The Best 12 Yolk Cake Recipe for Extra Egg Yolks
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A great use of leftover egg yolks, Twelve Yolk Cake, is golden and tender. This is a delicious basic cake recipe that’s not overly sweet. This 12 Yolk Cake is a classic recipe made with twelve egg yolks, simple pantry ingredients, and a little patience. The egg yolks give this cake its beautiful golden color and soft, tender texture.
12 Yolk Cake Recipe (Old-Fashioned Southern Cake)
This vintage cake recipe has been loved for generations because it uses basic ingredients to create a cake that feels special. It’s perfect for holidays, family gatherings, Sunday dinners, or any time you have extra egg yolks.
Serve slices plain, dusted with powdered sugar, topped with whipped cream, or paired with fresh fruit. This cake is simple, timeless, and always a welcome addition to the dessert table.
If you enjoy classic Southern cakes, my Million Dollar Pound Cake and Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake are also reader favorites.
What to Make With Extra Egg Yolks?
We love this cake when I have leftover egg yolks from other recipes. If you’re storing egg yolks, be sure to use the utmost care and stay informed about egg safety information.
Twelve Yolk Cake
When a reader asked me if I had a Twelve Yolk Cake recipe, I became intrigued. She said the twelve yolks made a spongy cake, and the twelve egg whites, in turn, are used for an Angel Food Cake. Here’s my Angel Food Cake recipe.
This is not a ‘pound cake’ although it’s made in a tube or bundt pan. It is airy, soft, and fluffy. It has more of a ‘sponge cake’ texture. (Get my pound cake recipes here.)
However, Twelve Yolk Cake is soft and rich from all the egg yolks. Furthermore, because of the number of golden egg yolks, this cake has a lovely golden color.
Why You’ll Love This 12 Yolk Cake
- Uses simple ingredients you already have
- A great way to use leftover egg yolks
- Beautiful golden color
- Soft, tender crumb
- Easy to prepare
- Perfect for holidays and celebrations
- Delicious served plain or with toppings
What Makes 12 Yolk Cake Different?
The secret to this cake is right in the name➡️➡️ 12 egg yolks.
Egg yolks add richness, moisture, and structure to baked goods. In this recipe, whipping the yolks until thick and fluffy helps create the cake’s delicate texture.
Unlike many cakes that rely on frosting or fillings for flavor, this old-fashioned cake gets its character from the ingredients and the baking method.
Ingredients
- large egg yolks, room temperature
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Granulated sugar
- Pure vanilla extract
- Lemon extract, vanilla extract, or almond extract
- Cold water or milk
Ingredient Notes
Egg Yolks. Bring the egg yolks to room temperature before mixing. Room-temperature yolks whip more easily and help create a lighter cake texture.
Extract Options. Lemon extract adds a subtle brightness, but vanilla or almond extract also works well.
Water or Milk. Cold water keeps the cake lighter, while milk adds a slightly richer texture. Both options work in this recipe.
How To Make 12 Yolk Cake
Time needed: 50 minutes
- Prepare the Pan
Spray a 10-inch
tube pan or 12-cup Bundt pan with non-stick spray. Preheat your oven to 350°F. - Mix the Dry Ingredients
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Beat the Egg Yolks
Beat the egg yolks until they become very thick and fluffy.
Gradually add the sugar and continue beating for about 2 minutes on high speed. Stop occasionally to scrape the bowl. - Add Remaining Ingredients
Reduce the mixer speed and add the extracts and cold water or milk. Slowly add the sifted flour mixture. Mix only until combined.
- Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the cake is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean or with dry crumbs. This is an estimate for baking and each oven is different. Dark pans tend to cook faster as well, start watching your cake about after 40 minutes the first time you make it and make adjustments. This cake is a lovely soft texture, but if overbaked, it will be dry.
- Cool
Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes.
Run a spatula around the edges, remove the cake from the pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.
Tips For The Best 12 Yolk Cake
- Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.
- Use room-temperature egg yolks.
- Sift the dry ingredients for a smoother batter.
- Do not overmix once the flour is added.
- Calibrate your oven for accurate baking results.
- Watch the cake closely near the end of baking time.
- Overbaking can make this cake dry.
- Flavors to try are vanilla, lemon, coconut, or almond.
- This cake is mixed together differently from most pound cakes. Therefore, you may want to read through the directions entirely before beginning the recipe.
- Twelve yolks make about one liquid cup measure. If you have medium or small eggs, you may want to measure them in a cup to ensure you have the correct amount.
- Also, you’ll need to sift the flour before measuring. When baking, it’s very important to measure all the ingredients correctly. Flour is easily measured incorrectly. Please read this post on How to correctly Measure Flour.
What To Serve With 12 Yolk Cake
This cake is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- caramel sauce
- chocolate sauce
- blueberry sauce
- Fresh strawberries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- Lemon curd
- Fresh fruit sauce
What To Do With Leftover Egg Whites
Since this recipe uses only yolks, you’ll have leftover egg whites. Save them for:
- Angel food cake
- Angel food parfait
- Meringue cookies
- Pavlova
- Macarons
- Egg white omelets
- Royal icing
Storage Instructions
Store the cooled cake in an airtight container.
