Rich Yellow Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Butter two 9"-diameter cake pans and line each bottom with a parchment paper round; butter parchment. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix 3 cups (345 g) cake flour, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until combined, about 30 seconds.
• With the motor running, add ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces, then increase speed to medium and beat until butter is in small pieces and mixture looks sandy, about 3 minutes.
• Turn off mixer and add 4 large eggs, room temperature, 2 large egg yolks, room temperature, 1½ cups buttermilk, room temperature, and 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until pale yellow and fluffy, about 1 minute (be careful not to overmix batter). Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake cakes until tops are golden and spring back when gently pressed, 30-35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cakes cool in pans 15 minutes. Run a small knife or offset spatula around inside of pans to loosen cakes, then turn out onto rack. Remove parchment and let cakes cool completely, about 1 hour.
• While the cakes are cooling, sift 4 cups (440 g) powdered sugar and 1½ cups (126 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer with clean beaters (or paddle) on medium speed, beat 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, and ¾ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add half of dry ingredients and beat on low speed until incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. buttermilk, room temperature, and beat until thoroughly combined. If frosting is too stiff, thin with more buttermilk (1-2 Tbsp.) until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Using a large serrated knife, slice domed tops from cakes. Place 1 layer on a large plate or cake stand and spread a thick layer of frosting on top with an offset spatula. Place second cake layer on top and generously frost top and sides of cake with remaining buttercream. Smooth sides and create decorative swoops and swirls on the top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped. Cool 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter one 10-inch tube pan. Dust the bottom and sides of pan with flour, and tap out any excess. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until well incorporated, occasionally scraping down the sides of bowl.
• Mix together buttermilk and vanilla. Slowly add the sifted flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not overbeat.
• Pour batter into prepared tube pan, and until cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely on wire rack. Cake can be stored in freezer, double wrapped with aluminum foil, for up to 1 month.