Rustic Joyful Food

The Softest Yellow Cake with Granny Thora’s Fudge Frosting | The RUSTIC JOYFUL FOOD Show | Season 1 – Episode 4

The Softest Yellow Cake with Granny Thora’s Fudge Frosting & Batch Cosmopolitan Cocktails

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of dessert bliss with an impossibly tender yellow cake, topped off with Granny Thora’s legendary fudge frosting! Joining me is my wonderful friend, and talented baker extraordinaire, Karlee Flores! Every slice of this cake promises pure, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. But what’s a baking session without a cocktail? We shake things up with a vibrant, citrus-y cosmo that’s the ideal match for our cake-baking adventure. The sweet, rich frosting pairs oh-so-well with the zesty punch of the cocktail. Cake and cosmos – it’s the ultimate dessert and drink duo!

Special thanks to my guest Karlee Flores! Follow her on Instagram @karleesislerflores. She is AMAZING!

Oh, yes — Granny Thora’s Fudge Frosting recipe is featured in my latest cookbook BUTTER, FLOUR, SUGAR, JOY! Grab a copy here, and thank you for watching!

The Softest Yellow Cake (Recipe by Karlee Flores)

Makes 2 9-inch pans or 1 sheet cake
Prep time 10 minutes
Bake time 23-28 minutes (two 9-inch pans: 23-25 mins. / sheet cake: 25-28 mins.)

2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temp1/4 teaspoon turmeric or a few drops of yellow food coloring

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans or one 9×12 baking dish.
  2. Mix the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar together until combined, about 2 minutes. Stream in the oil, vanilla and almond extract and continue to beat until light, fluffy and pale in color, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and egg yolks and mix on low until combined.
  4. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredient and mix on low just until you see no flour, add half of the buttermilk, and mix on low, continue with this until all flour and buttermilk has been added. Add the turmeric or food coloring, scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for 10 seconds. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  5. Baking times | Two 9-inch pans: 23-25 minutes. Sheet cake: 25-28 minutes.

Granny Thora’s Glossy Fudge Frosting (Recipe by Danielle Kartes)

1 cup butter 
1 cup sugar 
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
4 ounces semi-sweet bakers’ chocolate 
Pinch of salt 
1 1/4 cups heavy cream 
1 teaspoon vanilla 

  1. Heat butter, sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate, and salt in a medium-sized sauce pan over medium heat. 
  2. Cook 4-5 minutes until it starts to bubble around the edges but isn’t boiling. 
  3. Slowly add the cream. The grainy texture will melt away, and you’ll be left with thick, glossy chocolate sauce. Stir in the vanilla. 
  4. Cool completely (2-4 hours) before frosting a cake or you’ll get a thin glaze instead of a frosted look. 
  5. To cool the frosting quickly, place the warm frosting in a bowl, then place the bowl in a larger bowl of ice. Whisk until chilled. 

Florescence Batch Cosmos

2 1/2-3 cups Florescence Grapefruit & Pomelo Vodka
6 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
6 ounces dry Curaçao or Cointreau
6 ounces cranberry juice
Large ice cubes or ice for the shakers

  1. Pour all the ingredients into a decanter. Swirl to mix.
  2. Pour 8-10 ounces into a cocktail shaker over 1 cup of ice. Shake vigorously.
  3. Strain into a coupe glass. Alternately, pour desired amount directly over a large ice cube into a coupe glass. Enjoy!

Purchase FLORESCENCE Grapefruit & Pomelo Vodka here!