Our classic birthday cake recipe is made with fluffy, moist yellow cake and the best homemade chocolate icing. It’s the perfect cake for a birthday celebration!
There is nothing sweeter than a homemade birthday cake to celebrate someone special. A classic birthday cake is a yellow cake with chocolate icing and we’re sharing the best recipe for that below.
Before we get started here’s a little history behind the celebration and the dessert!
History of Birthday Cakes
Celebrating your birthday is nothing new. The first birthday cake dates back to Roman times. They would celebrate special occasions with cake. In the 15th century, the bakeries in Germany began making one-layer cakes for weddings and birthday celebrations.
As time went on, the form of cake changed and layers were added as well as icing and decorations. These cakes didn’t even become available to the lower class until the industrial revolution.
Today, we have some of the same rituals We celebrate every year of our life. And on your birthday, most of us get a gift, and of course — birthday cake!
But why do we eat birthday cake? What is the best birthday cake recipe and how do you decorate a birthday cake? Continue reading to answer these questions and more!
When Did Birthday Cake Become a Tradition?
Is stuffing your face with sweet birthday cake your favorite part of your birthday? You can thank the Germans for this tradition! The first birthday cake was made in Germany during the Middle Ages.
During this time, Kinderfest was a major celebration in Germany. This was a celebration for kids’ birthdays and would always include a cake.
However, the cake wasn’t the irresistible and frosting-topped cake we know today. The original birthday cake was a coarse cake, almost like bread. Eventually, kids started eating Geburtstagorten, a sweet cake closer to the birthday cake we consume today.
This tradition grew globally and in the 17th century, the birthday cake was adorned with icing and even more details.
How do you make a birthday cake from scratch?
Ingredients
Gather all of your ingredients, measure and get them ready for baking.
- Flour
- Sugar
- Butter
- Eggs
- Sour Cream
- Buttermilk
- Salt
- Baking powder, soda, cornstarch and salt
- Vanilla Extract
Butter and eggs are best room temperature.
Add the baking powder, soda, salt and cornstarch in a bowl with the flour. Always check the dates on these items because they can go bad quickly.
Use good quality vanilla extract and butter as well as full fat buttermilk.
Our preferred choice for flour is King Arthur Organic All-Purpose Flour.
Directions
Grease two 8 inch round cake pans. To make sure the came comes out easily, cut a round piece of parchment paper and grease it to the bottom of the cake pan.
In an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until whipped. Add in the eggs one at a time and continue to beat on medium.
Turn the mixer to low and add in sour cream and vanilla extract.
Alternate the flour mixture with the buttermilk while the mixer is on low.
Using a spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the mixer to incorporate all of the ingredients.
Divide and pour the batter into both pans evenly.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
Let the cakes cool and then remove them from the pan.
Cut off the top part of the cake that has risen in the center to give yourself a flat surface to stack them.
While the cakes are cooling, whip up a batch of our chocolate buttercream frosting. It’s the BEST!
Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or marble platter and add a giant dollop of buttercream over the top.
Spread it out evenly and then add the second layer of cake over the top.
Add another dollop of chocolate frosting over the top and spread out evenly.
Save about 1/4 cup frosting to do the star pattern around the edge.
Start frosting the sides of the cake until it’s all covered.
Wipe the bottom of the cake stand to remove any chocolate frosting around the edges.
Using a star tip and a piping bag, fill the bag with chocolate frosting and then pipe around the edge of the cake.
Add rainbow sprinkles over the cake!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Cake for a Birthday?
There are many amazing birthday cake flavors, but yellow cake with chocolate icing is the best birthday cake flavor. This cake has everything: it’s moist and sweet, perfect for chocolate lovers, and is actually very easy to make.
What is a yellow cake? Yellow cake batter is made with whole eggs and real butter, which gives the yellow cake its iconic color. Unlike vanilla cake, it has more of a custard flavor. It’s the best cake because it’s light and fluffy — and pairs perfectly with chocolate frosting!
How to Tell If Your Cake Is Done
Now that you’re baking your cake, how do you know when it’s done and ready to eat? Look for these signs:
- The cake pulls away at the sides of the pan
- It smells fragrant (yum!)
- The top turns golden brown
- The toothpick or knife test (stick a toothpick or knife in the cake and if there are still crumbs, it needs to bake for longer)
- Press on the cake and see if it springs back
Don’t forget to let your cake sit and cool down before frosting it!
How to Tell If Your Cake Is Done
Now that you’re baking your cake, how do you know when it’s done and ready to eat? Look for these signs:
- The cake pulls away at the sides of the pan
- It smells fragrant (yum!)
- The top turns golden brown
- The toothpick or knife test (stick a toothpick or knife in the cake and if there are still crumbs, it needs to bake for longer)
- Press on the cake and see if it springs back
Don’t forget to let your cake sit and cool down before frosting it!
How to Decorate a Birthday Cake
There are unlimited cake decorating opportunities for a birthday cake.
If you’re looking for something simple, choose a sweet “happy birthday” message with a swirl design. Sprinkles and candy are always perfect toppings and our favorite way to decorate a birthday cake.
How Do You Store a Birthday Cake?
You would expect guests to gobble up all of the cake! But what if you have leftovers? You’ll want to store your birthday cake properly to eat the next day.
As long as the cake is covered, you can store the cake at room temperature for up to five days. To prevent moisture loss, add more frosting to the sliced areas of the cake!
Sprinkles!
We believe a birthday cake REQUIRES sprinkles! Adding sprinkles to a cake creates color, texture and turns it into an instant birthday cake! Here are a few options.
- Muted Natural Colored Sprinkles (we used these for this cake)
- Natural Colored Sprinkles
- Fancy Sprinkles
- Rainbow Sprinkle Blend
- Pastel Candy Quins
More Birthday Cake Recipes You’ll Love!
Brown Sugar Cake with Creme Fraiche
Let us know if you make this yellow, classic birthday cake by leaving a comment and review below!
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Birthday Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter, room temp
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup buttermilk, full fat
Instructions
- Grease two 8 inch round cake pans. To make sure the came comes out easily, cut a round piece of parchment paper and grease it to the bottom of the cake pan.
- In an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until whipped. Add in the eggs one at a time and continue to beat on medium.
- Turn the mixer to low and add in sour cream and vanilla extract.
- Alternate the flour mixture with the buttermilk while the mixer is on low.
- Using a spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the mixer to incorporate all of the ingredients.
- Divide and pour the batter into both pans evenly.
- Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Let the cakes cool and then remove them from the pan.
- Cut off the top part of the cake that has risen in the center to give yourself a flat surface to stack them
- While the cakes are cooling, whip up a batch of our chocolate buttercream frosting.
- Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or marble platter and add a giant dollop of buttercream over the top.
- Spread it out evenly and then add the second layer of cake over the top.
- Add another dollop of chocolate frosting over the top and spread out evenly.
- Save about 1/4 cup frosting to do the star pattern around the edge.
- Start frosting the sides of the cake until it’s all covered.
- Wipe the bottom of the cake stand to remove any chocolate frosting around the edges.
- Using a star tip and a piping bag, fill the bag with chocolate frosting and then pipe around the edge of the cake.
- Add rainbow sprinkles over the cake!
Rachael Yerkes says
Such a yummy birthday cake! love how simple and delicious it is
Eden says
Thank you Rachael! Glad you loved it!
Lauren Kelly says
We LOVE this cake so much! I just wish there was a slice or two leftover!
Eden says
Thank you Lauren!!
Toni says
This is such a wonderful birthday cake! Amazing!