Classic Yellow Birthday Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Classic Yellow Birthday Cake with Buttercream Frosting is a beloved American dessert featuring a moist, tender vanilla or butter-flavored sponge cake layered and topped with rich, creamy buttercream. Its typical ingredients include flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract, with the frosting made from butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Originating in the United States, it has become a staple for celebrations worldwide.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This cake is high in carbohydrates and fat, providing quick energy but minimal protein or fiber. A standard slice (about 1/12 of a 9-inch cake) typically contains 400-600 calories, with key nutrients being simple sugars and saturated fats from the butter and frosting.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 470 kcal |
| Protein | 4.5 g |
| Carbs | 62 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 44 g |
| Sodium | 310 mg |
| Calcium | 60 mg |
| Iron | 1.8 mg |
| Potassium | 85 mg |
| Vitamin A | 190 mcg RAE |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | 0.15 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.12 mg |
| Folate | 45 mcg DFE |
Per 1 slice (1/12 of a 9-inch cake, approx. 125 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this cake is iconic in birthday traditions, often decorated with candles and personalized messages, symbolizing joy and celebration. Nutritionally, its bright yellow color historically came from egg yolks or food coloring, and it represents a shift from more elaborate, less sweet cakes of earlier eras.
