I've tried a bunch of them, and can not find one that is not dry and heavy. I don't know what the secret is, maybe more eggs? The best ones seem to come from a box. I love yellow cake and my SIL wanted one for his last birthday. I made this one from Cooks Illustrated, and was, again, disappointed and I didn't have any eggs left. Fluffy Yellow Layer Cake Makes two 9-inch cake layers. Published March 1, 2008. From Cook's Illustrated. Nonstick cooking spray can be used for greasing the pans (proceed with flouring as directed). Bring all ingredients to room temperature before beginning. Frost the cake with our Foolproof Chocolate Frosting (see related recipe) or your favorite topping. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups cake flour , plus extra for dusting pans 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon table salt 1 3/4 cups sugar (12 1/4 ounces) 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly 1 cup buttermilk , room temperature 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 large egg yolks , room temperature 3 large egg whites , room temperature Instructions Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9-inch-wide by 2-inch-high round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Grease paper rounds, dust pans with flour, and knock out excess. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 1/2 cups sugar together in large bowl. In 4-cup liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and yolks. In clean bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat egg whites at medium-high speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. With machine running, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; continue to beat until stiff peaks just form, 30 to 60 seconds (whites should hold peak but mixture should appear moist). Transfer to bowl and set aside. Add flour mixture to now-empty mixing bowl fitted with whisk attachment. With mixer running at low speed, gradually pour in butter mixture and mix until almost incorporated (a few streaks of dry flour will remain), about 15 seconds. Stop mixer and scrape whisk and sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium-low speed and beat until smooth and fully incorporated, 10 to 15 seconds. Using rubber spatula, stir 1/3 of whites into batter to lighten, then add remaining whites and gently fold into batter until no white streaks remain. Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Lightly tap pans against counter 2 or 3 times to dislodge any large air bubbles. Bake until cake layers begin to pull away from sides of pans and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen cakes from sides of pans with small knife, then invert onto greased wire rack and peel off parchment. Invert cakes again and cool completely on rack, about 1...

Sorry I didn't see you post earlier. Hope this helps you out. Sally Red Velvet Cake 1/2 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 eggs 2 tablespoons cocoa 4 tablespoons red food coloring 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk 2 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar Grease two 8 inch round pans Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar well. Add eggs and beat well. Make a paste of cocoa and red food coloring. Add to creamed mixture. Mix salt, 1-teaspoon vanilla and buttermilk together. Add alternately the flour with the milk mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar; Fold into cake batter, don't beat or stir now. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Icing 5 tablespoons all purpose flour 1-cup milk 1 cup white sugar 1 cup butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Cook 5 tablespoons flour and milk over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. Let cool thoroughly! While cooling, cream 1 cup sugar, 1-cup butter and 1-teaspoon vanilla. Beat this well until light and fluffy. Add to flour mixture and beat until spreading consistency. Ice cooled cake.

I know nothing, at all, about baking cakes..or any kind of baking, for that matter. However, I do know a good tasting cake when I taste it! ;) I have no idea why, but the best ever light, white cake I've ever had was a birthday cake from, of all places, a Chinese bakery in China Town, in Boston. I don't know what they do differently....but I've been told that Chinese Bakery's, anywhere, make these marvelous cakes. They are covered with a fabulous whipped cream frosting with, equally, fabulous fresh fruit. Really, it was like eating a slice of heaven. Totally, unlike anything I've ever had. Maybe you could research these cakes? I was shocked that CB even sold birthday cakes, let alone, such fabulous tasting confections. Silly

Is your oven temperature uneven (hot spots?)or not the right temp? Test the cake with a tester or toothpick near the center 5-10 minutes earlier than a recipe calls for. It should come out clean without crumbs sticking to it. You can use a regular chocolate frosting with this if you prefer as I do: DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE W/WHITE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING 2 cups flour 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 4 squares (4 oz) unsweetened chocolate 1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened 1 3/4 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 1/3 cups buttermilk 1 tsp vanilla Preheat oven to 325° with the shelf positioned in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Line two 9" lightly greased & floured cake pans w/circles of parchment. (You can dust the pans w/cocoa instead if you like.) Whisk together the flour, salt, nutmeg & baking soda & set aside. Melt the choclate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling water. Remove the chocolate from the heat & stir until smooth. Let cool. Cream the butter & sugar until light & fluffy, stopping the mixer to scrape the bowl & beaters several times. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add the flour mixture & buttermilk alternated to the batter, beginning & ending w/the flour mixture & mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla & cooled chocolate, blending just until the color is even. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Smooth the batter level, then spread it slightly from the center toward the edges of the pan so that the cake will rise evenly. Bake 35-45 minutes or until the top is lightly springy to the touch & a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the layers from the pan & cool completely on wire racks. Prepare the frosting. Center 1 of the cake layers on a serving plate & cover w/frosting. Place the 2nd later on top & frost the top & sides of the cake w/the remaining frosting. (Put the top of the layers upside down on the platter so the bottom is on top in case the cake "domes" a bit. You'll have a nice flat surface that way.)~~ WHITE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM 6 TBL heavy cream 4 oz white chocolate, chopped fine 1/4 cup creme de cacao 1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened 1 lb confectioners' sugar (4 cups) Cream the cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour the hot cream over the chopped white chocolate & stir until completely smooth. Stir creme de cacao into the white chocolate into the white chocolate mixture. Col, stirring occasionally. Cream the butter in a large bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar & beat 5 minutes until light & fluffy. Add the white chocolate mixture to the butter mixture gradually, beating at low speed until the desired ocnsistency is reached. Decorate with dark chocolate shavings.~~Save the Brandywine Valley