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...

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

This is a good cake. Its from Wilton Basic Yellow Cake * 3 cups sifted cake flour * 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1 3/4 cups sugar * 2/3 cup butter or margarine * 2 eggs * 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla * 1 1/4 cups milk Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom of two 8-inch round cake pans and line with waxed paper or parchment paper. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Cream sugar and butter together until light. Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Continue beating one minute. Spread batter evenly in prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Fill and frost as desired. Here is a link that might be useful: cake recipes

This one starts out with a box mix, which I generally don't do, but this recipe is a favorite of mine. It is from the Fredericksburg Herb Farm in Texas. I always order this whenever I visit their tea room. ~ Suzie Rosemary and Orange Rum Cake with Glorious Glaze 1 (2-layer) package yellow cake mix 1 small package vanilla instant pudding mix 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary Grated zest of one orange ½ cup water ½ cup canola oil ½ cup light rum 4 eggs 1 cup chopped pecans Combine cake mix, pudding mix, rosemary and orange zest in a food processor. Process until mixed. Add water, oil and rum; mix well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in pecans. Pour into bundt pan sprayed with non-stick baking spray. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until wooden pick comes out clean. Pour Glorious Glaze over cake in pan. Allow glaze to soak into pan completely before removing cake. Invert cake so that glazed top is facing up. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs. Glorious Glaze ½ cup unsalted butter 1 cup sugar ¼ cup water ¼ cup rum Bring butter, sugar, water and rum to a boil in saucepan. Boil until mixture reaches soft-ball stage or 235 degrees on candy thermometer.