King Arthur’s Elegant White Cake: The Ultimate Recipe for a Perfect Celebration

While my baking repertoire often leans towards richer, darker flavors, there’s an undeniable charm and essential role for a truly classic white cake. With a few birthdays on the horizon, the timing felt perfect to dive into a recipe that promises to be just that: the quintessential white cake. I’m talking about the legendary Elegant White Cake from King Arthur Flour Company, a recipe renowned among bakers for its delicate crumb, beautiful presentation, and absolutely perfect flavor profile. This isn’t just any white cake; it’s *the* white cake you’ll turn to again and again for special occasions and simple pleasures alike.

Baking Experience and a Moisture-Boosting Secret

For this particular bake, I opted for a convenient 13×9 inch pan, which meant the cake came together surprisingly quickly. One of the best baking tips circulating in the culinary world, and one I’m always eager to test, is the idea that freezing just-baked cakes makes them moister. The theory suggests that as the warm cake cools in the freezer, the moisture gets locked in, resulting in an incredibly tender and fresh-tasting crumb once thawed. To put this to the test, I promptly placed the still-warm cake into the freezer. The anticipation of seeing if this little trick truly delivers on its promise of enhanced moisture is half the fun of baking experiments!

My plan for tomorrow is to transform this elegant canvas into something truly special. Todd and I stumbled upon an adorable picture of a crayon cake, and we both instantly knew it would be a hit with Fuzz for his birthday. The original inspiration came from an old Avon creative birthday cake book, but I’ve since found a fantastic rendition online here. This allows for a burst of color and creativity, turning a classic white cake into a personalized celebration piece. The crayon cake design perfectly showcases the versatility of a simple white base, allowing it to adapt to any theme or festive occasion.

The King Arthur Elegant White Cake: A Deep Dive into the Recipe

This recipe for Elegant White Cake is a testament to King Arthur Flour’s commitment to quality and delicious results. What makes it particularly interesting is a unique aspect of its method: the baking powder is actually creamed together with the butter, shortening, and sugar right at the beginning. This isn’t typically how most recipes handle leavening agents, which usually get sifted with the flour. This unusual step contributes to the cake’s fine texture and even rise, demonstrating King Arthur’s meticulous approach to baking science. Let’s delve into the ingredients and the detailed steps that make this white cake truly stand out.

Key Ingredients for Success

Butter & Vegetable Shortening: The combination of these two fats is crucial. Butter provides rich flavor, while shortening contributes to a tender, whiter crumb and a higher, more stable rise. Using softened butter is key for proper creaming.
Baking Powder: The primary leavening agent. Its early addition to the fat mixture is a signature of this recipe, aiding in aeration.
Superfine or Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a fine crumb structure. Superfine sugar dissolves more readily, leading to an even smoother texture.
Salt: Essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors.
Vanilla & Almond Extracts: These two extracts create a beautifully complex and classic white cake flavor profile. The almond extract, in particular, adds a distinct “bakery” quality that elevates the cake.
Large Egg Whites: Used exclusively to ensure the cake remains perfectly white, without the yellow hue from yolks. They also contribute to the cake’s structure and lightness. Make sure they are at room temperature for optimal volume when incorporated.
Cake Flour: This is a non-negotiable ingredient for achieving the “elegant” and tender crumb. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, which results in a softer, more delicate texture.
Whole Milk: Provides moisture and helps activate the leavening agents, contributing to the cake’s richness and tender texture.

