I used my recipe for yellow cake mix to make this perfectly moist and delicious homemade yellow cake. Whether it’s for a birthday or just because, this cake is one of my favorites!
Yellow cake and chocolate frosting belong together. Do they not?
Rarely do I ever bake a cake, let alone one with frosting but today is a special occasion.
Since moving into our house 3 years ago, we’ve lived on a canal without a boat to take us out onto our lake. Well, Pat has a fishing boat but that really only fits two comfortably and well, we wanted (more like desperately needed) something to take our kids, family and friends out on the water with. Over these past few years we had some serious boat envy on those hot summer days as we’d watch our neighbors head out on their pontoons, drinks in hand and all smiles and laughter. We could not spend another summer without a boat. So this year we bought one! It was just delivered this morning, of course it was freaking COLD at 47 degrees which made our first boat trip short and sweet. But I have high hopes of many sunny and warm summer days ahead of us.
So yeah, new boat = celebrate = cake.
So I bet you were wondering why on earth I’d post a yellow cake mix recipe and not the actual recipe for the yellow cake. Well my reason is that if I was to post the cake mix plus the yellow cake recipe AND the whipped chocolate frosting there would have been 30 bazillion photos. So I decided to break it up over several posts and save you from even more mouse scrolling than usual.
Today, I’m sharing a moist and scrumptious yellow cake recipe and a to die for chocolate frosting. Next week there’s another cake recipe for your eyes to visually devour. Two cakes in two weeks… who am I? Can you even handle it?
It’s a pretty straightforward cake recipe. You’ll need this cake mix, water, oil, eggs and vanilla.
Add the homemade yellow cake mix into the bowl of your stand mixer.
With the mixer on low, add in a cup of water.
Then pour in 2/3 cup grapeseed oil.
Continue to mix on low speed until the water and oil have combined with the dry ingredients. Then add one egg at a time, mixing well after each egg.
Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.
Measure and add in two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
Mix on low until the vanilla is combined and the batter is smooth, be careful not to over mix.
Generously butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment and dust lightly with flour, shaking any excess flour out of the pan. (This is how I line a cake pan with parchment paper)
Divide the batter among the two pans, about 2-1/2 cups per cake pan.
Tap the pans on the counter top so the bubble rise to the top, then bake in a preheated 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Run a knife along the edge of the cakes…
…before tipping the cake out of the pan.
Peel the parchment paper back…
Ta-da!
Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
To make the frosting, start by dropping 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter into the bowl of your stand mixer.
Mix on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until creamed.
Meanwhile, sift 2-1/2 cups of powdered sugar…
and 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder…
…into a large bowl.
In a small bowl or measuring cup combine 3 tablespoons half and half (heavy cream or whole milk can be used instead) to the half and half add 2-1/2 tablespoons buttermilk and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
Add a few large spoonfuls of the sugar and cocoa mixture…
…alternating with the vanilla mixture.
Mix on low speed…
Until just combined.
Increase the speed to high and whip until light and fluffy.
Like this!
This looks like a sweet hairdo!
Scrape the frosting into a bowl and get ready to frost that cake!
Drop a generous glob (<—- totally a technical term) onto the first layer. I like to stick a couple strips of parchment under the edges of the cake to keep me from turning my cake stand into a frosting mess.
Spread from the center to the edges.
You’ll want to have a little bit of frosting peeking out from between the layers.
Place the second layer on top of the frosting…
And add the remaining frosting on top of the second layer.
Use your offset spatula and spread the frosting from the center, to the edges and down around the sides of the cake.
Boom. Frosted cake.
This light and fluffy homemade yellow cake is on the light side of the yellow scale because it’s really based on the egg yolks and not on any added food coloring. But I’m okay with knowing my cake is au natural.
PS. This perfectly perfect chocolate frosting is legit, and this is coming from a girl who’s not the biggest frosting fan. But I like. I like a lot.
I do love me a delicious piece of homemade yellow cake.
Enjoy! And if you give this Homemade Yellow Cake recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
My cookbook Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy is now available! CLICK HERE for details and THANK YOU in advance!
