The Best Yellow Birthday Cake

Name: The Best Yellow Birthday Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 and 1/2 cups cake flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 3 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract; 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature

A soft, buttery yellow cake that is perfectly moist and ideal for any celebration.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 27, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

30 minutes

Total

50 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a classic yellow cake to bring back happy memories. This recipe is my absolute favorite because it results in a tender crumb that melts in your mouth every single time.

My secret to success is making sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start. This simple step helps the batter come together smoothly and ensures your cake bakes evenly.

🧺 Ingredients

2 and 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease two 9 inch round cake pans.
2
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
3
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until the mixture looks pale and fluffy.
4
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
5
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients and the milk, alternating between the two and starting and ending with the flour mixture.
6
Pour the batter evenly into your prepared cake pans.
7
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8
Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

💡 Tips

For the best results, frost this cake with your favorite chocolate buttercream once it has cooled completely. You can store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

#cake #baking #dessert #birthday #homemade

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