and beat for 1 1/2 minutes to aerate and develop the cake's structure. Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a spatula. The pans will be about 1/2 full. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until a tester inserted near the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in the center. The cakes should start to shrink from the sides of the pans only after removal from the oven.
• Let the cakes cool in the pan on racks for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides with a small metal spatula and invert onto greased wire racks. To prevent splitting, reinvert so that the tops are up and cool completely before wrapping airtight.

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.