Yellow Cake vs Vanilla Cake: What's the Difference?
If you’re a cake fan (or you often make cakes for other people), you probably have your favorite flavors. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon, spice, almond, there are so many options. But whether you’re a seasoned home baker or—to this point—you’ve mostly relied on cake mixes and store-bought canned frosting, you’ve likely encountered “yellow” cake. Is it the same as vanilla? Or is it its own thing? Here, we’re settling the yellow cake vs vanilla cake debate, including everything you need to know about what these cakes are, what makes them similar and what sets them apart, the best filling and frosting flavors to pair with them, the kinds of occasions we think they work best for, and more. It’s your yellow cake vs vanilla cake primer and you’ll never again ask, “so what is yellow cake anyway?”
Want to learn how to decorate a cake with confidence? Try an ECBG cake class! We offer in-person classes at our Chicago bakery or virtual classes you can take at home.
Check out Erin’s favorite cake tools here. (Affiliate links)
What is Vanilla Cake?
Vanilla cake is, unsurprisingly, a cake that’s flavored with vanilla extract. It’s a light and fluffy classic, the perfect go-to cake for so many different flavor combinations and occasions. It usually has a soft and tender crumb and goes so well with buttercream of all kinds
What makes it so delicate? Egg whites. Often, vanilla cake recipes will call for separating your eggs and whipping the egg whites separately until they’re light and fluffy. It adds air to the cake, which gives the baked cake some lift. Because vanilla is such a classic, basic flavor, this cake pairs well with lots of different flavors, so the world is your oyster.
What is Yellow Cake?
Yellow cake is a lot like vanilla cake. It’s also often flavored with vanilla extract, but is richer and denser than vanilla cake. The bright yellow color comes from egg yolks because yellow cakes usually call for whole eggs, not just egg whites, like traditional vanilla cake does. There also may be extra butter or buttermilk in the cake. All of this adds to extra richness and flavor, making yellow cake super delicious.
Yellow cake is also often denser than vanilla cake, which makes it perfect for thick layers of frosting and stacking cake layers one on top of the other. This cake can hold up where more delicate cakes just can’t.
Yellow Cake vs Vanilla Cake: Flavor
As we already mentioned, both vanilla cake and yellow cake are usually primarily flavored with vanilla extract, which means that, technically, yellow cake is a type of vanilla cake, not its own, distinct thing. The biggest differences lie in the texture and richness of the cake. While yellow cake is super moist, rich, and butter, vanilla cake is lighter and more delicate.
Both are great options, but before you make your choice, let’s go into all of the details about both kinds of cake.
Yellow Cake vs Vanilla Cake
Now that you know what both yellow cake and vanilla cake are, let’s get into more of the details that they share—and what sets them apart. Understanding the nitty-gritty of these two foundational cakes will help you make a better choice when it’s time to bake.
What makes yellow cake and vanilla cake similar?
These two cakes do have a lot in common. Here’s what you need to know about what they share:
Vanilla: Both yellow cake and vanilla cake batter bakes into a vanilla-flavored cake, thanks to the addition of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
Butter: Both yellow cake and vanilla cake recipes generally start with creaming together butter and sugar to give the cake a fluffy texture.
They’re Versatile: Both yellow cake and vanilla cake is the perfect blank slate for tons of different kinds of frostings, fillings, and decorative styles. Whether you’re piping on buttercream, pouring on a ganache, or finishing off with fresh fruits, anything goes with these cakes.
Cake Mixing Method: Both yellow cake and vanilla cake rely on the creaming method to make the batter. First, cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla, then alternate between wet ingredients and dry ingredients until you have a finished batter.
What makes yellow cake and vanilla cake different?
Although yellow cake and vanilla cake have a lot of similarities, they also have some key differences. Here’s what you need to know:
Yellow Cake:
Eggs: Whole eggs—sometimes including extra egg yolks—which add richness and bright yellow color.
Color: Bright yellow (thanks to those egg yolks).
Texture: Dense, moist, and buttery.
Flavor: Rich and buttery with the flavor of vanilla.
Best Used For: Birthday parties, stacked layer cakes, or any cake with a heavy frosting.
Vanilla Cake:
Eggs: Egg whites—or primarily egg whites—for a light, fluffy texture.
Color: A very pale, almost white color instead of the yellow of yellow cake batter (the use of egg yolks makes a difference).
