Indulge in the golden delight of our exceptional Yellow Sheet Cake, an all-time classic that promises a burst of flavor in every bite. This timeless recipe yields a moist and fluffy cake with a vibrant yellow color that will brighten up any occasion. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, our detailed instructions will guide you through the process, ensuring a perfect cake every time.
To tantalize your taste buds, we offer three irresistible variations of this classic dessert. The Original Yellow Sheet Cake is a straightforward recipe that showcases the pure, unadorned flavor of a perfectly executed cake. For chocolate lovers, our Chocolate Frosted Yellow Sheet Cake adds a rich and decadent chocolate frosting that takes the cake to the next level. And for those who appreciate a pop of citrus, our Lemon Frosted Yellow Sheet Cake features a tangy lemon frosting that adds a refreshing twist to the classic recipe.
With its versatility and crowd-pleasing appeal, our Yellow Sheet Cake is perfect for potlucks, birthday celebrations, or simply as a delightful treat to enjoy with loved ones. Gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you with a golden masterpiece that will be cherished by all who taste it.
YELLOW CAKE
For yellow cake success, follow this recipe closely and don't make any ingredient substitutions.
Provided by Sally
Categories Dessert
Time 4h
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds (see #6 in Cake Baking Tips), then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans. I recommend using nonstick spray for greasing.
- Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed for 3 full minutes. The creamed butter and sugar will be extra creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Turn the mixer down to medium-high speed and beat in the 4 egg yolks one at a time, letting each egg yolk fully mix into the batter before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla extract until combined.
- Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients and 1/2 of the buttermilk and beat on low speed until combined. Add 1/3 more of the dry ingredients and the rest of the buttermilk and beat on low speed until combined. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until combined. The batter is very thick. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together on high speed until fluffy peaks form, about 3 minutes. See photo and video above for a visual. Slowly and gently fold the egg whites into the thick cake batter. Avoid over-mixing as you don't want to deflate the egg whites.
- Pour/spoon batter evenly into cake pans.
- Bake for around 27-31 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. After about 18 minutes, tent the cakes with aluminum foil to prevent the tops and sides from over-browning. To test the cakes for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. The cakes may look a little spongey on top as a result of the whipped egg whites. (That's normal!)
- Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
- With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, 3 Tablespoons heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Do not over-whip. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or 1-2 more Tablespoons of cream if frosting is too thick. (I usually add 1 more.) Taste. Add another pinch of salt if desired.
- If cooled cakes are domed on top, use a large serrated knife to slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. This is called "leveling" the cakes. Discard or crumble over finished cake (or on ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with frosting. Top with 2nd layer. (If desired, if the edges seem extra crumbly, apply a crumb coat which is a thin layer of frosting all over the cake. You can see I did this in the video tutorial above. Refrigerate the crumb coated cake for 15 minutes before adding the rest of the frosting.) Spread remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I always use an icing spatula and/or a bench scraper for the frosting. Garnish with sprinkles, if desired.
- For extra neat slices, refrigerate cake for 30-60 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
YELLOW SHEET CAKE
At casual Southern gatherings--book clubs and prayer meetings and such--ladies come toting sheet cakes. They're all nestled in their pans, usually Pyrex, and ready to have fat squares cut right out of them. They're the warmest welcome. Neither fussy nor fancy, but always yummy. This yellow vanilla cake tastes good enough to serve plain with tea, but you can pour caramel all over it too.
Provided by Carla Hall
Categories dessert
Time 5h
Yield One 9-by-13-inch cake
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch cake pan.
- Combine the buttermilk and vanilla in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, the sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with the paddle attachment on low speed until well mixed. Add the oil and beat until evenly distributed. With the machine running, add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time and beat until fully incorporated. The mixture will look like coarse sand.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping the bowl occasionally. While beating, add the buttermilk mixture in a slow, steady stream. Beat just until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
- Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Pour as much caramel as desired over the cake.
- Set the butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. When it's halfway melted, add the sugar and salt. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is dark golden brown. It will look grainy and the fat will separate from the sugar and then come back together.
- Remove from the heat and add the evaporated milk while whisking. Be careful! The caramel will bubble up. Scrape up any sugar that's stuck to the bottom of the pan. Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Set over low heat and cook, whisking often, until very smooth and creamy, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat and cool completely, stirring occasionally.
PERFECTED YELLOW CAKE
Steps:
- To prep, whisk together the milk and sour cream together in a liquid measure and let come to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and make sure an oven rack is placed in the middle of the oven.
- In a large bowl of an electric stand mixer or with a handheld electric mixer, whip the butter on medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and beat for 4-5 minutes on medium speed. Mix in the vanilla.
- One at a time, add the eggs and egg yolks, mixing just until combined in between additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Sift them together through a fine mesh strainer.
- Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add 1/2 of the milk/sour cream mixture and mix. Add another 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Add the last 1/2 of the milk/sour cream mixture and beat until just combined. Add the final 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Give the batter one good, final stir with the rubber spatula.
- Grease the cake pans and line the bottoms with a parchment round. Grease the parchment and sides of the pan again very well. I use regular cooking spray but you can also use butter or cooking spray with flour. If your cake pans tend to cause sticking, consider also flouring the pans.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Drop each pan from about 3-inches onto the counter to minimize air bubbles while baking.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes (high altitude: 28-30 minutes) until lightly golden around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. Resist the urge to open and close the oven to check on the cake - this can cause the center of the cake to fall and never recover. And as with all cakes, don't overbake or the cake will be dry.
- Let the cakes rest in the pans for 5-10 minutes before gently turning them onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
BEST YELLOW CAKE EVER
A bit unusual mixing technique assures a perfect cake every time. Frost with 1 1/2 batches of my semi classic butter-cream frosting, any flavor will do, but we like the milk chocolate best.
Provided by Steve_G
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 1 cake, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease two 9-inch x 1 1/2 inch cake plans line bottoms with parchment paper grease bottom and flour entire pan.
- In a medium bowl lightly combine the yolks, 1/4 cup milk, and vanilla.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
- Add the butter and remaining 3/4 cup milk.
- Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Beat for 90 seconds at medium speed to develop cake structure.
- Stop mixer, scrape down the sides.
- Gradually add the egg/milk/vanilla mixture in 3 batches, beating 20 seconds after each addition.
- Stop mixer, scrape down the sides and give it a final mix by hand.
- Pour the batter in the prepared pans and smooth surface.
- (Pans will be half full.) Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in center.
- (The cakes should start to shrink from the sides of pans after taking them out of the oven.) Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a buttered rack.
- Reinvert cakes so that tops are right side up.
- Cool to room temperature and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
Tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients for optimal blending and a smooth batter.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy to incorporate air and create a smooth, creamy texture.
- Gradually add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to prevent curdling.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together to evenly distribute the ingredients and avoid lumps.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, to achieve a smooth and well-combined batter.
- Do not overmix the batter, as this can result in a tough, dense cake. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the cake in a preheated oven to ensure even baking and prevent the cake from sinking in the center.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting and becoming runny.
- Use a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center of the cake to check for doneness. It should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
Conclusion:
Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this classic yellow sheet cake recipe is sure to impress. With its moist, tender crumb, sweet and buttery flavor, and versatile frosting options, it's the perfect choice for any occasion. Follow the tips provided to achieve a perfectly baked cake every time, and enjoy a delicious treat that everyone will love.
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