Classic Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting


Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my husband's favorite- the only birthday cake (or any cake, for that matter) that he ever wants. Any time I'm cooking anything, he'll come in and ask (with hope in his voice), "What are you making? Is it yellow cake with chocolate frosting?" And this time it was!

This cake is light and tender, and has a beautiful, small crumb. It tastes just like it smells- a sweet, rich, buttery, vanilla mouthful. The slightly browned edges of the cupcakes were the tiniest bit chewy (in a good way), and tasted like a sugar cookie. 


You can make this recipe as a layer cake or as cupcakes.

The Classic: Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

1 and 1/3 cups sifted cake flour
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 eggs yolks, at room temperature
3 eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream, cold

Directions:

Center an oven rack and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8 inch cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment paper. 

Sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt, then whisk together to ensure that they are well mixed. Set aside. In mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently. Turn mixer to low speed. Drizzle the oil and vanilla into the mixture until well combined. Blend in the eggs and yolks, one at a time, adding the next one as soon as the previous one has disappeared into the batter. Keeping the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk in 2 parts, beginning and ending with the flour. After each addition, mix just until barely combined to avoid over-beating. Scrape sides of bowl frequently.

In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cake batter. Divide batter equally between the two cake pans.Tap pans lightly on counter to remove air bubbles.

Bake until centers spring back when lightly touched, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Flip the cakes out of the pans, and let them continue to cool, top side up, until they reach room temperature. Leave the parchment paper on the layers until ready to assemble the cake.

While the layers cool, prepare your frosting (recipe follows). When cakes are completely cool, remove parchment paper and frost as for a layer cake. You can prepare as two layer cake, or cut each layer in half horizontally and frost as a 4 layer cake.




Mother's Chocolate Frosting

Makes 2 cups (double this recipe for a 4 layer cake)

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup milk
6 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 (16 oz.) box powdered sugar (I always sift; there are usually lots of little lumps)
1 teaspoon vanilla 

In a medium saucepan, cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts. Remove from heat. Using an electric hand mixer, beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed until smooth and of desired consistency, scraping sides frequently. Frost as desired.



Make a wish!


"The Classic" yellow cake recipe is from Vintage Cakes by Julie Richardson. Frosting recipe is courtesy of my Mom.

These cupcakes may have been taken to some of these fun parties!




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39 comments:

  1. I hope you try this cake with the ganache... it truly, truly, truly is superb! Hubby doesn't like frosting and he doesn't like white/yellow cakes... but for some reason this cake is just "something else" he loved it so much it's now in his "top 5" LOL!

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    1. I will try the ganache- with that kind of "top 5" recommendation, how can I not? :) Thank you!

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  2. I love your birthday get up for your pictures - so fun!
    That is a favorite frosting recipe of mine too and I thought of using it on these cupcakes - just sounded right.
    :)

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    1. I did have fun staging and taking the pics- LOL! Thank you! :)

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  3. Thank you for this recipe, Joy! It sounds really good. Oh, and it's bday season around here. : ) Love the round sprinkles and the festive photography, too!

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    1. Thank you, Linda! I did have fun taking the pics.....I was telling Caroline last night that I spend waaay too much time on the pics part of it all. :)

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  4. Ahh looks lovely, I never thought about turning them into cupcakes x

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    1. Thank you, dear Charlene! I am so fond of cupcakes, I make them at every chance. :)

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  5. Joy...these cupcakes are gorgeous! My favorite combination of cake really is a classic yellow with chocolate icing. And so smart to turn the recipe into cupcakes. They look so festive! Your pictures are lovely! And the way you've described this cake....I will definitely have to try it now! : )

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    1. Anne, thank you so very much- they were fun to make! :) Thank you for coming by. :)

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  6. Looks fabulous and I love the cupcake form. I did cupcaqkes too! Beautifully decorated

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    1. Thank you, Katie! I loved your cupcakes with the pecans on top! :)

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  7. How beautiful! I love your cupcakes and your photography. I would be extremely happy if these were made for my birthday. I chose the other cake but I am looking forward to trying this one too.

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    1. Thank you, Felice! I loved your cake- the chocolate covered coffee beans were the perfect accent! :)

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  8. I'm convinced! This recipe I will have to try! Nothing beats an old classic ;)

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    1. Anabel, thank you for coming by! Your Tinkerbelle cake for this month was beautiful! :)

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  9. Oh Joy! I absolutely adore the way you made your cupcakes, the way you took the pictures. It is delightful and best of all, cheery :) I will make mine really soon :)

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    1. Thank you, Grace! They were so much fun to make and to stage! :) I will look forward to seeing yours! I saw the Dark Chocolate-Almond Cake that you made with The Home Bakers- luscious! :)

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  10. Joy, that looks absolutely wonderful and festive :)

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  11. Thank you so much, Bibi! I appreciate your visit! :)

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  12. I wasn't wowed by the frosting in the book. Can't wait to try your version, it looks delish!

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    1. Hi, Stacie! We really liked the frosting- thanks!! :)

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  13. What a BEAUTIFUL cupcake! Looks delicious!

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    1. Thank you, Lois! And thanks so much for dropping by! :)

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  14. That looks like the perfect yellow cake! My little boy would love a cupcake like this. :)

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    1. Thank you, Amber- it does make a fun cupcake! Thanks for coming by! :)

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  15. Replies
    1. Dorothy, thank you so much! And thanks for stopping by- I am a big fan of yours! :)

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  16. I adore a good old fashioned yellow cake! Yours looks so delicious - I love how you have decorated the cupcake :)

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    1. Oh, thank you very much, April- I had so much fun! :) And thank you for visiting! <3

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  17. I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to look at your beautiful cupcakes. School is hectic and the wifi in my apartment is on the fritz. :/ But I love your cupcakes. I made the yellow cake too and I have to say it has become my favorite cake from the cake slice bakers. It was truly magnificent. And your fudge frosting looks so good too. I had trouble with the frosting called for in the book. Again, wonderful looking cake. It makes me want to celebrate my birthday again! :)

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    1. Hi, Becca! Thank you so much for the nice comments! :) The yellow cake was delicious, wasn't it? I hope your semester gets a little better for you! :)

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  18. There is something about your photos that reminds me of great childhood birthdays--your cupcakes are just perfect!

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    1. Oh, Krista, you are so sweet- thank you! I love that you made a bundt out of the banana walnut cake! :)

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  19. Hi Joy,
    Love your birthday cupcake, its deliciously colorful! Only just baked my January cake and hope to be not very late for Feb's!

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    1. Emily, you are so sweet to come by and comment! I will look forward to seeing your cakes! :)

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  20. You know? I think I just gained 5 pounds looking around! I have to make something for Thursday's PTA and I was trying to get inspired! Thanks!

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    1. I know what you mean- I have to go run 5 miles after visiting some of my favorite blogs! :) Good luck with your PTA baking, and thank you for coming by!

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  21. How did I miss this? This is the only cake my son likes too…going to have to make this for him!

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