Of all the years, 2020 has everyone ready to kick off the Holiday season earlier than ever. It almost feels like the last chance we have at a little magic and I am here for it. So much that as soon as I felt like I made it out of the newborn haze of maternity leave (and realized I could wear Bubs around the kitchen in my Solly Wrap), I got inspired to start testing all the Holiday cake recipes I’d been dying to try since last Christmas. First on the list: this tasty and festive Eggnog Cake! 

Eggnog is a pretty crazy thing to drink when you think about it – basically cream, lots of sugar, spices, and raw eggs (and alcohol, if you’re into the spiked version). I can’t help but enjoy the heck out of it though, which is why this Eggnog Cake recipe is the first one on my list of must-writes for this Holiday season. As soon as I saw it at my local grocery store, I snatched up a carton and got right to work. It took me a few tries to nail down the right texture because Eggnog is so thick and already contains sugar and eggs, but I am so happy with the final results! There’s eggnog in the cake, buttercream, and even infused in the ganache, so you get a big hit of it with every bite. 

Let’s talk about these cake layers. While it was easy to make them taste like eggnog by adding it in as the liquid, it was not easy to get the right texture. My first few tries ended up really dense, but by using cake flour, upping the baking powder, and adding in a little sour cream, this Eggnog Cake is nice and moist, ultra-flavorful, and has a soft crumb. Between the addition of eggnog, extra nutmeg, and cinnamon, the flavor is surprisingly spot-on in the cake layers alone. To make them super moist, the sour cream is a must. You can sub in some plain greek yogurt as a straight substitute for the sour cream, but just know that if you omit it, this cake will be a little on the dry side. Trust me on this one!

To really bump up the flavor, I filled and frosted these tasty cake layers with Eggnog Buttercream, which uses eggnog as the binding liquid and is spiced with additional nutmeg and cinnamon. I decided to give the buttercream finish a bit of texture by using a decorative comb from this Wilton Icing Comb Set and I love the way it turned out! Such an easy way to add intrigue without stressing over the cake decorating process. You basically frost your cake with a semi-thick layer of frosting and then drag the cake comb over the finish before it’s set. The comb does all the work for you! 

After creating that decorative buttercream finish, I dripped the cake with Eggnog White Chocolate Ganache – basically my white chocolate ganache recipe but with eggnog as the liquid! Getting the ratio right for this ganache took a couple tries but it ended up being the perfect consistency as a 4:1 ratio and it has the perfect hint of eggnog to keep with this flavor palette. Once the ganache drip was set (here are some instructions on how to drip a cake if you need them) I added some buttercream swirls around the top edge of the cake with Wilton Tip 1M and sprinkled some additional nutmeg over everything. 

Keep in mind that if you want to create a boozier version of this Eggnog Cake, you totally can! I didn’t simply because I don’t drink, but after researching eggnog cake recipes it appears that you can spike your eggnog before using an equal amount as a substitute in this recipe. Whatever you decide, you’ll end up with a tasty Eggnog Cake that will make this Holiday season all the merrier. Enjoy!

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Festive Eggnog Layer Cake

Layers of eggnog-infused cake spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, paired with eggnog buttercream and dripped eggnog ganache for a totally festive Holiday cake!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 15 slices

Ingredients

Eggnog Layer Cake

• 2 3/4 Cups (290g) cake flour, sifted before measuring
• 2 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 Cups (360g) white granulated sugar
• 3 whole eggs, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 Cup (56g) sour cream, room temperature
• 1 1/2 Cups (355ml) eggnog, room temperature

Eggnog Buttercream

• 2 Cups (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 7 Cups (840g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 Cup eggnog, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste

Eggnog Ganache

• 1 Cup (180g) white chocolate chips, chopped into bits
• 1/4 Cup eggnog
• 1/2 tsp AmeriColor Bright White color gel, optional

Instructions

Make the Eggnog Layer Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare three 6-inch or two 9-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with a cooking spray (Baker's Joy is my favorite) and a wax paper circle fitted to the bottom of the pan. Alternatively, you can grease and lightly flour the pans. 
• Sift the cake flour and then measure by spooning and leveling it in your measuring cup. Add the cake flour, baking powder, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
• In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), cream the butter for on high for two minutes until it's creamy. Add in sugar and continue to mix on high for another two minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once more. 
• With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the eggnog slowly and mix until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few stirs to make sure there are no lumps (without over-mixing). The batter will be slightly thick, but pourable. 
• Pour batter evenly into prepared cake pans (no more than 2/3 of the way full) and bake for 35-40 minutes. They're done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for five minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack for an additional few hours of cooling. Make sure they're entirely room temperature before applying any frosting. 

