To bake a homemade cake that's light and fluffy, you might have to plan ahead. Here's what to do!
Here’s Why Your Homemade Cake Is Never Light and Airy
Updated on Jul. 24, 2023
There’s nothing worse than meticulously following a classic cake recipe only to end up with a so-so cake. You did everything right: You weighed the ingredients like the pros do, and you certainly added everything in the right order. So what went wrong? Why doesn’t your homemade cake look more like a restaurant-quality dessert?
It all comes down to how you cream the butter, eggs and sugar. But having “room temperature butter” isn’t the only important factor in the equation.
What is Creaming?
Creaming is the magical step that creates a light and airy homemade cake. It describes the process of incorporating air into your batter, which (in conjunction with baking soda or baking powder) helps the cake leaven and rise.
Your recipe probably starts by beating the room temperature butter and sugar together. It’s really important that the butter is at the correct temperature (if you forgot to pull it out ahead of time, we have a quick-and-easy shortcut). Too cold and you won’t produce enough air bubbles. Too warm and the melted butter won’t bind with the sugar. Somewhere between 68°F and 70°F is just right.
Next, you’ll add the eggs (one at a time) to the creamed butter and sugar. This helps stabilize the buttery mixture, essentially creating an elastic structure that traps all those air bubbles inside. But, if the eggs are cold, the magical creation simply falls flat.
So… What Happens If You Add Cold Eggs?
Okay, so it’s NOT the end of the world if the eggs are cold. Instead of creating a light and fluffy cake, you’ll have an okay cake that lacks a heavenly chew. It’ll still taste good, but it won’t taste great.
You see, when you add cold eggs to your creamed butter, one of two things will happen. The first is pretty obvious when it happens: The eggs separate when they hit the warm, creamed butter. Instead of looking creamy, the mixture will look, well, curdled. You don’t have to throw away the batter because it will fix itself when it cooks, but your cake will probably collapse as it bakes.
The second thing that can happen is much less dramatic: The batter will fail to emulsify. Ideally, the fat from the egg yolks will perfectly bind with the fat in the butter. That’s why you want to add your room temperature eggs one at a time. Again, it won’t ruin the cake, but it will look like a wet mess and it won’t rise beautifully and perfectly when it hits the oven.
To save yourself the trouble, plan ahead and pull out your butter AND eggs ahead of time and let them come to room temperature. It’s safe to leave butter on the counter!
Test Your New Creaming Method
Now that you know how to cream like a pro, it’s time to give it a go. Try whipping up some of Grandma’s best cakes, including pound cake, upside-down cakes, cupcakes and more.
The Best Cakes from Grandma's Kitchen
Citrus trees grow abundantly in California, and I'm always looking for new recipes which use the fruit from the orange and lemon trees in my yard. This is one of my favorites! My mother passed this recipe down to me. —Richard Killeaney, Spring Valley, California
Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food CakeAt once rich and fluffy, this chocolate angel food cake will be a celebrated delight.
Red Velvet CakeOur red velvet cake recipe is traditionally southern with light, tender, ruby-red cakes held together with a rich vanilla frosting.
Banana Skillet Upside-Down CakeMy grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream. —Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
Cherry Nut CakeMy grandmother made up this recipe for her children. Using Ozark-grown cherries and walnuts, she invented one they all liked. Granny always used cream from the dairy farm near her home, but the half-and half works well and is easier to find. —Diana Jennings, Lebanon, Missouri
7UP Pound CakeThis classic 7UP cake recipe uses the carbonated beverage to bake a tall pound cake with hints of lemon and lime. We also use the soda in the glaze to really drive home its iconic flavor.
Cherry Pudding CakeA cross between a cake and a cobbler, this cherry dessert is awesome. Add it to your list of trusty potluck recipes, because this one is sure to go fast. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Coconut Chiffon CakeToasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor,it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year.
Carrot CakeMy family's best carrot cake recipe dates back to my great-grandmother! We bake up a few of these carrot cakes for special occasions to make sure there's enough to go around. You'll love the texture this pretty, moist treat gets from pineapple, coconut and, of course, carrots! —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland
Dream Cupcakes My grandchildren absolutely love these cream-filled cupcakes, and I hope the chocolaty treats become a favorite in your home as well. —Dorothy Bahlmann, Clarksville, Iowa
Applesauce CakeThis applesauce cake recipe is moist, delicious and perfect for any day. The cake features plump raisins, as well as walnuts and the perfect combination of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon to spice things up.
Easy Apple CakeBreak out this easy apple cake recipe the next time you’re craving a no-fuss fall dessert. With tart apples, warm cinnamon and some walnuts thrown in for good measure, it’s a quintessential fall bake.
Jam CakeThis old-fashioned jam cake—a melange of blackberry spread, brown sugar frosting and pecans—is a southern-accented dessert that's destined to become a favorite.
Caramel-Apple Skillet BuckleMy grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
Zucchini CupcakesI asked my grandmother for this recipe after trying these irresistible spice cupcakes at her home. I love their creamy caramel frosting. They're such a scrumptious dessert, you actually forget you're eating your vegetables, too! —Virginia Lapierre, Greensboro Bend, Vermont
Gran's Apple CakeMy grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe one that we treasured. Even though I've lightened it up, it's still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California
Shortcake with Fresh Rhubarb SauceEvery spring when her rhubarb was ready, my mother-in-law chopped it up for this moist cake. If your rhubarb is too tart for the sauce, just add in some strawberries. —Rena McCalment, Sharpsville, Indiana
Lemon CakeThis four-layer lemon cake uses lemon juice, lemon zest, a sweet-tart lemon syrup and a lush cream cheese frosting to make sure there's a sunshiny taste of citrus in every bite.
