Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes life is painful. Sometimes bad things happen and there’s nothing really to do about it but have yourself a good long cry.
During times like these, cake helps.
I’m halfway through this classic yellow cake with chocolate buttercream and I feel better already. The sprinkles on top were an especially happy touch.
I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect yellow cake recipe. One that’s homemade but also has that great yellowy taste of a boxed cake mix. Does such a thing even exist? This vanilla cake is delicious, no doubt about that, especially paired with the chocolate buttercream. It’s a sugary dream. But honestly, I’m still on the hunt for that perfect yellow cake. If you know of one, please do share.
Next time you’re feeling blue, give this cake a try. I promise it’ll make you feel better.
Yellow Cake
Makes one two-layer 8 inch cake
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper, then grease with butter and flour.
Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the butter, milk, and vanilla and beat on medium high speed for several minutes until smooth and light, scraping down the sides of bowl as necessary. Add the eggs and mix on high for an additional 2 minutes.
Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans and bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center come out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Buttercream Icing
Makes approximately 5 cups
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
5 cups powdered sugar
2-5 tablespoons milk
Put the chopped chocolate in a small heat proof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer. Pour over the chopped chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. If needed, microwave for an additional 30 seconds until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Cool to room temperature.
Combine the chocolate, butter, shortening, and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add just enough milk to make the icing smooth and the right consistency.
Frost the cake as desired.
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13 Responses to Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream
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about me
Hi, I'm Annalise and I love to bake. Welcome to my blog! Follow along as I try new recipes, share baking tips and tricks, and overindulge my sweet tooth.Current Favorites
Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake
Butterscotch Pecan Ice Cream
Old Fashioned Donuts
Shortcakes with Lemon Curd & Berries
Grilled FlatbreadNeed Baking Help?
Learn about baking ingredients and methods on my Baking Essentials page.
See what I use in my kitchen on my Baking Tools page.
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Your cake looks perfect! Very nice job!
This looks beautiful! But I understand your continued search for the perfect yellow cake, as I'm on a similar hunt. The one I've found that looks most promising and sounds like what you're looking for also is from Bakewise by Shirley Corriher. It uses both butter and oil as well as whipped cream in the batter and is even titled "magificently moist." Here is a link to where a blogger has posted it online: http://pieceofcakeblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/and-please-call-me-shirley.html I'm planning to try it for my boyfriend's birthday caramel cake in March. Hope you like it!
Oh my gosh, this cake turned out beautifully! You did a great job with the frosting. I don't think I could ever get mine to look as smooth as yours. This cake looks delicious… Mmm… I could totally go for some cake right now.
Gorgeous, gorgeous cake! I too bake to as a form of feeling better….it's like my therapy!
I'm delighted that I have discovered your blog!
yellow cake with chocolate frosting is always my favorite. hope all is well over there…summer is on it's way (i keep telling myself) which we can always look forward to
The frosting looks heavenly delicious!
Wow, Annalise, this cake is heavenly! It just looks so soft and so flavorful. Yellow cake and chocolate are simply my favorite flavor combination, no doubts about it. You did such a beautiful job on this cake!
That cake is so gorgeous it makes me want to cry tears of joy!!! I love your blog and have been following it for quite some time. Please feel free to visit my blog if ever..Jackie
Ooh, I love, love this combination. You know, I have a buttermilk cake recipe that I use for the kid's birthday cakes that I think is pretty delicious. You are definitely welcome to it.
Beautiful cake! I'm also on the hunt for the perfect yellow cake and the best candidate I've found is from Smitten Kitchen (http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/) Give it a try!
http://delectabledelightswithrebecca.blogspot.com/2011/06/yellow-cake.html this is my fave! I have a daughter Annalise!
If you are looking for yellow cake. In Lebanese cooking was have a Semolina Cake. Its delicious. It’s called sfouf. http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dessertssweetspastries/r/sfoufrecipe.htm
If you’re still looking for the perfect yellow cake, I have a wonderful recipe from the Kitchen Klatter Cookbook:
Juliana’s Scrumptious Yellow Cake
2/3 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups cake flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups milk
Cream together butter and sugar until like whipped cream. Add eggs and flavoring and beat vigorously. Sift flour with baking powder and salt 3 times and stir in alternately with the milk. Turn into 2 9-inch layer cake pans, well greased and floured, and bake in a 350F oven for 30-35 minutes.
This is a moist, tender and extremely rich cake. Tastes great frosted with sweetened whipped cream.
–Mary