This yellow cake recipe whips up fast and turns out moist, fluffy, and delicious! Store the dry ingredients in a jar for homemade yellow cake mix that’s just as easy as a box but much better!
Have you ever found a recipe that called for “just 5 ingredients,” but one of those ingredients was a box of cake mix? There are many great recipes out there (like this Blueberry Cobbler) that start with a box of yellow cake mix.
However, if you read the ingredients on the side of the boxed cake, you’ll see that there are 26 ingredients in a box of store-bought yellow cake… and 4 of the top 5 ingredients to avoid in food are included in that list!
There’s got to be a better way…and with this homemade box yellow cake recipe, there is!
THE BEST YELLOW CAKE RECIPE
In my pre-real food days, I’ve had classic yellow cake mixes from Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines. This homemade super moist yellow cake recipe beats out the box mix every time!
- Better ingredients. The best recipe for yellow cake is free from hydrogenated oils and healthier than store-bought!
- Easy to make. I promise, baking a cake from scratch is just as easy as using a box mix!
- Can be made gluten-free! With the price of a gluten-free cake mix, this yellow cake recipe will save you money and still taste amazing!
- Perfect for celebrations! Topped with chocolate buttercream frosting, it’s the perfect birthday cake! (This Peanut Butter Frosting is excellent too!)
YELLOW CAKE MIX RECIPES INGREDIENTS
Homemade yellow cake mix calls for just 4 simple ingredients!
HOW TO MAKE YELLOW CAKE MIX
Step 1. Measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Step 2. Layer flour mixture in a mason jar to store for later or add to a large bowl for making cake now.
As long as the jar is properly stored and tightly sealed, it should last up to 12 months at room temperature. That makes homemade yellow cake mix perfect for a bulk prep day!
TURN YELLOW CAKE MIX INTO A GIFT
Layer the yellow mix cake recipe into a mason jar. Wrap the lid with a pretty ribbon or a scrap of fabric. Be sure to include the wet ingredients and directions for making the cake on a card or label.
YELLOW CAKE RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Here’s how to bake a cake from scratch using your cake mix. You’ll need these ingredients:
- 1 Batch of Homemade Yellow Cake Mix
- Unsalted Butter. Use room temperature butter, not melted.
- Coconut Oil. Soft coconut oil will mix best. This helps keep the cake moist longer. You can substitute additional butter instead if you know you’ll be eating the cake within a day or two or try extra light olive oil.
- Milk. Regular dairy milk or non-dairy milk like almond milk works.
- Vanilla Extract. Here’s how to make it homemade.
- Eggs. Use whole large eggs for this yellow cake recipe for the best color and rise.
HOW TO MAKE YELLOW CAKE RECIPE FROM SCRATCH
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment in the large bowl, beat the softened butter and coconut oil on medium for 2 minutes (or mix by hand).
Step 2. Add the dry ingredients (homemade yellow cake mix) and mix on low until it resembles coarse bread crumbs.
Step 3. Add the remaining ingredients – milk, vanilla, and eggs – and mix on low until all the cake batter ingredients are incorporated well, for about 30 seconds.
Step 4. Butter and flour your cake pan(s) and bake at 350F. Use the following bake times:
The cake is baked when a toothpick or butter knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before adding vanilla or chocolate frosting (or your favorite cake topping). Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is delicious!
Cover the frosted cake with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and store it for up to 3 days. The cake will start to dry out the longer it sits.
YELLOW CUPCAKES
Follow the instructions for the cake recipe using yellow cake mix. Pour batter into a lined 12-cup cupcake tin. (I like using these silicone baking cups.) Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350F until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before frosting.
EASY RECIPES USING YELLOW CAKE MIX
Obviously, you can use this homemade mix to make a cake from scratch for a birthday or another celebration. You can also use it in these recipes using yellow cake mix:
CAN REAL FOODIES EAT BOXED CAKE MIX?
You can when it’s this delicious yellow cake recipe! When you’re including a treat like yellow cake in your day, keep these tips in mind:
- Accurately track what you’re eating. That means figuring out the nutrition information for the cake AND knowing that the portion size you’re writing down is actually the portion you ate.
- Licks, bites, and tastes count! As you’re assembling this yummy yellow cake recipe, be mindful of licking the frosting off the spoon or tasting a bit of cake after leveling the layers.
- Keep your goals on track for the day as a whole. Include plenty of produce and lean protein and adjust your meals so that your macros for the whole day make sense.
- Don’t fret over one snack! Consistency is key to hitting your nutrition goals, and one snack is not going to change that. What you do consistently day after day is what matters.
BUTTER CAKE FAQS
What flavor is yellow cake mix?
Yellow cake refers to the flavor of vanilla custard (this is the classic French way of making ice cream from cream and egg yolks). This flavor mimics the custard taste by including the yolks. It is sweet and buttery without being heavy.
What is the difference between a white cake mix and a yellow cake mix? What about butter cakes?
The difference between the white mix and the yellow mix is in the wet ingredients: eggs. White cakes use only egg whites. However, yellow cakes use the yolk, which gives them that custard flavor and color. Butter cake uses whole eggs and plenty of butter. This is technically a butter cake, but I call it a yellow cake recipe because it’s similar to that boxed mix at the store.
What can I add to the yellow cake mix?
How can I make a gluten-free yellow cake?
You can make a gluten-free yellow cake by using a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix in this recipe. I like Bob’s Red Mill.
MORE RECIPES FOR CAKE FROM SCRATCH
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Watch How to Make Homemade Yellow Cake
Yellow Cake Mix
This yellow cake recipe whips up fast and turns out moist, fluffy, and delicious! Store the dry ingredients in a jar for homemade yellow cake mix that’s just as easy as a box but much better!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes the equivalent of one 18.25 oz box of yellow cake mix
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
For Cake Mix:
- Measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Layer in a mason jar to store for later or add to a large bowl for making cake now.
For Cake:
- In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment in the large bowl, beat the butter and coconut oil on medium for 2 minutes.
- Add the dry ingredients (homemade yellow cake mix) and mix on low until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low until all the ingredients are incorporated well, about 30 seconds.
- Butter and flour your cake pan(s) and bake at 350F. Use the following bake time:
Notes
Note: The cake is done when a toothpick or butter knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before adding vanilla or chocolate frosting (or your favorite cake topping).
The nutrition facts are based on the cake mix recipe.