Make the Eggnog Buttercream

• With a hand mixer or paddle attachment on your stand mixer, cream the butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light (almost white) in color. About 7 minutes.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon. With the mixer on low, add the spiced powdered sugar mixture a few cups at a time, scraping down after each addition and making sure each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next one. 
• Add vanilla, eggnog, and salt and mix on low for another minute until fully incorporated. 

Make the Eggnog Ganache

• Chop the white chocolate chips into smaller bits with a knife or food processor, then add them into a metal or glass bowl and set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the eggnog until it starts to simmer, stirring constantly to ensure it doesn't burn in the process. When you see that it’s just starting to boil, pour it over the white chocolate and let sit for about five seconds. 
• Whisk it together until it’s uniform in consistency and there are no bits of chocolate left on your whisk. Whiten or color the ganache with the food color gel (optional), then cool ganache at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes, or until the ganache itself is about room temperature.

Assembly

• Once they've cooled completely, fill and frost the Eggnog Cake layers with the Eggnog Buttercream before dripping the cake with Eggnog Ganache. To create the look pictured, drag a cake comb over the sides of the buttercream right after frosting them (I used this one by Wilton), then refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes to chill the buttercream before dripping with Eggnog Ganache. Here are some tips for creating the perfect ganache drip cake. Finish the design by piping swirls of Eggnog Buttercream around the top edge of the cake with Wilton Tip 1M, then sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips:

1. The Eggnog Cake layers can be made ahead and stored, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to two days. Alternatively, you can store the wrapped cake layers in the freezer for up to 2 months before thawing and frosting.
2. The Eggnog Buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip in your stand mixer to bring back to smooth buttercream consistency. 
3. The Eggnog Ganache can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, gently reheat it in the microwave in 5-10 second intervals until it’s ideal drip consistency. 

To Make As Cupcakes: fill cupcake tins no more than 2/3 of the way full and bake at 350ºF for 15-17 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Yields about 36-40 cupcakes. 

Did you make this recipe? I want to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below or tag me on Instagram. I love to see what you’re caking!

The post Festive Eggnog Cake Recipe appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

When you think of the most classic birthday cake ever, what comes to mind? For me, it’s always been yellow cake with chocolate frosting. All throughout my childhood, my momma used to mix up a box yellow cake, bake it in a casserole dish, smear canned chocolate frosting on top, and write Happy Birthday on it with those little tubes of icing colors you can still find at the grocery store to this day. I loved those birthday cakes. And I’m really surprised that after all my years of caking, it’s taken me this long to nail down the perfect yellow cake recipe. Well, wait no more! 

There are a couple reasons why I decided to focus my energy on developing this fluffy yellow cake this past week. The first was I got a DM on Instagram requesting it, which made me realize I’ve never actually even tasted a from-scratch yellow cake. So I went on a wild Google spree figuring out what makes it different than a vanilla cake, what makes it yellow, etc (all things I will get to in a minute). The second was I know that most of the world is stranded at home right now due to this crazy pandemic, still celebrating birthdays in quarantine. I wanted to provide an easy, amazingly tasty birthday cake to help you guys celebrate! 

So back to the recipe. This yellow cake is the definition of light and fluffy – It is SO incredibly soft! I kept poking it over and over in disbelief because I swear it’s as close to box mix (but from scratch) as you’re gonna get. I tried something new with this one and basically took my favorite vanilla cake recipe, added an extra egg yolk, and substituted some of the butter with vegetable oil. The results were perfect: the softest texture ever, ultra moist, rich vanilla flavor, and pairs perfectly with my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe. In other words, birthday cake heaven!

