Large Mixing Bowls: Perfect for combining dry and wet ingredients.
6-inch Round Cake Pans (3): Crucial for baking cake layers with consistent shape.
Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients thoroughly.
Spatula: Needed for scraping bowl edges and spreading frosting.
Wire Rack: Allows cake layers to cool completely and evenly.
Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by testing center.
Small Bowls: Useful for melting butter and chocolate separately.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.
How to Prepare Ina Garten Yellow Cake Batter
Butter Bliss Chocolate Layer Cake
Prep Paradise Gather your baking tools and set up your kitchen workspace with everything you'll need for this delightful cake adventure.
Temperature Harmony Warm up your oven to a cozy 350°F and lovingly prepare your cake pans with a gentle butter and flour embrace.
Dry Magic Blend your flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt into a whisper-light mixture that promises cake perfection.
Butter Symphony Whip room temperature butter and sugar into a fluffy cloud of sweetness, creating a base that's light as air.
Liquid Love Add vegetable oil, vanilla, and eggs one by one, blending each ingredient with care and attention.
Gentle Mixing Softly fold in flour and buttermilk, creating a silky batter that promises a tender cake crumb.
Baking Moment Slide your cake pans into the warm oven and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, filling your kitchen with heavenly aromas.
Cooling Grace Let the cake layers rest and cool completely, becoming the perfect canvas for your chocolate dreams.
Chocolate Dream Craft a luxurious buttercream by blending melted chocolate, butter, and a whisper of milk into a smooth, decadent frosting.
Cake Assembly Create a towering masterpiece by layering cake and frosting, swirling the chocolate buttercream with artistic flair.
Frosting Tips and Variations for Ina Garten Yellow Cake
Expert Cake Tips & Twists
Let all ingredients reach room temperature for the smoothest, most even cake batter possible.
Sift dry ingredients to eliminate lumps and ensure a light, tender cake texture that melts in your mouth.
Swap buttermilk with plain yogurt or milk mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar for similar moisture and tang.
Experiment with add-ins like orange zest, almond extract, or a splash of bourbon to elevate the cake's flavor profile.
Customize the frosting by adding espresso powder for depth, or sprinkle crushed nuts or chocolate shavings on top for extra crunch.
Serving Suggestions for Ina Garten Yellow Cake
Serve with Chocolate Delight: Pair each slice with a scoop of rich vanilla or chocolate ice cream to complement the cake's decadent chocolate buttercream.
Create Elegant Presentation: Dust the top lightly with cocoa powder or garnish with chocolate shavings for a sophisticated, professional touch that enhances the cake's visual appeal.
Add Festive Flair: Sprinkle edible gold dust or colorful sprinkles around the base of the cake for a celebratory look perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or special gatherings.
Beverage Pairing Perfection: Enjoy alongside a hot cup of coffee, espresso, or a cold glass of milk to balance the rich chocolate and buttery cake flavors.
How to Store Ina Garten Yellow Cake After Baking
Store Cake Layers Smartly: Wrap each cooled cake layer individually in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 2 months to maintain moisture and freshness.
Buttercream Preservation Tactics: Transfer leftover frosting to a sealed container and refrigerate for 5-7 days. Before reusing, let it soften at room temperature and re-whip for smooth consistency.
Assembled Cake Care Strategy: Keep the frosted cake covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Remove 30 minutes before serving to allow it to reach room temperature and enhance flavor profile.
Slice and Save Method: Cut remaining cake into individual portions, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 1 month for quick dessert options that taste freshly baked when thawed.
Classic yellow cake embodies Ina Garten’s signature comfort baking style. Rich buttermilk layers provide perfect sweetness for home bakers seeking delightful dessert memories.
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound (450g) powdered sugar
1 ¼ cups (250g) granulated sugar
2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour
1 ¼ cups unsalted butter (1 cup room temperature, ¼ cup melted)
1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 egg yolks
½ cup milk, divided
½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips or chopped
¼ cup (28g) cornstarch
¼ cup (60 milliliters) vegetable oil
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 tsps baking powder
1 tbsp (15 milliliters) vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste if salt-sensitive)
Instructions
Preparation: Grease and flour three 6-inch round cake pans. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring no lumps remain.
Butter Mixture: Cream butter and sugar using a mixer until pale and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Blend in vegetable oil and vanilla extract.
Egg Integration: Add eggs and egg yolks individually, mixing thoroughly and scraping bowl sides to maintain consistent texture.
Batter Composition: Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to the batter, mixing on low speed until just combined to prevent over-mixing.
Baking Process: Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, smoothing tops with a spatula. Bake for 28-32 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean.
Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 5-7 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Chocolate Buttercream Preparation: Melt butter and semisweet chocolate with milk until smooth. Beat remaining butter until creamy, then integrate melted butter, cocoa powder, and gradually add powdered sugar.
Frosting Refinement: Pour in cooled chocolate mixture and additional milk, mixing until achieving a silky, spreadable consistency.
Cake Assembly: Place first cake layer on a serving plate, spread chocolate buttercream between layers. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, creating rustic swirls and peaks using a spatula or spoon.
Notes
Prevent Overmixing: Stop mixing cake batter as soon as ingredients are just combined to maintain a tender, light texture and avoid dense, tough layers.
Temperature Matters: Ensure all ingredients like eggs, butter, and buttermilk are at room temperature for smoother incorporation and better cake volume.
Pan Preparation Technique: Grease cake pans thoroughly and dust with flour to guarantee easy cake release without sticking or breaking.
Toothpick Testing: Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center – it should come out clean with minimal crumbs, indicating perfectly baked layers.
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.
Isabella Rodriguez
Co-Founder & Content Creator
Expertise
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.