Sour Cream Yellow Cake Recipes

YELLOW CAKE

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.

THE BEST YELLOW CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vegetable oil, butter, eggs. egg yolks and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until the eggs and oil are well incorporated and the batter is lighter in color, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Next mix in the sour cream and beat until well combined.
• In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients. Alternate adding half the dry ingredients and half the buttermilk at a time and mix just until the flour starts to incorporate. Then add remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk and beat until well combined. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir the batter from the bottom to the top to ensure it's well mixed.
• Pour the batter in a 9-inch by 13-inch pan and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Test the cake for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted. Stir until completely smooth. Set aside too cool.
• Cut the butter into pieces. Using the paddle attachment, whip butter for 5-7 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Beat until butter look light in color. Next, beat the cocoa powder into the butter until well mixed.
• Alternate adding 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time with the liquid ingredients: vanilla extract & heavy cream. Ensure the powdered sugar is well combined, and whip for 1-2 minutes before adding more powdered sugar.
• Next, pour in the melted chocolate and beat on slow speed until incorporated. Then, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for another 2-3 minutes to whip additional air into the frosting. Spread over cooled cake. Top with sprinkles.

SOUR CREAM YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° and lightly grease and flour a 13x9 pan.
• Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and blend on low speed of mixer for 1 minute.
• Scrape down sides with spatula.
• Increase mixer speed to medium and beat an additional 2 minutes.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and tests done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool on a wire rack and frost as desired.

SOUR CREAM BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the batter following the directions on the box, EXCEPT replace 2 teaspoons water with an equal amount of vanilla. Fold in sour cream. Bake according to directions given for baking a bundt cake. Cool on rack, place on serving plate, and dust with confectioners sugar.

YELLOW LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE-SOUR CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Coat cake pans with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment-paper rounds; coat paper. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until no lumps remain. Combine buttermilk, oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl.
• Combine sugar, butter, and brown sugar in another large bowl. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean. Using an electric mixer, beat butter mixture until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add yolks and eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides and bottom of bowl.
• Continue to beat mixture, occasionally scraping down sides and bottom of bowl, until almost doubled in volume and very light, airy, and pale yellow, 5-6 minutes. It's very important that no lumps remain at this stage. (Occasional scraping of the bowl, especially the bottom, helps prevent lumps.)
• With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, about 3 1/2 cups per pan. Smooth tops.
• Bake, rotating cakes from left to right and top to bottom halfway through, until cakes are light golden brown, the centers spring back when gently pressed, and a tester inserted into the centers comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 35-40 minutes.
• Transfer cakes to wire racks; let cool in pans for at least 30 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks, peel off parchment, and let cool completely.
• Using a long serrated knife, remove top dome and any bumps from each cake to create a flat surface. Slice each cake in half horizontally to make 6 layers total. DO AHEAD: Cakes can be baked 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
• For frosting and assembly:
• Stir chocolate and corn syrup in a large metal bowl set over a large saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth; remove from heat. Stir sour cream, salt, and vanilla in a medium metal bowl; set over same saucepan of simmering water. Stir until mixture is warm but not hot, about 2 minutes. Add sour cream mixture to chocolate mixture; stir until smooth and glossy. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat powdered sugar and butter in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Slowly beat in chocolate mixture. Continue beating until no lumps remain, about 2 minutes. Frosting should be smooth and shiny. Cover and chill until slightly firmed up, about 30 minutes.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or large plate. Spoon 1/3 cup frosting over; using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, smooth frosting to edge of cake, creating an even layer. Place another cake layer on top. Repeat with frosting and remaining cake layers. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with a cake dome and store at room temperature.

DAISY SOUR CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour 2 8-inch round baking pans; set aside.
• In a large mixer bowl add the vegetable oil, egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Beat at medium speed until well mixed (1 minute).
• Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar; continue beating until well mixed (1 minute).
• Add the melted chocolate, 1 cup of the flour, 2/3 cup of the cocoa powder, the baking soda and salt. Beat at low speed until mixed.
• Add 1/2 cup of the water; beat at low speed until mixed.
• Add the remaining 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water; beat at low speed until mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Beat in 1 cup of the sour cream until mixed.
• Pour the batter evenly into the pans.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove the cake pans from the oven and cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the pans; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the butter at high speed until creamy (about 1 minute).
• Add 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup powdered sugar.
• Beat the frosting at low speed until mixed.
• Add the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup sour cream and milk; beat at low speed until mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• Place one cake, rounded side down, on the serving plate.
• Spoon and spread 1 cup of the frosting over the cake.
• Place the second cake, rounded side up, over the frosting.
• Frost the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting.
• Garnish if desired.

SOUR CREAM YELLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix all the ingredients together in the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Divide batter between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pan a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place 1 cooled cake onto a cake platter. Ice just the top half with the Crusting Buttercream Icing. Place the second cake on top. Lightly ice the sides and top of cake. Gently place your hands on top of the iced cake and press down softly. Doing this helps to mold the cake to the pressure of when the fondant goes onto the cake. It will deter the cake from getting a visible ring that will show through when fondant covers the cake.
• After the fondant has sat in the fridge it will be hard. When ready to use, place in the microwave for a few seconds, maybe 10 seconds at a time, as to soften but not melt. Once it's a little softer it will be ready to work with. Start kneading away on a powdered sugar covered surface just to wake it up a little.
• Flour the surface and the rolling pin with powdered sugar. Roll the fondant to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. Roll the fondant around the rolling pin to transfer it to the top of the cake. Use your fingers to position the fondant gently on top of the cake, smooth out the top and sides. Cut away the excess with a knife, using the bottom of the cake as the guide. With the extra fondant, cut out designs either by hand or using a cookie cutter. Place the designs onto the cake. Use a dab of water to act as the glue to adhere the designs to cake.
• A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.
• Cream the shortening in the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment. Add the vanilla and butter flavorings. Add the powdered coffee creamer to the water and stir. Once the coffee creamer is dissolved, add this mixture to the shortening and mix on low until the water is incorporated into the shortening. Slowly add the powdered sugar into the shortening, mixing on low speed.
• Cook's Note: Once the powdered sugar is added, you may need to add a little more water depending on what consistency you want your icing.
• Combine the powdered sugar and salt and spread out on the counter to make a 12-inch circle.
• Coat the inside of a large microwave-safe bowl with shortening. Place the marshmallows, flavorings, and water and/or colorings in the bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute (the marshmallows should be puffy). Stir the mixture with a rubber spatula and place back in the microwave for 30 second intervals, or until the marshmallows are melted and smooth when stirred. (While this mixture is in the microwave, coat your hands with shortening as the fondant is sticky and messy.)
• Once the marshmallows are melted and smooth, transfer the contents of the bowl onto the powdered sugar. Start working the sugar into the melted mixture, kneading it like you would bread dough. Continue kneading until the mixture loses its stickiness; you may have to add more powdered sugar. You'll know when it's ready if the fondant forms into a ball. Coat the fondant ball well with shortening and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the fondant in refrigerator for at least 6 to 8 hours or overnight.

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.