Divine Pink Champagne Cake: 3 Layers Joy

When you have something truly special to celebrate—maybe an anniversary, a big promotion, or just making it through a tough week—you need a cake that sparkles! Forget the heavy, dense layered cakes you usually see. I want something light, airy, and just a little bit giddy, which is why this Pink Champagne Cake recipe is my go-to for any festive occasion.

This cake, with its beautiful blush color and subtle bubbly flavor, just screams happy occasion. I first perfected this batch years ago for my nephew’s college acceptance party. The way the cake just melted in your mouth while still holding up perfectly to three layers of frosting made everyone ask for the recipe immediately!

A slice of three-layer Pink Champagne Cake with delicate pink frosting and white filling.

It’s shockingly easy, too. We’re using the standard creaming method, but the champagne adds such a unique lift and moisture content that you just cannot replicate any other way. Trust me, once you try this, it will become your signature celebration bake.

Why This Pink Champagne Cake Recipe Stands Out

Everyone loves a pretty cake, but this Pink Champagne Cake brings the flavor to match the look! Honestly, using real champagne just transforms the crumb. It feels incredibly luxurious without requiring complicated, fussy techniques. I usually dread making multi-layer cakes, but this one always turns out perfectly structured.

It’s the absolute perfect combination of lightness and celebration packed into three beautiful rounds. I keep this recipe handy for everything from showers to New Year’s Eve!

A slice of a three-layer Pink Champagne Cake, showing the fluffy pink cake layers and light pink frosting.

Key Features of Our Pink Champagne Cake

  • It bakes up surprisingly light and airy, thanks to whipping those egg whites just right.
  • The delicate flavor infusion from the bubbles adds sophistication you won’t find in a standard white cake.
  • That signature pink hue makes it instantly photogenic for any special event.

Essential Ingredients for Your Pink Champagne Cake

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to pull this dream together. The key to the airy texture of this Pink Champagne Cake is paying close attention to a few details right off the bat, especially ingredient temperature. We aren’t using any weird extracts or box mixes here; we are going for the real, sparkly deal!

And please, listen to me on one thing: the better your Pink Champagne, the better your cake will taste. Since it’s a core flavor component, grab something dry and crisp that you’d actually enjoy sipping on. Don’t use something too sweet because we’re balancing that against the sugar in the batter.

For the Cake Layers

Make sure you pull out your egg whites early! Room temperature egg whites whip up into the most glorious, stable foam, giving you that incredible lift. Don’t skip the sifting either—it keeps things light.

  • 2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour (Sifted)
  • 1 1/2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter (Softened—this is crucial for creaming!)
  • 4 large Egg whites (At room temperature)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Pink Champagne (Dry, chilled)
  • 1 drop Pink food coloring (Gel or liquid)

For the Champagne Frosting

This buttercream needs a good base. Make sure your butter is softened perfectly—not melty, but yielding. That ensures your frosting doesn’t end up gritty or soupy when you start adding the liquid champagne!

  • 1 cup Unsalted butter (Softened)
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar (Sifted)
  • 1/4 cup Pink Champagne
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Pink Champagne Cake

This is where the magic happens! Making a great Pink Champagne Cake is all about order and patience. Don’t rush the mixing—that’s how you get the airy crumb we are aiming for. I’ve broken down the process so you can manage the batters and the cooling time beautifully.

Preparing the Pans and Dry Mix

First things first, let’s get that oven warmed up to 350\u00b0F (175\u00b0C). You need three separate 8-inch cake pans ready to go. Remember to grease them really well and then line the bottoms with parchment paper; this double protection stops these delicate cakes from sticking, guaranteed.

In your giant mixing bowl, take your sifted flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Just whisk it all together really well until it looks happy and uniform. We need everything evenly distributed before we introduce the fat.

Mixing the Pink Champagne Cake Batter

Now grab that softened butter and add it right into your dry mixture. Start beating it slowly on low speed with your electric mixer. You are aiming for a texture like coarse, happy crumbs—this step incorporates the initial air! If you want to peek at how I handle vanilla cakes, you can check out this matcha recipe for creaming tips, though the concept is the same.

In a separate bowl, whisk up those room temperature egg whites, vanilla, your chilled champagne, and just one drop of food coloring. Don’t go overboard with the pink unless you want it looking almost neon! Gradually pour the wet mixture into the crumbs while mixing on low. Stop mixing the second everything comes together. Overmixing means a tough cake, and we want fluffy, not tough!

Baking and Cooling Procedures

Divide that glorious pink batter evenly among your three prepared pans. Pop them into the oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll know they are ready when a toothpick slides out clean when you test the center.

Let them sit in the pans for exactly 10 minutes—no more, no less! Any longer and they might stick. Then, invert them carefully onto a wire rack. They absolutely must cool completely, which can take about an hour, before you even think about frosting them. Patience pays off here!

Assembling the Pink Champagne Cake with Frosting

While those layers chill out, whip up that champagne frosting! Beat your softened butter until creamy, then slowly mix in the powdered sugar, alternating with splashes of your champagne and vanilla. You’re looking for a smooth, fluffy spreadable texture.

To assemble your amazing Pink Champagne Cake, place your first layer down, spread a good amount of frosting, stack the next layer, add more frosting, and crown it with the last piece. Take your time spreading the remaining frosting smoothly over the top and sides. Wow, you just made an incredible cake!

A slice of a three-layer Pink Champagne Cake, showcasing the delicate pink crumb and smooth frosting.

Expert Tips for an Amazing Pink Champagne Cake

To really nail this Pink Champagne Cake—to make it feather-light and perfectly stable—you need to treat your ingredients with respect. It’s not complicated, but a few tricks take it from good to truly show-stopping.

I suggest looking at some of my other favorite baking tips here if you want to explore other fantastic frosting ideas too!

Ingredient Temperature and Quality Checks

The easiest way to mess up a light cake is using cold ingredients, especially the egg whites and butter. Those egg whites need to be totally room temperature so they can incorporate air when you whisk them. