12 June 2014

Best One-Bowl Yellow Cake

Best One-Bowl Yellow Cake / www.delightfulrepast.com

Everybody needs a basic yellow cake recipe. And if it just happens to be an easy one-bowl cake, so much the better. In my recipe the inimitable flavor of butter comes through loud and clear, accented with vanilla extract.  

I love the texture of this cake. Despite what you may have heard, you don't need to used bleached cake flour to make a tender cake. I use organic unbleached flour for all my baking (except the gluten-free baking, of course).

This one is frosted with chocolate, but I really love it with the Caramel Flour Frosting I posted last week. You'll find my gluten-free version under Velvety Vanilla Cupcakes - That Just Happen to Be Gluten-Free.

What is your favorite cake flavor / frosting flavor combination?  

Best One-Bowl Yellow Cake


(Makes two 8-inch layers or 24 cupcakes)
  
2 dip-and-sweep cups (10 ounces/283 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups (10.5 ounces/298 grams) sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup and 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
       
1 Preheat oven to 350F/180C/Gas4. Grease well and lightly flour two 8-inch layer pans.      

2 In large mixing bowl (I use a Cuisinart stand mixer), combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; and mix on low speed for one minute to blend. Add the softened butter and 3/4 cup of the milk. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. With mixer on medium-high speed, beat for 1 1/2 minutes. Scrape down the sides.
       
3 Add the eggs, vanilla extract and 1/4 cup milk. With mixer on low speed, beat for 30 seconds to combine. Scrape down the sides. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides.
       
4 Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

5 Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks for at least an hour, until completely cool, before frosting.

29 comments:

~~louise~~ said...

One bowl cakes are the best, Jean. My favorite is Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow frosting. Although Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow frosting is a close second, lol...

Thanks so much for sharing, Jean...

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Mmm ... that peanut butter chocolate cake sounds gooooood, Louise!

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Love the taste of vanilla and butter in a cake...if it's not with the taste of lemon or orange (especially for a topping).

I find I have to ration your delectable desserts, Jean. They are all too too tempting. I do have my favorites that are posted on the side of my refrigerator.

Truth is I can't keep up with all the recipes I want to try that you so beautifully present.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Aaw, Sue, thank you so much! I can't eat too much dessert myself, so I give my husband and guests huge servings of it to spare myself!

Angie's Recipes said...

You can't never go wrong with the combo of vanilla and butter..your one bowl cake looks very beautiful, Jean.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Angie! Sometimes I don't bother to get out the piping bag, just slap on some frosting!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this recipe. I love any icing but caramel is my fav.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Mildred, I agree - caramel!

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

This looks delicious! :)

I'd have to say, given your question, that spice cake with chocolate icing is my favorite but any cake is fine with me :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Deb, that's one combination I've never had! I love spice cake but always have it with a vanilla frosting of some sort. Must try it with chocolate some time!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

It’s baaaa-ack. You may call that chocolate frosting, but it’s pretty close to last week’s caramel – and we know what that did to my dormant taste buds. There is something in the texture this week that awakens the same responses. I can taste certain gritty sugar bursts therein. Yellowcake – eh – but the frosting gets me every time. I think you found yet another preeminent laurel in your collection. Put frosting on everything (even veggies), and I’ll go the whole 9 yards toward a balanced diet. He said. 5 cleavers!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Whew! Another 5 cleavers! I'm overwhelmed. And I must say this chocolate frosting is very tasty (and I'm not even a chocolate fan). But it's the eh-to-you yellow cake I really like.

Amy at love made my home said...

It looks delicious!! You cannot beat a good cake from time to time can you! xx

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Right, Amy! A bit of cake and a nice cuppa tea!

2 Dogs said...

Well I'm not much on baking so I'm not leaving a comment about cake here. Instead...I was looking back at some of your recipes and see my all time favorite ~ Chicken Tikka Masala. I love it so much I always say I could drink it. My ex-husband was British and we ate at Indian restaurants whenever we could find one. YUM!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pat, thank you! I wish *I* wasn't interested in cake! LOL But I do believe I like chicken tikka masala even more. I hope you'll give my recipe a try and let me know how you like it.

My Garden Diaries said...

I am so a new follower of your blog! I love food and your space here is so inspiring! Thank you for popping on by so that now I can follow along with you! This cake looks divine! A wonderful week to you! Nicole xo

cathy@my1929charmer said...

Love one bowl cakes, and peanut butter chocolate sounds wonderful. I also love the taste of vanilla and who doesn't love butter. Thanks for stopping by and letting me know you liked my new cabinet in the corner of my kitchen!

2 Dogs said...

Maybe I can try the recipe soon and I will post about it. :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Nicole, thank you so much! And I'll be visiting your blog often for gardening inspiration!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Cathy, thank you! And, yes, I did love that cabinet - so perfect for your 1929 charmer!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pat, that's great! That would be soooo fun!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pat, that's great! That would be soooo fun!

B said...

I found the baking powder to be a bit much and could taste is, but only very slightly. However the general flavor and sponginess is excellent and the amount of vanilla is just right.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, B! Interesting about the baking powder; I wonder if the brand makes a difference.

Keith said...

Thanks very much for this recipe. I'll definitely be making this cake. However, I can't seem to find the Caramel Flour Frosting recipe. Any help would be appreciated.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Keith, here's my Caramel Flour Frosting - http://www.delightfulrepast.com/2014/06/caramel-frosting-variation-on-old.html - Do let me know how the cake turns out for you!

Keith said...

Well, if it had been the proverbial snake . . . please ignire my previous request. I found the Caramel Flour Frosting recipe right under my nose. I'll be trying the yellow cake and this frosting. I sure do thank you a lot for the recipes.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Keith, you are so welcome. Can't wait to hear how it turns out!