5/28/12

Yellow Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting

Matt and I have a saying (which may or may not be a real saying) for when you get exactly what you want. It's called getting your fish wish. Matt's birthday-cake fish wish? Yellow cake with vanilla frosting. At first, I was like: Really? Isn't this cake more in line with your fish wish? But Matt knew what he wanted: vanilla and vanilla. And once I gave into the idea, I found ways to sneak in some funmainly in the form of blue icing. Oh, and there's an egg yolk in that icing. Who the heck knew you could do that?
Happy birthday, Matt! Now, let's watch Game of Thrones and eat another slice.
Yellow Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting via Food and Wine
Cake
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature

Frosting
1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg yolk (optional)
1 pound confectioners' sugar (If I could do it all over again, I'd leave out at a couple of ounces of sugar. The icing is very sweet.)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper; butter and dust with flour. In a bowl, mix the 3 cups of flour, baking powder and salt. In a cup, mix the milk with the vanilla.

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter at medium speed until light and creamy. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy, 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl. Beat in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk mixture and scraping down the bowl.

Scrape the batter into the pans. Bake in the lower third of the oven for about 35 minutes, until springy. Let cool for 15 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto a rack. Peel off the paper, turn the cakes upright and cool completely.

In a standing mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the butter and egg yolk at medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in the sugar at low speed. Beat in the cream, vanilla and salt, then beat at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes longer.

Spread 1 cup of frosting over a cake layer and top with the second layer; frost the top and sides. Let stand 1 hour; serve.

27 comments:

Matthew said...

I love this birthday cake. Totally got my fish wish! xoxo

Louisa said...

That cake looks rad, inside and out!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Matt (but Matt I can't believe you didn't request a bonappetempt happyfaced fish cake)!

Sarah @ WCP said...

Happy birthday to Matt! Duh duh DUH duh duh duh DUH duh duh duh duhhhh (g.o.t.)

ileana said...

Haha, I like how the cake just says "Matt!"

Happy birthday!

Andrea said...

It must be a Bers thing, b/c this cake would be my fish wish, too (but I didn't get MY fish wish!). Happy birthday, Matt!

AG said...

This looks amazing. All I really want is to help get rid of that excess icing. That plate of practice squiggles is making my sweet tooth ache.

lisa fika said...

Simply Perfect Fish Wish! Happy Birthday Matt!

Kara said...

Happy Birthday Matt! This cake looks so fluffy! And kind. Vanilla can be such a comfort sometimes.

Amelia, please send the fish to this Pisces next Feb! I think soft cake with icing scales would mail perfectly well, don't you?

Matthew said...

Awww... Thanks for the continued birthday wishes everyone, it's like I'm getting my fish wish all over again -- really makes my heart beep!

Sandy @ tinytinyfork said...

I think the simplicity of a vanilla/vanilla cake hits the spot like no other. It's like the throwback to the grocery store cake with balloons on it.

Megan Taylor said...

I'll never forget that Strawberry Cake from last year. I dream about it still....xo

Alex said...

This cake tastes just as good as it looks but for my birthday I want to make myself a dozen Organic and Chic Goldies! http://www.bonappetempt.com/2009/10/organic-and-chics-goldies-or-shiniest.html

Stephanie said...

I think it would be quite the challenge to dress up a vanilla-on-vanilla cake and I must say I'm not surprised you've met it so successfully.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Jessica said...

What a beautiful cake. I've always wanted to make a simple, beautiful cake like this but always assumed it wouldn't turn out. You make it look easy! Oh, and Happy Birthday Matt! :-)

Mary Anne said...

I agree. That plate of practice squiggles was just plain mean to us. You're mean, Amelia, you and your excess icing that we can't eat!

Mary Anne said...

Amelierz, you are the most beautiful cake maker! You decorate with sheer aplomb! I love your cakes so much! Last time you posted a cake I rushed out and made it. (The dulce de leche gem! YUMM!) Might have to do that again!

Amelia Morris said...

Thanks, friends!! I just had another slice!! (Another thing about Matt is that he never wants a birthday party so we end up eating whole cakes a lot! geeez. sounds gross when you type it out like that.)

@Mary Anne: Imma send a whole fish cake to Kara, so if you want in on one vanilla one, just let me know, OK??

Allison said...

This cake is so cute and simple. I love the light blue and white frosting with the pale yellow vanilla cake interior! Great pictures!

fercho - juegos said...

se ve taan delicioso que estoy apunto de tragarme el monitor . . :)

Ms.Nožisková said...

the virtues of yellow cake & vanilla icing are not extolled enough!

happy birthday matt!
x

Rachel said...

happy birthday! my birthday is on Tues. any chance you deliver to Goleta?? I love vanilla + vanilla!

Talley said...

I'm with Matt, there is something just so deliciously delicious and celebratory about a yellow cake with vanilla frosting. It use to be my favorite of all cakes, especially when I was little and my mom would spread raspberry jam between the layers, but recently I've felt the peer pressure mounting around chocolate cakes with fancy fillings and flavored cakes with fussy icings. If my husband could bake I would request that he makes this cake for my next birthday (the big 3-0 eeek! I will most definitely need to eat a whole cake this year).

Anne Zimmerman said...

I love vanilla/vanilla. Simple but delicious and oh-so nostalgic. I want you to make my next birthday cake!

Amelia Morris said...

Hi Anne! count me in!

Heather Taylor said...

Just catching up on the blog now and may i just say that this cake is STUNNING! I want a slice!

Anonymous said...

Just made cupcakes with this recipe. Delish.