A perfect Yellow Cake with Double Fudge Frosting. This is what “from scratch” baking looks like!!
When it comes to cake, what’s your favorite flavor?
Since I started this blog, I’ve been working on creating ‘from scratch’ recipes for cakes and cupcakes.
I certainly am not against using a mix, however, once you bake a cake from scratch you’ll have a hard time going back.
I’ve already got a delicious white cake and chocolate cake recipe. But the yellow cake has been a struggle.
I don’t want something dry and crumbly. But I don’t want it overly moist it can’t hold up to a good thick pile of frosting.
How to make a Yellow Cake from scratch
Making this cake is easy. And when making a layered cake, I’ve mentioned this before, I always use Wilton Bake Even strips.
You soak them in water, ring em out, and wrap them around your cake pan. They keep your cake level when it rises. I know some people use towels for this, but with my luck those towels would fall off and start a fire, haha!
Now that you have your pans prepared (2 9-inch round cake pans), start on the cake batter.
Beat butter for two minutes, add sugar, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. You’ll also add eggs, beating well after each addition. Then beat in sour cream.
Combine the flours, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Add to the batter, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat for about 3 minutes.
Pour cake batter into greased and floured cake pans. Bake and cool completely before frosting.
How to make Fudgy Frosting for a Birthday Cake
Add milk chocolate morsels and butter to a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, mix and continue heating in 30 second increments until smooth.
In a large mixing bowl, combine sour cream, cocoa powder, salt and melted chocolate. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beat for 3-5 minutes until fluffy.
Speaking of frosting, I love the stuff. I like it even more than the cake. While some people scrape off excess frosting from their cake or cupcakes, I’m that person that is snagging your excess. There is no such thing as too much frosting.
I also have a secret confession. I love the fudge frosting in a can. Dip pretzels and apples in it? Yes please. I love how it “hardens” on a cake.
Today’s double fudge frosting tastes just how you would imagine a homemade copycat version of canned frosting would taste, without any artificial color or flavor!
Does that make sense? It’s rich and fudgy.
If you prefer a lighter fluffy buttercream…check out this chocolate buttercream frosting.
How to frost a cake
To assemble the cake, place one layer of cake on a cake plate. Spread a big dollop of frosting on top, then add second layer of cake.
Using an offset spatula, spread the remaining frosting on sides and top. Add sprinkles if desired!
How to make a crumb coating
To make a crumb coating with the frosting, spread a very thin layer of frosting over the cake. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Add final layer of frosting and enjoy.
This is helpful if you find that the frosting is not spreading well and bringing crumbs into the chocolate. I usually skip the crumb coating because I’m lazy, haha!
I know what your next question will be too.
How to make Yellow Cake Cupcakes
I recipe tested these, and they turned out beautiful.
Mind you, I made 4 batches of yellow cake to get this recipe perfect. So go enjoy a cake or cupcakes today!!
Each batch of yellow cake makes 24 beautiful cupcakes. You decide if your dessert is going to be CAKE….or CUPCAKES.
To make cupcakes, line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
Scoop batter into cupcakes until 2/3 full (makes 24 cupcakes). Bake for about 15-17 minutes. Cool before frosting.
More Cake Recipes
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Angel Food Cake
- Strawberry Almond Cake
- Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Cake
- Chocolate Cupcakes with M&M’S frosting
Yellow Cake with Double Fudge Frosting
From scratch, yellow birthday cake recipe with fudge frosting!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cup cake flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
For the frosting:
- 1 cup milk chocolate morsels
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder
- pinch of kosher salt
- 3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- For the Cake, beat butter for 2 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla, continue beating with electric mixer. Add eggs and extra egg yolk, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream.
- Combine the flours, baking powder and salt in a small bowl using a whisk. Add to mixing bowl, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat 2 minutes after all is added.
- Pour cake batter into two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans (make sure they have 2 inch sides). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-38 minutes. Remove and cool completely.
- For the frosting, add milk chocolate morsels and butter into a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, mix and continue heating in 30 second increments (mine took one minute). Be sure to whisk the butter into the melted chocolate completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sour cream, dark cocoa powder, salt and melted chocolate mixture. Mix until blended. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beat for 3-5 minutes until well blended and fluffy.
- To assemble cake, lay one layer of cake on a cake platter. Spread frosting over the top. Add second layer of cake. Spread frosting over sides and top of cake.
- Add sprinkles for decoration. ENJOY.
Notes
- To make a crumb coating with the frosting, spread a very thin layer of frosting over the cake. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Add final layer of frosting and enjoy.
- To make cupcakes, line a cupcake tin with paper liners. Scoop batter into cupcakes until ⅔ full (makes 24 cupcakes). Bake for about 15-17 minutes. Cool before frosting.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 475Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 190mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 1gSugar: 51gProtein: 5g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice
I’m just getting into baking from scratch so far I have done a double chocolate and a vanilla. Today is my mom and nephews birthday so I think this is perfect thank you for sharing. I was attracted because you use cake flour in yours lol. It looks so pretty and delicious. I don’t have chocolate chips and it’s snowing like crazy so I’m going to try your chocolate buttercream frosting with it.
Classic and delicious!
My favorite cake ever. Just yum!
Best dessert! Yellow cake and fudge frosting are made for each other!
This is my kids’ favorite classic cake combo. Love this frosting!
This is one of those recipes I just keep coming back too, so classic and delicious!
This is my husband’s favorite birthday cake!! GREAT recipe!
I made this for my daughters birthday and she absolutely loved it! Thanks for the fabulous recipe!
My daughter’s favorite type of cake. ????
It make me to eat. i like this cake. Thanks for sharing
Oooh i made something very similar a few months ago, and it was delicious! Loved seeing how you had a different take on it. Looks like a great dinner to me, enjoy.
These look beautiful and absolutely perfect! I love baking from scratch…and always feel guilty if I cheat and use a mix. This is a must try 🙂
nothing better than a classic cake!
Chocolate fudge frosting is my favorite thing to eat! I always take the excess from other people’s plates and honestly, I leave the cake parts over and just eat spoonfuls of the frosting!
Ahh this frosting! I have always preferred fudgy over fluffy. I am excited to try this recipe. I love the flavor of boxed yellow cake but have always found it a little dry. Pinned!!
from scratch is pretty much always best! and this cake def. delivers-it’s gorgeous and simply classic and PERFECT! looove that frosting!
This cake is gorgeous Aimee! I love yellow cake too and finding a good scratch recipe is so hard. I can’t wait to try this especially with that glorious frosting – totally my favorite part too! Pinned!
And suddenly I NEED a giant slice of yellow cake with fudge frosting!! This looks amazing!!
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my husband’s FAVORITE cake…and his birthday just happens to be next week. I’ll be trying this for his birthday!
ENJOY!!
Yum! I like my cake with lots of frosting too!