Anonymous wrote:For a basic yellow cake I am a fan of the original Joy of Cooking recipe for Starlight Yellow Cake, but made with all butter instead of shortening. Delicious!

I agree, that's a great recipe.

I also like your basic 1-2-3-4 Cake:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/one---two---three---four-cake-ii/

Frankly, the Trader Joe's cake mix for yellow cake is very very similar to the 1-2-3-4 Cake in taste and texture. (Read the ingredients on the cake mix; they are the same as what you would use in your kitchen.) Two boxes will make a round layer cake.

Other than the Trader Joe's box mix, I think mixes are gross. The resulting cake tastes fake/chemical-ish.

Anonymous wrote:The chocolate cake and frosting recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa box is the best I've ever had and so easy!

Agreed.

Add toba Garret's chocolate frosting and you have a home run.

I make this Chocolate Sour Cream Cake often and think it turns out pretty good. I'm not much of a baker, so it's pretty easy, and the kids can even help out.

I'm lazy, so I usually buy the frosting though, instead of making it.

http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-sour-cream-cake-chocolate-peanut-butter-frosting-3782

"The sweeter side of amys bread" is probably my favorite book for basic cake and frosting. I like more involved recipes, but for perfect classic styles I won't use anything else.

The chocolate cake and frosting recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa box is the best I've ever had and so easy!