Yellow Cake and Chocolate Frosting Recipe
When I realized my grandmother was approaching her 90th birthday celebration, I decided to create the perfect cake for her big day. I thought I may have spoken to soon when I came to realize that her favorite cake was yellow cake, which I had never made before. I set out to find a recipe to use, and at first I was a little baffled.
I thought a yellow cake got its color from the egg yolks used. I now realize that this is not always the case; the yellow cake generally becomes yellow from the whole eggs that are used in it, versus only the egg whites that are used in a white cake. I didn't realize this because my immediate family consists of serious chocolate lovers, and that is the personal preference around here when I start baking birthday or holiday cakes.
I came across a recipe for a yellow cake and it came out brilliantly bouncy, flavorful and browned nicely on the top.
When it came to frosting, I used my favorite buttercream frosting recipe (used traditionally on our chocolate cakes) but added cocoa to create a smooth, chocolate buttercream frosting.
To prepare and work out any possible kinks, I prepared an Easter cake for my family using all the ingredients and recipes that would be used for my grandmother's birthday cake. I did this one week prior to the big birthday celebration and the result was marvelous. Gram deserved the best possible cake in honor of her 90th birthday and I was happy to create this for her.
Yellow Cake Ingredients
- 3 cups cake flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
**Note:
To reduce your butter intake, replace a portion with oil.
Omit 1/4 cup of the butter. Instead of 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) use 1/2 cup (1 stick), and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil.
Instructions for Yellow Cake
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease well and flour three 8-by-1 1/2-inch layer-cake pans, or two 9-by-1 1/2-inch layer-cake pans.
- Sift flour with baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In large bowl or electric mixer, at high speed, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy - about 3 minutes - occasionally scraping side of bowl and guiding mixture into beaters with rubber scraper.
- At low speed, beat in flour mixer (in fourths), alternately with milk (in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat only until smooth.
- Pour batter into prepared pans; bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip.
- Cool in pans 30 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly on wire racks. Fill as desired.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups Domino Confectioners Sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (more or less, depending on preference) cocoa
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Instructions for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- In a large bowl, with mixer at low speed, combine Domino Confectioners Sugar, butter, milk and vanilla.
- Beat at medium speed 1-2 minutes until creamy.
- If desired, add more milk until frosting is more spreadable.
- Spread onto cakes.
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Decorate your cake
Once your frosting is made, it is now time to decorate your cake, which for some people is considered the hardest part of making a cake. Whether you prefer homeade or store-bought icing to pipe the decorations onto your cake, a few tips will make the process easier.
- Line three or four strips of waxed paper along the edge of the cake plate. After the cake is frosted, remove the strips and reveal a plate free of frosting debris.
- Use a butter knife to create smooth edges on the sides and the top of the cake.
- Briefly refrigerate the cake after applying the frosting, and before doing any cake decorations.
- Use toothpicks to dot your outline on your cake before writing any greetings. If you mess up, although it's not easily noticeable, you can smooth it out again and re-do the dots.
Make your own cake
A yellow cake is a fun, fluffy and versatile cake to make for any occasion. Subtract the yolks from this cake and you will have a pure white cake. Add in some cocoa and you will have a chocolate cake. Convert this recipe to fit your specific needs, and enjoy!
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