Rainy Day Yellow Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray three 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray or grease with softened butter. If your oven cannot accommodate all 3 pans on one middle rack, while the oven is still cool, arrange 2 racks as close to the middle as possible, allowing enough space between them for the cakes on the lower rack to rise without touching the one above it.
• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together; set aside. In a medium bowl (or a measuring cup), combine the buttermilk, vegetable oil and vanilla extract; set aside.
• In a large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar and light brown sugar. Using an electric mixer (or the stand mixer) on high, beat everything together until it's very light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add in the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating between additions. Beat the batter until it's almost doubled in volume and very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, occasionally scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• With the mixer on low, gently beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture. Before it's fully combined, add in 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk until everything is well blended and no lumps remain.
• Divide the cake batter equally among the three cake pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan or rack placement halfway through baking. You'll know the cakes are done when they are golden brown, pulling away from the sides of the pan, and the tops spring back ever so slightly when you press them.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and let sit for five minutes to cool slightly before inverting them onto a wire baking rack to cool completely.
• Make the frosting and assemble the cake: Melt the chocolate either in a bowl in the microwave in 30-second intervals until melted, or in a double boiler or makeshift double boiler (a bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water on the stove, but not touching the water), stirring occasionally until melted. The melted chocolate should be warm but never hot, with no visible chunks left.
• Add about ⅓ of the sour cream to the melted chocolate and using a spatula, combine until no white streaks remain. Repeat with another ⅓, and finally the last ⅓. The chocolate will stiffen a bit as you add the sour cream, and this is O.K.
• In a large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar and salt. Using an electric mixer (or the stand mixer) on low speed at first to avoid showering yourself with sugar, and then increasing to high speed, beat until everything is fluffy and almost pure white, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the chocolate mixture and blend. Increase the speed to high and beat until everything is very fluffy and well combined, about 2 minutes.
• Once cakes are cooled, transfer one layer of cake, top side up, to a large parchment-lined plate. Use an offset or regular spatula to spread frosting onto the first layer of cake. Place second layer of cake on top, bottom side up (layering the rest of cake with the flat bottoms on top makes a cake with a straight shape, rather than domed). Repeat with remaining layer.
• Once all the layers are assembled, apply a thin layer of frosting all over the cake, making sure to cover the whole cake. Chill the cake for 2 hours, keeping the frosting out at room temperature.
• Remove the cake from the fridge and using either an offset spatula or a butter knife, give it another coat of frosting, doing whatever decorative patterns or swirls you wish: very smooth, or peaks and valleys.
• Finish and decorate with sprinkles however you please.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350°F Prepare a 9- by 13-inch pan by greasing it and dusting it with flour.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff but not dry.
• Set aside.
• KIDS' COOKING SKILLS: Use this recipe to teach your kids how to cream butter and sugar and decorate a cake using a pastry bag.
• In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter for 1 to 2 minutes; add the sugar and cream for another 2 minutes.
• Add the egg yolks all at once and beat for another minute or until the mixture appears light and fluffy.
• Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Measure the flour using a dry measuring cup and pour it into another mixing bowl.
• Ask your child to measure the baking powder, baking soda, and salt, carefully leveling each with a knife, and then stir them into the flour.
• Measure the buttermilk in a liquid measuring cup.
• Add about a third of the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture and mix well.
• Then, mixing (but not overbeating) after each new addition, add half of the buttermilk, followed by another third of the flour, then the remaining buttermilk, and finally the last of the flour.
• Fold the stiff egg whites into the batter with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Set on a rack to cool.
• Ice the cooled cake with any of the frostings (except decorators') in this article.
• Then prepare a batch of decorators' frosting, which is slightly stiffer than the others.
• Divide it into four small bowls and mix in food coloring.
• Spoon the desired color into a pastry bag (place the coupler base into the bag first, then roll the bag down so the frosting goes into the bottom).
• Attach the desired tip by screwing on the coupler ring.
• To create a rainy day scene, use a drawing tip to outline clouds, raindrops, grass, and a simple figure holding an umbrella.
• For best results, wash out the tip each time you switch colors.
• To make flowers, use a star tip for the petals and a leaf tip for leaves.
• With the tip of your choice, pipe a border around the whole scene, if desired.

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Butter two 9"-diameter cake pans and line each bottom with a parchment paper round; butter parchment. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix 3 cups (345 g) cake flour, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until combined, about 30 seconds.
• With the motor running, add ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces, then increase speed to medium and beat until butter is in small pieces and mixture looks sandy, about 3 minutes.
• Turn off mixer and add 4 large eggs, room temperature, 2 large egg yolks, room temperature, 1½ cups buttermilk, room temperature, and 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until pale yellow and fluffy, about 1 minute (be careful not to overmix batter). Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake cakes until tops are golden and spring back when gently pressed, 30-35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cakes cool in pans 15 minutes. Run a small knife or offset spatula around inside of pans to loosen cakes, then turn out onto rack. Remove parchment and let cakes cool completely, about 1 hour.
• While the cakes are cooling, sift 4 cups (440 g) powdered sugar and 1½ cups (126 g) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer with clean beaters (or paddle) on medium speed, beat 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, and ¾ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large bowl until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add half of dry ingredients and beat on low speed until incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. buttermilk, room temperature, and beat until thoroughly combined. If frosting is too stiff, thin with more buttermilk (1-2 Tbsp.) until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Using a large serrated knife, slice domed tops from cakes. Place 1 layer on a large plate or cake stand and spread a thick layer of frosting on top with an offset spatula. Place second cake layer on top and generously frost top and sides of cake with remaining buttercream. Smooth sides and create decorative swoops and swirls on the top.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line 2 9-inch (22 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl 2-3 times. Add eggs and the egg yolk, 1 at a time, beating for 30 seconds between each addition, or until just combined. Add the vanilla and beat until incorporated.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Add ¼ of the dry ingredients to the batter and beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds, or until fully combined. Add ¼ of the buttermilk and mix for another 30 seconds, until well incorporated. Continue alternating with the remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk. Beat for 3 minutes more.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and let cool slightly, then remove from the pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the frosting: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cocoa powder, and salt with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until very thick and well incorporated, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Turn the mixer speed to low and gradually alternate adding the powdered sugar and milk. As the sugar is incorporated, increase the speed of the mixer. Add the vanilla and beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.The frosting will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before frosting the cake.
• Add a small dollop of frosting to a cake stand. Arrange four pieces of parchment paper around it. Place 1 cake round on the stand. Add a large dollop of frosting to the top of the first cake and spread evenly. Add the remaining cake layer on top and frost completely.
• Decorate the top with rainbow sprinkles, if desired.
• Remove the parchment paper. Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!