Pastel Swirl Celebration Cake
A vibrant and colorful cake perfect for any special occasion, featuring delightful layers and a creamy frosting.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened for cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- 0.5 cup sour cream
For the Frosting
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened for frosting
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract for frosting
- 1 pinch salt for frosting
- pink gel food coloring
- blue gel food coloring
- yellow gel food coloring
- purple gel food coloring
- pastel sprinkles and sugar pearls
- piping bags with star tips
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients with milk and sour cream until the batter is smooth and creamy.
- Divide batter evenly into pans and bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cake layers cool completely before decorating.
Frosting Preparation
- For the buttercream, beat butter until creamy and fluffy.
- Gradually mix in powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt until thick and smooth.
- Divide the frosting into separate bowls and tint each with pastel food coloring.
Assembly
- Frost the cake with a thin crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes.
- Pipe colorful buttercream swirls, rosettes, and stars all over the cake using different piping tips.
- Finish with pastel sprinkles and sugar pearls.
Notes
Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you need to keep it longer, refrigerate it for about a week. Wrap it well if freezing.