Ho Ho Yellow Cake (Printable)

Tender yellow cake with fluffy vanilla filling and luscious chocolate ganache topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Yellow Sheet Cake

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Cream Filling

10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - 1/8 teaspoon salt

→ Chocolate Ganache

15 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
16 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
17 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Alternately add the dry flour mixture and whole milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
05 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Allow cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
07 - Beat softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream with vanilla and salt until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into butter mixture until fluffy and homogeneous.
08 - Carefully remove cooled cake from pan and slice horizontally into two even layers using a serrated knife.
09 - Spread cream filling evenly over the bottom cake layer, then place the top layer back on.
10 - Heat heavy cream and butter in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour over semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl. Let sit for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
11 - Pour ganache evenly over the assembled cake. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream filling is impossibly light yet rich, nothing like the store-bought version.
  • You can actually taste the vanilla and butter instead of mysterious chemicals.
  • It's fancy enough to serve at dinner but feels like the most generous comfort food.
02 -
  • Room temperature eggs and softened butter actually matter; cold ingredients won't incorporate properly and you'll end up with a lumpy batter.
  • Don't skip cooling the cake completely before layering it, or the warm cake will melt the cream filling into a puddle.
  • The ganache needs to cool slightly before pouring, or it'll run off the sides and pool on your plate.
03 -
  • Use a serrated knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between slices for cuts that don't disturb the layers.
  • If your kitchen is warm, chill the assembled cake before adding the ganache so it doesn't slip and slide everywhere.
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