The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (2025)

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch. A moist, delicious, beautifully textured cake, paired in a classic combination with chocolate frosting.

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (1)

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe.

Originally published April 2015.

A great yellow cake recipe is one of the most searched for among dedicated baking enthusiasts. I’m no different and have been experimenting with different recipes that I’ve found online for years.

For some reason that’s probably stuck in my psyche since childhood, I always envision yellow cake as in an impressive three layers that just looks like one of the simplest but most inviting cakes ever.

It’s part of the reason that I was never quite satisfied with a lot of recipes I’d tried. Many of the firmer textured cakes that were suitable for stacking were too dry.

A couple of the moister recipes were too soft and became too compressed under the weight. In developing this recipe I believe that I have finally struck the proper balance.

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (2)

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe.

What makes a great yellow cake?

Butter and egg yolks are what gives a good yellow cake it’s colour. The fresher your eggs the better the colour.

If you can buy free range organic eggs, you will see that the colour of the yolks is quite different. They are much more intense than commercially produced eggs from chickens that are raised indoors.

Finally, you should note that although it is shown in 3 layers in the photo, this recipe is written for a two layer cake, baked in 8 inch round pans.

If you want a 3 layer 8 inch cake, multiply the ingredients by 1 1/2. If you want a 3 layer nine inch cake, which is a perfect birthday cake for large parties, double the recipe.

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (3)

I like to use 50% cocoa dark chocolate chips in my frosting but you can use semi-sweet if you prefer.

Use your favourite fudge frosting on the cake or you can use the silky smooth chocolate buttercream frosting from this recipe or a simpler icing sugar based chocolate frosting found here. Larger cakes will need about 1 1/2 to 2 times times the frosting.

If you love homemade cakes from scratch we have a great selection of soft textured, moist cakes ion our Velvet Cake Collection.

Note:

My son Noah, makes this cake all the time but his favourite is to make these as cupcakes with chocolate frosting. That’s a great idea for parties and get togethers. Everyone loves homemade cupcakes!

In paper lined cupcake pans, thes should take 13-15 minutes to bake at 325 degrees F. Again, always let the toothpick test be your guide.

Like this Best Yellow Cake recipe?

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The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (6)
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The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (7)

Yield: 16 servings

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch - a moist, delicious, beautifully textured cake, paired in a classic combination with chocolate frosting.

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups all purpose flour, sifted
  • 1½ cups cake flour, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract, good quality
  • 2 extra large eggs
  • 2 extra large egg yolks
  • 1½ cups buttermilk, or soured milk

Instructions

  1. Sift together both flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  2. Grease and flour 2 eight inch round cake pans and line the bottom with 2 circles of parchment paper.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the sugar, vegetable oil, butter and vanilla. Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy
  4. Beat the eggs in one at a time, then beat in the 2 egg yolks.
  5. Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
  6. I always add dry ingredients in three divisions and liquid ingredients in 2 divisions. It is very important to begin and end the additions with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix the batter. As soon as it has no lumps in the batter, pour into the two prepared 8 inch cake pans.
  7. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

NOTE that although it is shown in 3 layers in the photo, this recipe is written for a two layer cake, baked in 8 inch round pans. If you want a 3 layer 8 inch cake, multiply the ingredients by 1 1/2 and if you want a 3 layer nine inch cake (which is a perfect birthday cake for large parties) double the recipe.

NOTE: If you don't have buttermilk and want to use soured milk instead, just add a tablespoon or two of lemon juice or white vinegar to the measuring cup and top up to the 1 1/2 cups mark with regular milk.

Recommended Products

Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 303Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 81mgSodium 349mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 0gSugar 20gProtein 5g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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The Best Yellow Cake Recipe, Homemade from Scratch (2025)

FAQs

What makes yellow cake taste like yellow cake? ›

Yellow cake gets that cool yellow hue from egg yolks and butter. So what is the flavor of yellow cake? While yellow cake and white cake are both vanilla flavored, yellow cake tends to be much richer and moist because of the full eggs and butter combo.