Cranberry Pecan Upside-Down CakeAt our house, cranberries are a favorite. I made this dessert for the first time in the 1990s. It started out as a pineapple upside down cake—I just changed a few things around! It keeps and travels well, so it’s perfect for taking to church dinners. And we love to share it with our son and grandchildren. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry CakeMy husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
Apricot Upside-Down CakeMy Aunt Anne, who is a great cook, gave me a taste of this golden upside-down cake and I couldn't believe how delicious it was. Apricots give it an elegant twist from traditional pineapple versions. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Root Beer Float CakeI add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting of this summery dessert to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
ApfelkuchenEmbrace nostalgic flavors and homey feelings with apfelkuchen—an old-fashioned dessert recipe that's been deliciously prepped for more than 150 years.
Nana's Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint FrostingEven though Nana is no longer with us, her treats bring me so much joy every time
I bake them. For a more indulgent version, double the frosting and pile it on high! —Chekota Hunter, Cassville, Missouri
Pennsylvania Dutch Funny CakeI can still remember my grandma serving this delicious cake on the big wooden table in her farm kitchen. Every time I bake this unusual cake, it takes me back to those special days at Grandma's. —Diane Ganssle, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Fruit CakeThis chewy, sweet and, most importantly, simple fruit cake recipe will bring joy to any holiday gathering. It's filled with tasty additions like three types of candied fruit and a heaping mound of crunchy walnuts for a fun-filled celebratory must.
Grandma Pietz's Cranberry Cake PuddingFor generations, our family has handed down this cake recipe starring cranberries. Simple and unusual, it remains a treasured family heirloom. —Lisa Potter, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Chocolate CakeWe can confidently say that this is the best chocolate cake recipe and, at Taste Recipes, we make (and eat!) a lot of cakes. With three moist, fluffy cake layers and a rich, decadent chocolate frosting, we think this will become your go-to chocolate dessert as well.
Buttermilk Pound CakeThis buttermilk pound cake has a superior texture that is equally moist, tender and light. The recipe is your new go-to for serving with fruit or tea, or on its own as a snack.
Maple Carrot CupcakesI come from a line of family cooks and have liked to cook and bake since I was young. Mother and Grandmom were always in the kitchen cooking up something delicious. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom's specialty, and we always have them at family gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey
Blackberry-Orange CakeMy grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
Shoofly CupcakesThese were my grandmother's specialty. To keep them from disappearing too quickly, she used to store them out of sight. —Beth Adams, Jacksonville, Florida
Black Forest CakeMake a homemade Black Forest cake with chocolate cake, cherry filling and whipped cream. Its impressive, colorful layers make it a great dessert for showing off to guests.
Apple-Pumpkin Upside-Down CakeWe love the combination of classic fall fruits in this cake. I bake the apples on the bottom to keep them plump and moist, then flip the cake so they're on top. This is best served warm with vanilla ice cream, but we enjoy digging in any time of day. —Christina Yahraes, San Francisco, California
Cherry Cola CakeCherry cola and marshmallows make a zippy chocolate dessert that is scrumptious topped with vanilla ice cream. — Cheri Mason, Harmony, North Carolina
Citrus Berry ShortcakeHere's a quick and easy classic with a soft shortcake layer. Sometimes, I'll sprinkle blueberries over the top for an especially colorful finish. —Meryl Herr, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Gingerbread CakeIndulge in the ultimate warming treat with a homemade gingerbread cake. Rich, spiced flavors are paired with a velvety caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert.
Lemon-Filled Coconut CakeOne of my coworkers brought this cake to a luncheon almost 40 years ago. It was so delicious that I asked for the recipe. I have baked it ever since, and it's always a hit! —Jackie Bergenheier, Wichita Falls, Texas
Red Velvet Marble CakeI watched my grandma prepare her red velvet showstopper many times for family get-togethers. The fluffy butter frosting perfectly complements the flavor of this gorgeous cake.—Jodi Anderson, Overbrook, Kansas
Lemon CupcakesUsher in spring with this lemon cupcake recipe. It's a recipe from my mother that I spiced up a bit. —Bertina Nicholas-Johnson, Waynesboro, Virginia
Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down CakeFor a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas
Chocolate Cake with Vanilla FrostingYou can get a moist, flavorful cake without any weird ingredients using this recipe for chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. The smooth vanilla buttercream filling makes each slice a decadent delight.
Pineapple Carrot CakeThis pineapple carrot cake is sweet, tangy, fluffy and soft. It's perfect for snacking or when you want a dessert that isn't as sweet as other cakes or cookies.
Chiffon CakeChiffon cake folds whipped egg whites into its batter and utilizes oil to create a light, airy, moist texture. Mildly sweet with notes of vanilla, it's a simple yet elegant dessert for any occasion. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Strawberry Jell-O Poke CakeTrue to its name, a poke cake involves poking holes in a baked cake. Next, you'll add a layer of bright strawberry gelatin, letting it sink down into the holes for a colorful (and sweet!) effect. Top the cake with whipped topping and sliced strawberries so each bite is creamy and delicious. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Chocolate Bundt CakeOur chocolate Bundt cake recipe calls for melted chocolate, baking cocoa and espresso powder in the batter to ensure each slice is rich and decadent. Make this cake for guests who are chocolate lovers—it will be a hit! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
