Homemade Yellow Cake Recipe

Best yellow cake recipe! This homemade yellow cake recipe makes moist and tender yellow cake from scratch. Perfect birthday cake recipe!

Cake mixes are popular for a reason – they’re quick, easy, and turn out pretty reliable results. However, they just aren’t the same as make a cake from scratch.

This yellow cake is a soft and tender yellow cake recipe. It is moist and flavorful without being overly heavy.

Topped with chocolate frosting and sprinkles, this cake makes a fantastic birthday cake.

How to make homemade yellow cake

Begin by beating the butter and oil together with the sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. You want it to be mixed well, so beat for about 2-3 minutes.

Add in the eggs and then egg yolks one at a time, and mix well.

Add half of the flour, and then all of the milk. The batter may look curdled after you add the milk

Then, add the remaining half of the flour. Mix just until combined, but don’t overmix.

Divide the batter between the prepared pans, and bake.

Is this cake moist?

It is! Homemade yellow cake is notoriously dry and bland, but this cake is neither.

The combination of oil and butter give the cake moisture and flavor and the extra egg yolks also add richness to the cake batter.

Using cake flour rather than all-purpose flour also helps to make the cake soft and moist.

What if I don’t have cake flour?

Make your own homemade cake flour with this easy tutorial.

How long will the cake keep?

The cake should keep for 2-3 days at room temperature or 4 days in the fridge. Once frosted, I recommend storing the cake, covered, in the fridge.

Frostings that pair well with yellow cake

• Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Whipped Buttercream Frosting

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Yellow Cake Recipe

Moist homemade yellow cake recipe. Check out the step-by-step photos and tips above the recipe. 

Author: I Heart Eating

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cupcake, yellow cake

Servings: 24 servings

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/3 cup oil¹
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt²
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 2 egg yolks at room temperature
• 3 cups cake flour³
• 1 cup milk⁴

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. Grease and flour  either two 8 or 9-inch round cake pans or two 12-count muffin tins. You can line the muffin cups with paper liners in place of greasing. Set aside. 

3. Beat together the butter, oil, sugar, baking powder, and salt together with a mixer until well-combined, about 3 minutes on medium-high. 

4. Scrape down the sides. 

5. Add the eggs and then egg yolks one at a time, and mix until well-combined. 

6. Scrape down the sides. 

7. Stir in half of the flour, then all of the milk, and then the remaining flour, scraping the bowl after each addition. 

8. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

9. Bake the cake until just golden brown.
   For cupcakes - 20-30 minutes. 
   For 8-inch and 9-inch round cake pans 35-45 minutes.
   The cake should have a few moist crumbs attached when a toothpick is inserted in the center but shouldn't be wet. 

10. For round cake pans, cool completely in the pan, then loosen the edges with a knife and gently remove from the pan. 
    

11. For cupcakes, let cupcakes to cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Recipe Notes

1. A neutral oil such as canola oil is best. 
2. Can substitute 1/2 teaspoon table salt. 
3. Properly measure the flour by aerating, spooning, and then leveling. Check out this tutorial to make a homemade cake flour substitute. 
4. Anything from skim to whole milk will work. 
5. Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition facts per serving (1serving)

Calories: 189kcal

Fat: 8g

Saturated fat: 3g

Cholesterol: 54mg

Sodium: 147mg

Potassium: 82mg

Carbohydrates: 24g

Sugar: 13g

Protein: 3g

Vitamin A: 3.9%

Calcium: 3.9%

Iron: 1.9%