Texture: Light, fluffy, and airy with a delicate, soft crumb.
Flavor: Less buttery than yellow cake, with more vanilla-forward flavor.
Best Used For: Wedding cakes, cupcakes, and fancier, more elegant desserts.
The Best Frosting Pairings for Yellow Cake vs Vanilla Cake
Cake just isn’t cake without frosting. But not all frostings pair well with all types of cake. Here are some of our favorite frosting pairings with yellow cake and vanilla cake so that you can match like a pro.
Best Frostings for Yellow Cake
Rich and buttery, yellow cake pairs best with frostings that will complement those flavors. Think about these for a yellow cake:
Classic Chocolate Buttercream: There’s just something about yellow cake and chocolate frosting. The creamy, slightly bittersweet flavor of the chocolate buttercream is the perfect contrast to the buttery cake. A chocolate sour cream frosting is great with yellow cake.
Peanut Butter Buttercream: Lean into the buttery base with a peanut butter buttercream frosting. You’ll end up with a sweet-salty combo everyone will love.
Caramel Buttercream: This might be almost too rich for some, but the buttery flavor of the caramel and the buttery flavor of the yellow cake is a tough pairing not to like.
Chocolate Ganache: Chocolate and yellow cake are really an ideal flavor pairing. This ganache will be even richer and more indulgent than a standard chocolate buttercream, which means it’ll really pack a punch when added to the cake.
Best Frostings for Vanilla Cake
Light, airy, and more delicate than yellow cake, vanilla cake needs a frosting that’ll complement its characteristics, rather than overpower them:
Vanilla Buttercream: Double down on the vanilla flavor and pair your delicate cake with a sweet vanilla buttercream. It’s a classic for a reason.
Whipped Cream Frosting: Light, fluffy, and subtly sweet, it matches the delicate vanilla cake so well. Add fresh berries to put it over the top.
A Fruit-Flavored Buttercream: Give your buttercream a fruit-flavored upgrade. A strawberry, raspberry, or lemon buttercream would go so well with a classic vanilla cake.
Lemon Curd: For a bright, zesty pairing, try serving your vanilla cake with a little lemon curd. Even better? Lemon curd and whipped cream!
Just because there are some frosting that might go a little bit better with one kind of cake or the other doesn’t mean that you can’t mix and match these. If you prefer a chocolate frosting on a vanilla cake or fruit-flavored buttercream with yellow cake, there’s nothing wrong with that!
The Best Fillings for Yellow Cake vs Vanilla Cake
We’ve talked cake, we’ve talked frosting, now it’s time to chat about fillings. While you can certainly just fill your cake with more of the same frosting you’re using to coat the outside of the cake, adding a specific filling makes the cake that much better—and more special. Let’s break it down:
The Best Fillings For Yellow Cake
Yellow cake is a bit denser, richer, and more buttery than other cakes, which means it can hold up well to more indulgent fillings. Here are some of the ones we love most:
Chocolate Ganache: A thick, glossy ganache adds deep, luxurious flavor. Bonus points if it’s spiked with espresso!
Peanut Butter Mousse: Sweet and salty, thick and creamy, peanut butter mousse is the perfect filling for any PB lovers.
Salted Caramel: Sweet and buttery caramel is the perfect thing to pair with rich, buttery yellow cake.
Bavarian Cream or Pastry Cream: Rich, smooth, creamy, and custardy, these confections make the absolute ideal filling for an indulgent yellow cake.
Nutella or Hazelnut Spread: Yellow cake and chocolate hazelnut spread are a great duo. Nutty, chocolatey, and delicious, everyone is sure to love it.
The Best Fillings for Vanilla Cake
Light and delicate, vanilla cake pairs best with airy, fruity, or subtly sweet fillings. Here are some of our favorites:
Vanilla Pastry Cream: A good vanilla bean pastry cream is silky smooth, classic, and just the thing to subtly enhance the flavor of the vanilla cake without overpowering it entirely.
Berry Compote: Fresh and tangy, berry compotes are the perfect contrast to sweet vanilla cake. We like strawberry or raspberry.
Lemon Curd: Punchy, citrusy, and refreshing, a lemon curd filling will cut through the sweetness of the vanilla cake.
White Chocolate Mousse: Mousses are so light and airy, while also feeling elegant and fancy. This would be such a chic choice for a wedding cake or other special event.
