I’m calling it!
This is the best Yellow Cake I have ever made. Complete with sour cream chocolate frosting AND homemade funfetti crumbs. #drools
I’m talking soft vanilla cake that is light and fluffy, NOT one bit dry, with that all-important buttery vanilla flavour.
Then there’s that creamy chocolate frosting. But this is no ordinary frosting. This chocolate frosting is made my new favourite baking ingredient – sour cream. Hello! Oh and then there’s handfuls of funfetti crumbs – best cake topping EVER.
I have been on a very long quest to find a buttery vanilla cake that I truly love. And I think it comes down to two ingredients. Firstly, vanilla bean paste works wonders. It has a stronger flavour than vanilla extract with real vanilla beans which you can spot when you look closely at your cake.
Don’t get me wrong – you can use regular vanilla extract but I do think vanilla bean paste takes this cake to the next level. Then there’s my new favourite baking ingredient – sour cream! I often bake with buttermilk or even greek yogurt but sour cream makes this yellow cake something special.
And what’s better on yellow cake that lashings of chocolate frosting? You know I’m a big fan of chocolate frosting and this one is perfect because it is made with cocoa powder and (wait for it) sour cream! That’s right, there is sour cream both in the cake AND the frosting.
Finally, my favourite part is those crunchy, colourful funfetti crumbs. Don’t they just scream party? They are so easy to make and I can literally eat them by the handful. Crumbly crunchy vanilla cookie that includes plenty of funfetti pieces. Too Much Fun.
If you have a birthday coming up, this easy one layer Yellow Cake would be the perfect way to celebrate, don’t you think? Light and fluffy vanilla cake, topped with creamy chocolate sour cream frosting and crunchy funfetti crumbs. Yes please!
I hope you are having a good week. I have had a very busy week at work but today is Australia Day. Which means we can put our feet up and enjoy a lovely public holiday #grateful. So Happy Australia Day friends! I’m off to enjoy a breakfast with friends but I hope to get baking this afternoon. Enjoy this cake and stayed tuned because I have a special cookie recipe coming on Monday!

The Best Yellow Cake with Funfetti Crumbs
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Prep Time: 40 minutes
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Cook Time: 40 minutes
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Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
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Yield: Serves 10
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Category: Cake
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Cuisine: American
Description
The best Yellow Cake complete with sour cream chocolate frosting AND homemade funfetti cookie crumbs.
Ingredients
Yellow cake
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) plain flour
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) milk, room temperature
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) sour cream, room temperature
Chocolate sour cream frosting
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 435 grams (3 and 1/2 cups) icing or powdered sugar
- 40 grams (1/2 cup) cocoa powder
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) sour cream
Funfetti crumbs
- 105 grams (3/4 cup) plain flour
- 65 grans (1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon) caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornflour or corn starch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons funfetti sprinkles
- 60 grams (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160 C (320 F). Line and grease an 8 inch cake tin with baking or parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add the vanilla and beat again. Add the egg, beat again, then scrap down the sides. In a separate bowl, sift the plain flour and baking powder together.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter and half of the milk and slow mix together on a low speed. Add the rest of the flour and the milk and continue to mix until combined. Finally, add the sour cream and mix until smooth and creamy. Pour the cake batter into your prepared tin and bake in the oven for approximately 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before gently removing from the tin and leaving to cool completely on a wire rack.
- To make the frosting, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the sifted sugar, one cup at a time, continue to beat. Add the cocoa powder and the sour cream and beat until thick and creamy. Frost the top of your cake using a small spatula.
- Next make the funfetti crumbs. In a large mixing bowl, add your plain flour, sugar, cornflour and funfetti pieces. Whisk together. Melt your butter and add it to the mixture, along with the vanilla, stirring until it forms wet crumbs. Pour this mixture out onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and spread out into one layer. Bake for 10 minutes, then leave to cool completely. Decorate the top of your cake with the crumbs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice of cake
- Calories: 648
Keywords: Cake, Yellow, Vanilla, Sour Cream, Chocolate, Frosting, Dessert
I’d never made a yellow cake before and I loved it!
★★★★★
Oh I’m so glad to hear that Sarah! It’s def one of my faves 😊
The best!
★★★★★
This looks amaaazing! And I am loving the funfetti topping – though I feel like I’d have to add sprinkles into the cake too because there’s no such thing as too many sprinkles!
Yes! Great idea Kristy! 🙂
My birthday isn’t until August, but I already want this! Those funfetti crumbs are just fantastic! I love them.
Aww thanks Amanda! Let me know if you do get the chance to try it! 🙂
I love a good yellow cake, and have not baked one in such a long time! This cake looks fantastic!
Thanks so much Joanne! I’m rediscovering just how good vanilla cakes can be! 🙂
I love how at the bottom of the emails I get from you with your new posts, it shows two other posts with the heading, "You might also like…." I think that’s hilarious. Because how could I not like EVERYTHING on your blog? Oh my gosh! You’re just amazing, Jess!
You are so lovely! Thank YOU Melissa! And thank you for being on my email list!! 🙂