The Method: Achieving a Light and Fluffy Texture

Creaming the Base: Begin by creaming together the softened butter, vegetable shortening, baking powder, superfine or granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract. This step is crucial and requires patience. Beat this mixture for at least 5 minutes, or even longer, until it becomes visibly light, fluffy, and pale in color. Proper creaming incorporates air, which is vital for the cake’s texture and rise.
Incorporating Egg Whites: Add the large egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Ensure each egg white is fully incorporated into the mixture before adding the next. This prevents the mixture from separating and helps build a stable emulsion.
Alternating Dry and Wet: This is a classic cake baking technique designed to develop a tender crumb without overmixing. Stir in the cake flour and whole milk, alternating between the two. Always start and end with the flour. A good rhythm is to add ⅓ of the flour, then ½ of the milk, followed by another ⅓ of the flour, the remaining ½ of the milk, and finally the last ⅓ of the flour. Mix only until just combined after each addition to avoid developing too much gluten, which would result in a tough cake.
Baking: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pans (either two 9-inch round pans or one 9×13-inch pan). Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be lightly golden on top and spring back when gently pressed.

Tips for Baking a Flawless White Cake

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, shortening, egg whites, and milk are all at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify properly, creating a smooth batter and a uniform texture.
Accurate Measurement: Baking is a science! For best results, especially with flour, butter, and sugar, use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients according to the provided gram measurements.
Don’t Overmix: After adding the flour, mix only until no dry streaks remain. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a dense, chewy cake rather than a tender one.
Pan Preparation: Grease and flour your pans thoroughly, or line them with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures your beautiful cake releases cleanly.
Oven Calibration: Ovens can vary. If you suspect yours runs hot or cold, use an oven thermometer to ensure you’re baking at the correct temperature.
Cooling: Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10-15 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from collapsing.

The Evolution: From Elegant to Tender White Cake

It’s worth noting that even classic recipes evolve! King Arthur Flour, known for continually refining their formulas, has since updated this beloved recipe. It’s now often referred to as their “Tender White Cake.” This revised version often features an all-butter formulation and a slightly different mixing technique, aiming for an even more tender and nuanced crumb. While the original “Elegant White Cake” remains a fantastic choice, those interested in exploring the updated version with an all-butter richness and modern approach can find it directly on King Arthur’s official site. Both versions promise a delightful white cake experience, showcasing King Arthur’s dedication to perfect baking.

The Official King Arthur Flour Elegant White Cake Recipe Card

Here’s the full, structured recipe for King Arthur’s Elegant White Cake, perfectly formatted for your kitchen. This is a dessert that truly shines, whether dressed simply with a vanilla buttercream or transformed into a whimsical birthday creation. Its delicate flavor and moist texture make it a versatile foundation for any celebratory design.

Recipe

Elegant White Cake

Anna

This is one of King Arthur Baking’s older white cake recipes, cherished for its classic flavor and perfect texture.

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Prep Time
30 minutes

Cooling Time
1 hour

Course
Dessert

Cuisine
American

Servings
12

Ingredients

8 tablespoons butter — (114 grams) softened
½ cup vegetable shortening — (96 grams)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 ¾ cups superfine or granulated sugar (335 grams)
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
5 large egg whites (6 to 7 oz)
2 ¾ cups cake flour — (310 grams)
1 cup whole milk (228 grams)

Instructions

Cream together butter, shortening, baking powder, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract until light and fluffy. This should take 5 minutes or more of beating.
Add egg whites one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until fully incorporated.
Gradually stir in the cake flour and whole milk, alternating between the two. Begin and end with the flour (e.g., add ⅓ flour, then ½ milk, then ⅓ flour, then ½ milk, then the final ⅓ flour), mixing just until combined after each addition.
Pour the batter into your prepared pans (either two 9-inch round pans or one 9×13-inch pan) and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Notes

Update: King Arthur has updated the recipe a bit and it is now called Tender White Cake. For a slightly revised version that uses all butter and a different mixing technique, check out King Arthur’s site.

Keyword
elegant, White Cake, King Arthur, celebration cake

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Conclusion: Your Go-To White Cake Recipe

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or simply craving a beautifully baked dessert, King Arthur’s Elegant White Cake is an exceptional choice. Its balanced flavor, tender crumb, and delightful moistness make it a standout recipe that consistently delivers. This cake proves that sometimes, the simplest flavors, when executed perfectly, can be the most memorable. Don’t hesitate to try this classic recipe and make it your own with creative decorations or a favorite frosting. Happy baking!