Is a yellow cake better with butter or oil? ›

I really recommend using European butter if you can; it will provide the best yellow color and flavor. If you can't find that, regular butter will still work just fine! Oil. Using oil and butter makes for the most flavorful AND moist cake!

What can I add to yellow cake mix to make it taste better? ›

Enhance With Extracts

Add one to two teaspoons of a pure extract to make it taste like a from-scratch cake. Pure vanilla extract and pure almond extract are great options, but you could also try lemon extract or orange extract paired with fresh citrus zest.

How do you keep a yellow cake moist? ›

Use cake flour.

If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour, opt for cake flour instead to create a more moist, tender crumb. Additions like sour cream, buttermilk, or applesauce can also infuse moisture and prevent a dry cake. Baking soda or baking powder also ensures a nice lift in baked goods.

Why is my yellow cake so dense? ›

Incorrect Baking Temperature and Time

Baking at too high a temperature can cause the cake to set too quickly on the outside, trapping steam inside and resulting in a dense crumb. Make sure to follow the recipe's instructions for the correct baking temperature and time.

What is the trick to a moist cake? ›

Use Your Ingredients Wisely
  1. Choose Fresh Leavening. ...
  2. Opt For Full-Fat Dairy. ...
  3. Reach For The Right Flour. ...
  4. Don't Double Down. ...
  5. Use Eggs And Butter At Room Temperature. ...
  6. Measure Accurately. ...
  7. Avoid Over Baking.
Apr 5, 2024

What is a secret ingredient for cakes? ›

Mayonnaise: The Hidden Gem in Cake Recipes

This unexpected addition can take your cake recipes to a whole new level. To incorporate mayonnaise into your cake batter, simply add a couple of tablespoons to the mix. The result? A tender and moist cake that will have everyone asking for seconds.

What does adding an extra egg to cake mix do? ›

Add an Extra Egg

Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven.

Is it better to use milk or water in cake mix? ›

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

Can you use half butter and half oil in cake? ›

If you're unsure, it's safest to use a 50/50 combination of butter and oil instead of replacing the butter completely. This way you'll get the added moisture from the oil without sacrificing the structural integrity that butter provides.

What makes yellow cake taste so good? ›

The extra fat added from the egg yolks also contributes to the cake's texture, making it moister and a bit denser than a white cake. Yolks give the cake a mild custard flavor which holds up exceptionally well to chocolate or cream cheese frostings.

What happens if you add cocoa powder to yellow cake mix? ›

Since you added cocoa powder to the cake mix, the cake could turn out dry unless you add some extra moisture. Sour cream is a fantastic way to bump up the moisture and flavor of your chocolate cake. Stir the sour cream into the batter when you add the other wet ingredients (like eggs, oil or butter, etc).

How does the number of eggs affect a cake? ›

Eggs also contain a variety of proteins that create the structure of a cake, and when beaten, they can act as a leavening agent by adding air to the cake batter. However, if you add too many eggs to your cake batter, then your end result could be spongy, rubbery, or dense.

Does yellow cake mix have yellow dye? ›

Contains 2% or less of: Modified Corn Starch, Corn Starch, Propylene Glycol Mono and Diesters, Salt, Monoglycerides, Palm Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellows 5 & 6.

How do you make white cake mix taste like yellow? ›

If using boxed cake mix, according to Leaf.tv, you can add 3 whole eggs and 1/3 cup of vegetable oil to boxed white cake mix to make it yellow. (Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and you have a chocolate cake, but we digress.)

Why is it called yellow cake? ›

The yellowcake produced by most modern mills is actually brown or black, not yellow; the name comes from the color and texture of the concentrates produced by early mining operations.

What does Betty Crocker yellow cake mix taste like? ›

Betty Crocker makes a yellow cake mix that has lift and a wonderfully light texture. It's the sort of cake that may have you asking for a second slice. Besides the texture, our team explains that the vanilla flavor of the cake is prominent and the color is beautifully golden.

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