Mix the batter well, but not too much: Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture is fluffy and turns a lighter color, ...

Either adapt your chosen yellow cake recipe to make it denser with less of a rise or find a vanilla cookie bar recipe, then frost it with a generous layer of chocolate icing and you're onto a winner.

Martha Stewart’s Birthday Cake Recipe Is Wildly Over-the-Top (But So Worth It) originally appeared on Parade.

Baking can sometimes be a daunting task to undertake, but this tried-and-true cake formula is a classic for a reason. Try it ...

Pipe a border of vanilla icing to within ¼-inch of edge of cake. Fill border with the lemon curd and top evenly with strawberries. Top with second inverted cake, pressing lightly to adhere.