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Sylvia Weinstock's classic Yellow cake-some questions.

post #1 of 64
3/2/10 at 5:37am
Thread Starter 
Hello-
I just made this for the first time yesterday and I found it to be impressive!
I was doing some research on this cake and noticed there was a "new" version with an additional cup of milk. Was this something that Sylvia changed or someone else? Just curious. I am also curious as to why it needed changing? the old version is very good!

Just some general questions about the cake before I get too excited about it:

I am wondering if this is a good cake for carving?

Does it freeze well?

How long does it stay moist? Does it require any moistening syrup if not eaten right away?

Can the recipe be mulitplied?

I didn't feel like I got as much batter as the recipe seemed to indicate. I weighed the ingredients based on about 111g of cake flour per cup. So I don't know if this gave me less flour? I felt like it barely was enough for 2 8x2 pans, definitely not enough for 2 8x3 pans!

Does this recipe yeild consistent results? I hate finicky cakes.

Thanks!!!
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post #2 of 64
3/2/10 at 5:56am
Hi! I use her cake recipes most often when I bake. She changed the recipe ("tweaked" it). My guess as to why is that it probably suited her taste. It is a great cake for carving. Regarding freezing, I do not freeze cakes at all (just don't like to do it), so I cannot provide an answer there. My cakes are made and delivered right away, and are often eaten right away, so I don't know how long they stay moist. I would guess it would also have to do with how it's stored. About using moistening syrup, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I often add it for an extra kick of flavor, more than for adding additional moisture to the cake. I have multiplied it often with no problems, although I have not done it by weight measures. I always have consistent results as well. HTH!!! icon_smile.gif
* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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post #3 of 64
3/2/10 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 
Great, that is very helpful! I dont generally freeze a lot either, but I do if I am going to carve the cake.

Do you use the old or new recipe?

Do you use her other recipes? I don't have her book, but maybe I should get it.
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post #4 of 64
3/2/10 at 6:22am
I use her old recipe, and look forward to trying the new when I need a yellow cake. I have made her other cakes and really like her spice recipe. A friend asked me to make it for her pastor's birthday and many people said how much they enjoyed it. The white cake is very good, too, except I have a different scratch recipe that I prefer. My family really likes her yellow cake, so of her recipes, that's the one I use most. icon_wink.gif Her fillings and frostings are great, too, by the way!

My mom gave me Sylvia Weinstock's first book when it came out many years ago. Of my bake books, this one has the most bookmarks, stickies, sheets with conversions... icon_biggrin.gif Last year Mom surprised me with her second book which has lots of photos of the many amazing cakes she's done.

Anyway... I guess you already get the impression that in my opinion her books are a great investment. icon_lol.gif
* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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post #5 of 64
3/2/10 at 6:39am
Is Sylvia's first book Sensational Cakes? Thanks
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post #6 of 64
3/2/10 at 6:40am
I love her original recipe,the new one is way way to moist.It just fell apart on me.I have made this several times and I find that after day 2 it starts to dry out some.But they could be my palate as I am used to box mixes and they stay moist for a week.I have not frozen this but have carved it and it worked well.: )
ý"We will eat you, after we eat your children. Now time for the weather... Tiffany?"- Russell(True Blood)
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ý"We will eat you, after we eat your children. Now time for the weather... Tiffany?"- Russell(True Blood)
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post #7 of 64
3/2/10 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nesweetcake

Is Sylvia's first book Sensational Cakes? Thanks



No, she had a book out a few years before that one. I have the "Sensational Cakes" too and use those recipes. I don't add the ginger though (because I don't really like it that much & I could taste it in the cake-maybe it was mental as others said they couldn't taste it) to the recipe. I've had the best luck with here cake recipes though.
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post #8 of 64
3/2/10 at 7:06am
Thread Starter 
I appreciate all the comments about the cake. I decided with the other layer that we havent eaten yet to split it up and test it LOL. I put a piece in the freezer, one in the fridge (both wrapped) and the other piece I just wrapped and will see how moist it is from day to day.

I really like the "tang" and richness that the sour cream adds. I also like that the structure seems nice and firm for slicing and tiered cakes, but it is still soft with a nice crumb.

I don't think I will try the new recipe. Seems like a lot of people had problems with it. I had originally assumed that someone other than sylvia changed or "tweaked" the recipe. Seems to me than 1 cup of additional liquid is a lot.
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post #9 of 64
3/2/10 at 7:41am
"Sweet Celebrations" is the title of her first book... In her second book, she does address having changed the yellow cake recipe. If I can find where she references it later, I'll come back and post it here. (It might be in the commentary with the recipe in her new book, I'm not sure.)
* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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* Gentleness isn't for the weak or the weak-minded. It's for the blessed who understand what grace is all about ~ Anonymous
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post #10 of 64
3/2/10 at 8:40am
We did a scratch off a while back here is a link to it, her cake won and both of these links will tell you basically more then you ever wanted to know about her cake icon_razz.gif

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=633981&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=150

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-636013-.html

This is my go-to yellow cake, I love it! I freeze right after baking and then thaw about a week or two later and have never had any problems with it. I also have had this cake sitting on the counter slowly being eaten over about a week and did not notice it getting dried out at all! HTH!
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post #11 of 64
3/2/10 at 9:49am
Thread Starter 
I think the results of the scratch off were the reason I tried the recipe! I wasnt happy with the inconsistent results I was getting with Toba's moist yellow cake. I think I like the flavor of SW cake better too. If I can count on it, I will definitely use it as my yellow cake. I am glad so many others like the cake as well, gives me some confidence!
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post #12 of 64
3/2/10 at 10:26am
I would like to ask you ladies, what is the difference between a yellow cake and a pound cake? I tried the butter vanilla pound cake posted here in cc, have to say is very good, my kids loved it, so for stacking cakes what do you recommend?
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post #13 of 64
3/2/10 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 
I don't know exactly what is considered a "pound" cake. It used to be a pound of butter, sugar and flour was used. Usually pound cakes are dense and often baked in a loaf pan. I would think a pound cake is a "type" of cake. "Yellow" would indicate the flavor.
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post #14 of 64
3/2/10 at 11:19am
I use her Yellow Cake recipe for my yellow cake. It freezes well and when refrigerated I think it would be great for carving. Also I am lazy and just add in the whole eggs when it tells you to add the yolks. I don't whip the whites.
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http://twitter.com/BuyMeCake
http://buymecake.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/BuyMeCake
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buymecake/
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post #15 of 64
3/2/10 at 11:25am
Thread Starter 
So how does that effect the recipe? Have you tried it both ways? It certainly would be EASIER to just throw them in there. If there was no discernable difference I would rather do it that way. However, if whipping them separately makes a difference, I don't mind taking an extra couple of minutes.

I was going to ask another question, my cake shrank around the top edge a bit. Does that make sense? I read someone suggest in another thread that this happens in recipes that you have to fold in the egg whites. Is this true? If so, how do you avoid this?
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