Easy Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting {Old-School Recipe} - Grandbaby Cakes (2024)

Sweetie, let me tell you about this Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting– it’s the real deal! This cake is the epitome of moist and buttery goodness, and when you slather on that simple but decadent chocolate frosting, it turns into the star of the show. From birthdays to holidays, everyone’s asking for a slice of this beauty. It’s not just a cake, honey, it’s a classic through and through!

I’ve been told I’m high maintenance. This yellow cake recipe with chocolate frosting was created to prove that notion dead wrong. I’m a simple gal with simple wants and needs. I love classic and easygoing things, like this cake.

This yellow cake recipe with chocolate frosting is a traditional plain jane cake that I grew up on but adore. I need no other cake in the world. This satisfies me each and every time. Get into it!

If you love these flavors you’re going to love this Hot Milk Cake.

The Heart & Soul of This Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: American

Primary Cooking Method: Baking

Dietary Info: Vegetarian

Key Flavor: This yellow layer cake is buttery and tender with a sweet bittersweet chocolate frosting.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sweet Spots

• True Traditional Flavors and Staying Power. This yellow cake recipe with my homemade chocolate frosting recipe has been around for years and will continue to be made for many years in the future!
• The Best Yellow Cake Flavor. My yellow cake recipe yields a simple yet delicious yellow butter cake that is moist and flavorful with the richness of fresh butter and vanilla.
• Winning Combination. The yellow cake makes the perfect sponge cake to layer with smooth chocolate buttercream, chocolate frosting, or chocolate icing.
• No Box Mix Here! While there are tons of classic yellow cake recipes with chocolate frosting recipes out there on the web, most of them start with a box mix. This one brings home the nostalgic homemade flavor only yellow cake from scratch can provide.
• Easy to Make. Layer cakes may seem overly complicated but truly this recipe is perfect for all levels of bakers. So even if you’re a beginner, I am confident you can easily make this cake recipe.

Looking for more classic layer cakes? You’ve got to try my White Cake Recipe, Devil’s Food Cake, and Lemon Layer Cake.

Ingredients to Make Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

• Butter: Unsalted butter is the best option for baking. Brands of butter don’t use the same ratio of salt to butter in their recipes which means you have less control over the saltiness when baking with salted butter. Make sure it’s at room temperature.
• Vegetable oil: Added to improve the moisture of the cake. Butter is partly water which will evaporate during baking so by adding a bit of oil to the mixture we ensure the cake will bake up with plenty of moisture.
• Sugar: The cake is prepared with granulated sugar while you will need confectioner’s sugar for the chocolate icing.
• Eggs: For texture and also give the cake its yellow color. Make sure you let your eggs sit on the counter a bit to warm up to room temperature.
• Cake flour: This type of flour is made from soft wheat. It has a finer texture and higher starch content which results in cakes and desserts that are more tender. You can buy it in grocery stores but you can also make cake flour at home using two simple ingredients.
• Leavener: This cake uses a combination of baking powder and baking soda to help lift the cake and give it some fluffiness.
• Sour cream: This ingredient is the secret to making a moist yellow cake. Like the eggs and butter make sure it’s atroom temperature before mixing.
• Vanilla extract: Brings a warming aroma and natural sweetness to the cake and frosting.
• Butter extract: Adds more intense buttery flavor to your yellow butter cake.
• Cocoa powder: This pantry staple works perfectly to infuse the simple frosting with plenty of bittersweet chocolate flavor.
• Heavy whipping cream: It gives the frosting its creamy texture and rich flavor.

How to Make A Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

For the full recipe instructions, including baking times and measurements, head down to the recipe card at the end of the page.

Step 1: Make the Yellow Cake

1. Beat the butter, vegetable oil, salt, and sugar on high until it’s fluffy and smooth. This will take about five minutes. Add the eggs one at a time to the bowl and beat on medium after adding each one until it’s well incorporated.
2. Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in a separate bowl. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix it into the batter on low speed.
3. Add the sour cream to the mixer and blend well. Add the remaining amount of the flour mixture and mix well. Add the vanilla extract and butter extract to the mixing bowl and finish beating on low until everything is well mixed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
4. Transfer the cake mixture to your three prepared baking pans and place in the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

PRO TIP: After cooling, wrap each layer in plastic wrap and place them in the freezer for an hour to make the layers easier to work with when assembling the cake.