Whipped Cream (Preferably with Fresh Berries): A delicate filling for a delicate cake, this choice is refreshing, elegant, and really makes the cake the star of the show.
Coconut Cream: Go tropical with coconut cream! Coconut and vanilla is a classic combination.
Our Best Baking Tips for Yellow and Vanilla Cakes
Want your cakes to turn out bakery-level every time? Here’s how to master yellow and vanilla cake like a total pro:
For Yellow Cake:
Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: This rule is non-negotiable! Butter, eggs, and milk at room temperature blend more easily, creating a smoother batter and ensuring a rich, even crumb.
Get Good Butter: Yellow cake gets its signature flavor and texture from butter. High-quality butter (preferably European-style for extra creaminess) is worth the splurge.
Use Whole Eggs: Those yolks are what give yellow cake its color and richness.
Watch the Mixing: Overmixing can lead to a dense, tough cake. Once the dry ingredients are added, mix until combined.
For Vanilla Cake
Separate Your Eggs: Many vanilla cake recipes call for egg whites only, which contribute to its light, fluffy texture. Whip the egg whites separately and fold them into the batter.
Use Clear Vanilla Extract: For a true white cake (if that’s your goal), opt for clear vanilla extract. It delivers all the flavor without tinting the batter.
Sift Your Dry Ingredients: Want that cloud-like crumb? Sifting flour, baking powder, and other dry ingredients adds air and prevents clumps.
Don’t Overbake: Vanilla cake can dry out quickly, so keep an eye on it. Bake just until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
General Cake Tips to Up Your Game
Weigh Your Ingredients: Baking is science, not guesswork! Using a kitchen scale ensures precision and consistent results every time.
Invest in Quality Cake Pans: Cheap, thin pans can lead to uneven baking and dry edges. Opt for heavy-duty aluminum pans for even heat distribution.
Don’t Skip the Parchment Paper: Lining your pans with parchment guarantees your cakes release without sticking.
Cool Before Frosting: Frosting a warm cake is a recipe for disaster—literally. Let your layers cool completely, or pop them in the fridge to firm up.
Level Your Layers: For a picture-perfect cake, use a serrated knife or cake leveler to trim domed tops. Flat layers = stable stacks.
FAQs
-
Nope! They're somewhat similar in terms of flavor, but yellow cake gets both the yellow color of the cake and extra richness from using whole eggs (including those golden yolks), while vanilla cake is typically lighter, thanks to egg whites.
-
Of course! Yellow cake is pretty sturdy, which actually makes it a pretty good choice for some wedding cakes. It may work better than a traditional vanilla for tall, towering cakes or those covered in a ton of fondant, which can be heavy on the cake. The flavor will be slightly different, however, so that’s a good thing to know before you make your choice. Vanilla cake tends to be a pretty popular choice for weddings.
-
Nope! Both cakes are made using roughly the same method, which means one isn’t necessarily more difficult to make than the other. That being said, the egg yolks in the yellow cake recipe will add extra moisture to the batter, which can make it less likely to dry out.
-
Both yellow and vanilla cake work well as a cupcake. The vanilla cupcakes will be lighter and fluffier and the yellow cupcakes will be richer and more moist. There’s not one that’s right or wrong, it’s all about what you prefer.
-
Rich, indulgent frostings are the best frostings to pair with yellow cake. Think: fudge frosting, chocolate frosting, caramel frosting, peanut butter frosting—even cream cheese frosting can be a good fit, depending on the flavor profile you’re going for.
-
Both cake mixes can be good, but yellow boxed mix tends to be a bit easier to work with because it’s richer and moister, making it easier to withstand little slip-ups (like accidentally leaving it in the oven a few minutes too long).
-
Both cakes freeze very well. Just make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag before freezing them to keep them from drying out. They should stay fresh for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve them, pull them out the night before to thaw, then trim, shape, and decorate as desired.
So, which should you choose? Yellow cake or vanilla?
Like with many things, it really all depends on your plans and preferences. There’s no strict right or wrong when it comes to yellow cake vs vanilla cake. If you’re looking for something rich and indulgent, go for yellow cake. But if you want something that’s lighter and more delicate, vanilla cake will be a better bet. Either way, the resulting cake will be delicious.
Prefer to order from the pros? We’ve got you covered! Shop our Cake Shop cakes here or reach out to inquire about custom cakes or wedding cakes. We can’t wait to work with you to bring your vision to life!
