Curious about what sets a yellow cake apart from a white one? The secret lies in the ingredients. A yellow cake includes egg yolks, giving it a warm, golden color and a buttery flavor, resembling a sunny day. On the other hand, a white cake uses just egg whites, resulting in a lighter, fluffier texture, much like a snowy afternoon. Home bakers take note; yellow cakes pair wonderfully with rich, creamy frostings, while white cakes shine at weddings and fancy parties. Think of it as creating either a sunshine smile or a cloud-like treat. With this knowledge, grab those ingredients and bake with confidence!
This question has been asked by many people, but few of them know that there is a big difference between these two types of cakes.
If you love baking, you have probably heard of both of them, but did you know what they were made of?
If not, here we go—read on to learn more about these two cakes.
- White cake is made with all-purpose flour, eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, leavening agents, and milk.
- Yellow cake contains eggs, oil, sugar, and corn syrup.
Why are yellow and white cakes so popular?
Cakes are very much loved across the globe for their delicious flavors and unique textures.
They come in various shapes and sizes, and each one has its own history and tradition associated with it.
One such cake is yellow and white cake, which is often referred to as ‘frosted cake’ because of its characteristic appearance.
The origins of this type of cake may be traced back to the 18th century when yellow cake was first introduced to Europe via England, where it later evolved into lemon cake (also known as orange cake).
In America, however, the popularity of yellow cake was much higher than other kinds of cakes.
This is mainly due to the fact that Americans prefer sweet desserts over savory ones.
Yellow cake is now commonly found at parties and other social gatherings.
What are the differences between yellow and white cakes?
There is no direct difference between yellow and white cake except that they look different from each other.
However, there are several notable differences in the way they are made.
Here are the main points to keep in mind while choosing your next cake recipe:
First of all, white cakes contain only egg whites and yolks, whereas yellow cakes typically use whole eggs.
Second, white cakes tend to be denser than yellow cakes because the latter uses less butter, making it lighter and fluffier.
Third, white cakes are often baked longer than yellow cakes do.
For example, if you bake a white cake for 50 minutes, it will likely turn brown at the edges before the center is done.
Fourth, white cakes are usually soaked in water before being put in the oven.
This makes them moist and tender, whereas yellow cakes are baked dry to give them a crunchy texture.
Finally, white cakes are generally cut into smaller pieces than yellow cakes.
What are the most popular yellow and white cake recipes?
We’ll list down the top five best yellow/white cake recipes below.
1. Yellow Cake
Ingredients: 4 large eggs, 2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and ½ a teaspoon of salt.
You also need 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 3 cups of all purpose flour.
2. Orange Chocolate Cake
Ingredients: 1¼ cups of unsalted butter, ¾ cups of white sugar, 4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, 6 ounces of extra-finely chopped semisweet chocolate, 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt, 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice, and 5 large eggs.
3. Lemon Meringue Pie Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 cup of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
4. Apple Cake
Ingredients: 5 large apples, 1 cup of light brown sugar, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, ¼teaspoon of nutmeg, ½cup of raisins, ½teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of all purpose flour, ½cup of oat flour, and 3large egg whites.
5. Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
Ingredients: ½ cup of shortening, 1⅓ cups of granulated sugar, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1¾ cups of all purpose flour, ½ cup of semisweet chocolate chips, and 1 cup of buttermilk.
How do yellow and white cakes differ in taste?
As mentioned above, white cakes tend to be dense and heavy as compared to yellow cakes.
The former is therefore preferred by those looking for a hearty dessert.
On the other hand, yellow cakes are often preferred by those seeking something sweet and light.
What are the nutritional differences between yellow and white cakes?
While there is no major difference between yellow and white cakes, there are certain small differences in terms of nutrition.
First of all, white cakes are usually made with less fat than yellow cakes.
Additionally, there is a lower amount of cholesterol present in white cakes as compared to yellow cakes.
Both of these factors are considered to be healthy.
What are the differences in the ingredients used to make yellow and white cakes?
As stated earlier, white cakes are usually made using only egg whites and yolks, whereas yellow cakes tend to use whole eggs along with other essential ingredients like oils, sugars, etc.
How do bakers make yellow and white cakes?
Bakers use specific methods when making either kind of cake.
We will discuss these methods in detail below:
What special techniques are used to decorate yellow and white cakes?
Decorating a cake is an important step, especially for wedding cakes.
It gives it an elegant look and adds to its overall charm.
While yellow and white cakes are quite similar in terms of decorations, they do differ slightly in how they look.
For instance, white cakes are frequently decorated with simple sprinkles, and they tend to be round in shape unlike the tall domes in yellow cakes.
Additionally, white cakes are frosted with a mixture of powdered sugar mixed with milk.
On the other hand, yellow cakes are frosted with mixtures of powdered sugar and melted chocolate.
What are some common myths about yellow and white cakes?
There are several myths regarding yellow and white cakes.
Some of these include:
Myth #1: White cakes are healthier than yellow cakes.
Truth: Although white cakes have fewer calories, they are still high in
fats.
Also, they are often made using refined flour instead of all-purpose
flour.
Therefore, eating too many white cakes can lead to weight gain and
heart problems.
Myth #2: White cakes are more expensive than yellow cakes.
Truth: Although yellow cakes cost more than white cakes, the latter
are actually cheaper to make as they don’t require any fancy
equipment to prepare them.
Plus, you don’t have to spend time separating the egg whites and
yolks to make a white cake, which takes a lot of effort.
Myth #3: White cakes take a long time to cook.
Truth: As per our earlier point, white cakes are baked for longer
periods of time than yellow cakes do.
So, if you want something quick, consider getting a yellow cake.
Myth #4: Yellow cakes are tastier than white cakes.
Truth: Contrary to what a lot of people believe, yellow cakes aren’t
always sweeter than white cakes.
In fact, white cakes are often preferred by those looking for a rich,
creamy treat.
Warm Butter Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 3 cups purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lemon zest and juice, and mix until well combined.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Mix just until combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes clean.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Video
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