Step 2: Make the Chocolate Frosting

1. Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, and cocoa powder to the bowl of your stand mixer.
2. Mix everything together at high speed until it’s smooth.
3. Add the heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract to the bowl.
4. Beat again until the frosting is fluffy and smooth.

Step 3: Frost and Assemble the Cake

1. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them rest in the pans for 10 minutes. Then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool for at least an hour.
2. Spread the top of the first layer with frosting.
3. Repeat with the remaining two layers until all the layers are together.
4. Frost the sides and top of the cake and smooth it out.

Tips for Making the Best Yellow Cake

• For the Fluffiest Frosting: The key to the best homemade chocolate frosting is making sure it is as fluffy as possible. This comes from beating the frosting and measuring your ingredients properly!
• Do NOT Over Bake: This tip is crucial for a moist and tender cake! Be sure you watch the cake closely especially the first time you bake it in your oven. You can’t always rely on just the time. Your cake is done when you insert a toothpick and it comes out mostly clean.
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: All the dairy — butter, milk, sour cream — and eggs should be at room temperature. Pull them out of the fridge and let them sit for a bit before you start mixing. About an hour will do the trick.
• Make Sure Cakes are Cool: Before you add the frosting make sure the cakes are fully cooled. Even better — freeze the cake layers before assembling the cake. This makes the cake a little more firm and much easier to work with when frosting and layering.
• Mix Just Long Enough: Overmixing is detrimental to cakes especially once the flour is added to the bowl. Make sure your mixer is on low speed and ONLY mix until everything is mixed.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

• Add Sprinkles: After frosting your cake feel free to decorate it with some sprinkles or chopped nuts, especially when serving it up for birthdays and special occasions.
• Different Frosting: While yellow cake with chocolate frosting is a classic combination — you might want to try something a bit different. If you’re looking to add a colored frosting to your yellow cake this American buttercream recipe is ideal or you might also enjoy this Oreo cookie frosting.
• Greek Yogurt: Swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt for a similar texture. They both have a tangy texture and will work to add the necessary moisture to your cake.
• Salted Butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter make sure to eliminate the salt in the recipe when using salted butter.

What to Serve with Cake

• Special Occasions: Whether it’s a birthday celebration or a family gathering nothing is better than ending the meal with a slice of this classic cake. It makes the perfect ending after enjoying juicy pan seared steaks or Southern baked chicken paired with your favorite sides like my cheesy scalloped potatoes, fried green tomatoes, and potato rolls.
• Add a Scoop of Ice Cream: Everything tastes better with a scoop of ice cream, especially for birthdays! Choose from flavors such as cookie butter ice cream or mocha swirl ice cream.
• Sip a Cozy Drink: Enjoy your slice of cake with an after-dinner coffee drink, hot tea, or a decadent French hot chocolate.
• Dessert Table Addition: This cake pairs great on a dessert table with other family favorites and traditional desserts. Offer a variety of textures and flavors such as my peach cobbler, NY cheesecake, and lemon meringue pie.

How to Store Yellow Cake

If you wanna serve up this cake at its absolute best, try to assemble it on the day you’re gonna show it off. Though, if you’re in a pinch, you can totally get ahead of the game and frost it a day early. And for those leftovers? Keep ’em snug as a bug in an airtight container at room temp for about 2-3 days to keep that cake as moist as can be.

Got some extra chocolate frosting? No prob! Just pop it in the fridge, and it’ll be good to go for up to two sweet weeks.

How long will yellow butter cake last in the fridge?

A yellow butter cake that’s been frosted will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. I like to store it in the fridge when it’s a bit warm in the house or when I need to store it for more than 2-3 days. When it’s been refrigerated it’s a good idea to let it sit at room temperature before serving.

Can I freeze yellow butter cake?

Oh, for sure! If you’re planning to get your cake game on later, you can totally freeze those baked cake layers. Just wrap each layer in its own little cozy blanket of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Stash them in the freezer, and they’ll be good for up to three fabulous months. When you’re ready, just let them thaw out on the counter, then get down to the frosting business.

You can even freeze leftover cake, whether it’s big chunks or individual slices. I like to give them a quick flash freeze on some parchment paper, then double-wrap those babies in plastic and foil. They’ll keep in your freezer for up to three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting is nothing short of a culinary treasure! We’re talking about a cake that’s tender, moist, and buttery, all cozied up with the simplest, most divine chocolate frosting. It’s the classic cake you need for your next birthday bash or just to treat yourself to a scrumptious slice after dinner. No matter when or why you serve it up, it’s destined to be the star of the show!

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