Homemade Yellow Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
FOR THE YELLOW CAKE RECIPE:
- 1 recipe homemade yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup grapeseed oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons half & half, see notes
- 2½ tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE:
- Preheat your oven to 350°. Generously grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter and dust with flour, tapping out any excess flour.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer add the homemade cake mix. Withe the mixer on low, pour in the water and oil, mixing until incorporated. Add one egg at a time, mixing after each egg. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl before adding in the vanilla, mix on low until combined.
- Divide the batter (2-1/2 cups per cake pan), tap to release any air bubbles and slide into your preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of each cake.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before running a knife along the edge of the cakes. Place your hand on the tops of the cakes before slowly flipping the pans upside down to remove the cakes. Peel back the parchment paper and carefully flip the cakes right side up, placing them on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
FOR THE FROSTING:
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the butter and mix on low until creamy (about 2 minutes).
- In the meantime, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder into a large bowl.
- Combine the half & half, buttermilk and vanilla.
- Add a few large spoonfuls of the cocoa mixture alternating with the liquids. Mix on low speed until just combined. Increase the speed to high and mix for 4 to 5 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Place the first cake layer onto a cake stand and top with 1/3 of the frosting. Starting at the center, spread the frosting out to the edge, leaving a little extra frosting overhanging the edge of the cake. Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting and top it with the remaining frosting. Spread the frosting out from the center and down around the sides of the cake.
Notes
[this post contains affiliate links.]
Buy the Cookbook: Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy Now available on Amazon »
THANK YOU in advance for your support!
Thank you so much!!!
Such a pretty party cake! I just love this recipe!
That looks scrumptious! nothing like a classic cake 🙂
Congratulations on the new boat. It’s going to be a whole different summer for you all. Totally Fun. I loved it, when we owned a boat.
YES that is cause for celebration. I am always surprised how much I really do enjoy a good yellow cake and a fabulous frosting. So nice choice.
Thank you Carol! <3
oooooh mama this cake is lovely! I especially adore that frosting!
Thank you Kayle!
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is one of my favorite combinations! This looks absolutely delicious!
Ben’s hands down favorites cake is yellow cake with chocolate frosting and I’ve had a HARD time finding a good homemade yellow cake recipe! His birthday is in two weeks, so this is getting made. This is perfect Laur! THANK YOU
It’s the simple things in life that make me smile … your yellow cake does that for me too! Great recipe!
Thank you, Dan!
I don’t remember how I found your blog, but for some reason I have it bookmarked! So glad I do, because yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my all time favorite combo. I can’t wait to try your recipe. It looks wonderful. 🙂
what do you preheat the oven to?
Can the grapeseed oil be substituted? I often use unsweetened apple sauce instead of oil, but I have other oils in my house to use if you don’t recommend the apple sauce.
Hi Lynn! I’ve baked with applesauce too, so you could definitely try it but since I have not tested it myself it’s hard for me to say for sure how the cake will turn out. But if you do decide to give it a whirl, keep me posted on the results! Thanks!
This cake was amazing!!! I made it for my friend’s birthday and he ate most of the cake in one night. The cake is like pound cake and the frosting is very light, not too chocolately. Thanks so much!
Oh yeah, I substituted canola oil for the grapeseed oil. Came out great.
Great idea. Thanks so much.
Now do you have a recipe for the famous Bacardi Rum Cake using the mix? It has pudding and rum, etc. in the original recipe.
Jan
I don’t, but I must investigate! That sounds delicious!
Can I use a bundt cake pan ?
Sure!
Can you substitute butter instead of the oil?
Unfortunately I have not tested it, so I can’t say for sure how it will turn out. Butter has milk solids where oil does not, so it may affect how the cake turns out. Sorry!
Could I make cupcakes with the yellow cake mix?
Absolutely! Just keep in mind that baking times will differ.
That’s fantastic! I’ve made boxed cakes cookies with 1/2 cup oil 2 eggs and the oven set to 350 Will that work?
So is it 2 or 3 eggs?
Hey Michelle! The recipe and post both say 3. Did you find someplace that I mention 2? I couldn’t find it. Thanks!
Cake flavor was good but the cake itself was dry. The frosting was good but it couldn’t offset the dryness of the cake. Bummer considering all the time and effort it took.
I made cupcakes instead. How do I store this? Can I keep them in the fridge or at room temp?