Moist Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
This homemade yellow cake is made with butter, oil, whole milk, and vanilla for an incredibly moist and tender cake crumb. The rich chocolate frosting is creamy, smooth, and perfectly sweet, making it the ultimate classic cake combination.
Ingredients
Yellow Cake
- 3 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks, room temp)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla
- 6 eggs (room temp)
- 1 3/4 cup whole milk (room temp)
Chocolate Frosting
- 1 1/2 cup salted butter (3 sticks, room temp)
- 7.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole milk + 3 tablespoons
Instructions
Homemade Yellow Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch cake pans and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter, mixing after each addition until fully combined.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour in the whole milk and continue mixing until the batter is smooth and fully combined. If the batter appears slightly curdled, that is completely normal.
- Evenly divide the batter between the three prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-27 minutes.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the cakes to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely, about 1 hour. If desired, wrap each cooled cake layer tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours before frosting. This simple step helps lock in moisture and makes the cake easier to frost.
Homemade Chocolate Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in the cocoa powder until fully combined.
- Add 4 cups of the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition.
- Slowly pour in the whole milk and continue mixing.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar, one cup at a time (3.5 cups), mixing after each addition until the frosting becomes smooth, creamy, and fluffy.
Assemble The Cake
- Place one cake layer onto a cake stand or plate and spread an even layer of chocolate frosting on top. Repeat with the second layer, then place the final cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting.