CLASSIC BIRTHDAY CAKE

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Classic Birthday Cake image

A birthday cake needn't be elaborate. A few layers of tender yellow cake and creamy chocolate frosting will do the trick. In this version of the classic pairing, brown sugar and buttermilk provide a sophisticated flavor to the cake, and sour cream adds a slight tang to the chocolate frosting. It's worth noting that both the cake and frosting can be made ahead. Just make sure you bring the frosting to room temperature before assembly so that it spreads easily. One note: The buttermilk and brown sugar in the batter means that the cake might appear slightly darker on the outside after baking than your typical yellow cake, but don't worry. The inside will be tender and moist.

Provided by Alison Roman

Categories     cakes, dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Nonstick spray or butter for the pan
1 cup/227 grams (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1-inch pieces, plus more, if necessary, for greasing the pans
3 2/3 cups/471 grams all-purpose or cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups/360 milliliters buttermilk
3/4 cup/180 milliliters vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups/403 grams granulated sugar
1/2 cup/110 grams lightly packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (chocolate chips are fine)
8 ounces/227 grams sour cream, room temperature
2 sticks/227 grams (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups/185 grams confectioners' sugar
Generous pinch of kosher salt
Lots of sprinkles

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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1006, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 112 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 29 grams, Sodium 574 milligrams, Sugar 78 grams, TransFat 1 gram

josue molina
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This is the best birthday cake recipe I've ever tried.


Ahmad Virk7
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This cake is delicious and easy to make. I highly recommend it.


Victor Seun
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I love this cake! It's my go-to recipe for birthday cakes.


MGAK 44
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This cake is perfect for any occasion.


Akampurira Jeninah
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I've made this cake several times and it's always a hit.


Karma Akabane
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This cake was a big hit at my daughter's birthday party. Everyone loved it.


Anathi Ximiya
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I'm not much of a baker, but this recipe was easy to follow and the cake turned out great.


Denzelle Hall
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This cake is amazing! It's so moist and flavorful.


Prince Rinae
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This cake is so easy to make and it always turns out perfect.


Md Joy Abran
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I've tried many birthday cake recipes, but this one is definitely my favorite.


Gatcha Rose
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This cake is delicious! I love the way the vanilla and chocolate flavors blend together.


Inunnguaq Olsen
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I made this cake for my son's birthday party and it was a huge success.


Harper Perkins
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This is the best birthday cake recipe I've ever tried. It's so easy to make and it always turns out perfectly.


Sarah Odeleye
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This cake is so moist and flavorful. I love the cream cheese frosting.


Kamran Ashraf
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I've made this cake several times now and it's always a crowd-pleaser.


Nehan ahmed
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My friends loved this cake! It was light and fluffy, and the frosting was creamy and rich.


Dakota Eisner
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This was a great recipe. The cake was so easy to make and it turned out perfectly.


Ganesh Waiba
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This birthday cake was a hit at my party! It was moist and flavorful, and the frosting was the perfect amount of sweetness.