So what makes it a yellow cake, exactly? In all my Googling I learned that yellow cakes are basically vanilla cakes made with whole eggs, whereas white cakes are vanilla cakes made with egg whites. The yolk is where the yellow color comes from, but honestly, if you want it as yellow as a box cake mix you’ll have to add a drop or two of yellow food coloring (which is definitely in the ingredients section on a box yellow cake). The all-natural version just isn’t as saturated, but I can promise you it tastes just as classic. 

I filled and frosted this fluffy yellow cake with my decadent chocolate buttercream recipe and ran a Wilton Icing Comb over it to get the lined finish. Then, I used Wilton Tip 1M to pipe a rope border around the top edge and added some Sprinkle Pop Unicorn Rainbow Jimmies to give it a pop of color. You can decorate it any way you want, so feel free to go simple, over-the-top, or anywhere in between. 

A great thing about this recipe is that it’s extremely versatile. You bake it in a casserole dish if you don’t have round cake pans, bake cupcakes with it, or half the recipe to make a mini version. If you don’t have cake flour on hand, you can make a DIY version using all-purpose flour with this homemade cake flour recipe.  

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Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

A soft and fluffy from-scratch yellow cake that's packed with vanilla flavor and ultra-nostalgic. Filled and frosted with decadent chocolate buttercream for the most classic birthday cake ever.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Yellow Cake

• 2 1/2 Cups (265g) cake flour, sifted before measuring*
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 Cup (60ml) vegetable oil
• 1 2/3 Cup (340g) white granulated sugar
• 3 whole eggs + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 1/3 Cup (75g) sour cream, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 Cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature

Chocolate Buttercream

• 2 Cups (452g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 7 Cups (840g) powdered sugar
• 1 Cup (84g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 Cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature
• 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Make the Yellow Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare three 6-inch cake pans or two 9-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with a cooking spray (Baker's Joy is my favorite) and a wax paper circle fitted to the bottom of the pan. Alternatively, you can grease and lightly flour the pans. 
• Sift the cake flour and then measure by spooning and leveling it in your measuring cup. Add the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
• In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), cream the butter for on high for two minutes until it's light and fluffy. Add vegetable oil and sugar, then continue to mix on med-high for another two minutes. Add the whole eggs and egg yolk one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high, scraping down the bowl and paddle once more. 
• With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the milk slowly and mix until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few stirs to make sure there are no lumps (without over-mixing). The batter will be slightly thick, but pourable.
• Pour batter evenly into prepared cake pans (no more than 2/3 of the way full) and bake for 30-35 minutes. They're done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for five minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack for an additional few hours of cooling. Make sure they're entirely room temperature before applying any frosting. 

Make the Chocolate Buttercream

• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, about four minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and turn the mixer to low, then add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt, and vanilla extract. Increase the speed to medium and beat for two full minutes.

Assembly

• Once the cakes have cooled, torte them before filling and frosting with chocolate buttercream. To create the design pictured, use an icing scraper to smooth the sides and make them straight, then gently drag a cake comb through the buttercream to create lined texture. Use Wilton Tip 1M to create a rope border around the top edge by piping overlapping rosettes. Add rainbow sprinkles to finish the look!

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: To make your own cake flour, spoon and level one cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 Tbsp. Add 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. Repeat per the amount of cake flour you need, then sift the flour and cornstarch mixture 4 times (don’t skip that step!). After sifting, spoon and level to re-measure the amount of cake flour you need. 

Make Ahead Tips:

1. The yellow cake layers can be baked, cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and left out at room temperature up to two days ahead of decorating. Unfrosted cake layers can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in the freezer for up to two months before thawing and frosting. 
2. The chocolate buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and rewhip with your stand mixer to bring back to frosting consistency. 

To Make as a Sheet Cake: fill a sheet pan or casserole dish with the yellow cake batter no more than 1/2 full and bake at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

To Make as Cupcakes: fill cupcake tins no more than 2/3 full and bake at 350ºF for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

Did you make this cake recipe? I wanna know what you think! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you’re caking! Stay safe and healthy out there, lovelies.

The post The Fluffiest Yellow Cake Recipe + Chocolate Frosting appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.