- Room temperature: up to 4 days
- Refrigerator: up to 1 week
For the best texture, allow refrigerated cake to come close to room temperature before serving.
Can You Freeze 12 Yolk Cake?
Yes.
Wrap the completely cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Egg yolks provide moisture, richness, and structure. They also create the cake’s signature golden color.
Yes, absolutely. That’s why I shared this recipe. This cake is an excellent way to use leftover yolks from recipes that require egg whites.
Yes. A 12-cup Bundt pan works well for this recipe.
The most common reason is overbaking. Baking times can vary depending on your oven and pan. A calibrated oven helps with accuracy.
Twelve Yolk Cake
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Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 and ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 large egg yolks room temp
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract or vanilla or almond
- 1 cup cold water or milk
Instructions
- Prepare a 10-inch (12-cup) tube pan or 12-cup bundt pan with non-stick spray.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (I recommend you Calibrate your oven!)
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 and ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a mixing bowl, beat egg yolks until very fluffy and thick.12 large egg yolks
- Gradually beat in sugar and beat 2 minutes on high speed, stopping to scrape the bowl.2 cups granulated sugar
- Reduce speed to low and add vanilla, lemon, and cold water.1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon lemon extract, 1 cup cold water
- Gradually, add sifted flour mixture while beating on low. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl. Mix again to combine everything.
- Beat only long enough to blend, about 1 minute.
- Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until lightly golden or until a pick inserted in the thickest portion of the cake comes out clean or with dry crumbs. This is an estimate for baking, and each oven is different. Dark pans tend to cook faster as well. Start watching your cake after 40 minutes the first time you make it, and make notes and adjustments. This cake is a lovely soft texture, but if overbaked it will be dry.
- Cool cake for 15 minutes on wire rack before removing from the pan. Loosen sides of cake from pan with a spatula, then remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
- Store in an airtight container 4 days or on countertop or 1 week in the refrigerator.
Do you have to adjust the oven racks to the lowest position, like Angel Food cake?
I did not
The recipe was a great find to make alongside the 12 egg white angel food cake. I did not have lemon extract, so substituted orange extract. The cake has a wonderful hint of dreamsicle to it. It does have a crispy top, but on the whole it’s a very good cake.
I found a recipe for cookies that calls for 8 cooked egg yolks a few years ago. I’ve made it a couple of times, and they are delicious and very rich. Lots of butter, though:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/184371/swedish-butter-cookies/
Thank you, Phil, I will check out that cookie recipe
I made this today during a blizzard, because I had a dozen leftover egg yolks from another recipe that I didn’t want to waste. I only had a 9″ bundt pan, but it worked okay, and I pulled it out of the oven at 40 minutes, and any longer and it would’ve been too dry. But it is delicious!! My roommates and I love it! I used lemon juice from a lemon instead of lemon extract, and I used around 3 tsp of the lemon juice, and it was good. I also made a glaze with confectioner’s sugar and the juice of the rest of the lemon, as well as some vanilla and water, and drizzled it over the top of the cake after it was cooled. And I also made candied lemon peel as a garnish for the top (I’ve been watching Great British Baking Show a lot, and Mary Berry made it so I wanted to give it a try with the rest of the lemon!) and it is fancy and delicious! Love this cake!
The GBBS is the exact reason I’m looking for cake recipes as well! Those technical challenges have inspired me!
I’m so glad I found this recipe! I hate wasting egg yolks and this recipe was perfect! Will definitely be making this again. Also, when I make pound cake usually use a brick of cream cheese. Do you think that could be added to this?
Thanks so much for this recipe! My dear hubby has been eating all the egg whites and the yolks were adding up. This cake worked beautifully. I used two round cake pans since I don’t have a bundt pan, and had to adjust for higher elevations, but this is a wonderful recipe. I did get a thin crisp layer on top and I’m not sure if the cake was supposed to have it, or if it was the cause of my adjustment for high altitude baking, but it was a lovely texture that enhanced the rest of the cake. Great recipe!!
Had 12 yolks left over from making an angel food cake. Glad I found your recipe. I just made this cake and used Banana extract with the vanilla extract. It’s good, can’t wait to make it again and try it with a different flavor. Thanks!!
My cake in the oven. I am concerned because my batter is thin. Is it supposed to be? I followed the recipe perfectly.
It is thin
This looks delicious and would be perfect since I’ll have leftover egg yolks! I was wondering if fresh lemon juice and/or zest could replace the lemon extract, and if so, how much would be used? Thanks in advance!
You can. I’d use 1 teaspoon of extract.
Can i use cooked egg yolks? I usually throw away the egg yolks from hard boiled eggs; i use spicy hummus for deviled eggs.
No, the yolks cannot be cooked
I found a recipe for cookies that calls for 8 cooked egg yolks a few years ago. I’ve made it a couple of times, and they are delicious and very rich. Lots of butter, though:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/184371/swedish-butter-cookies/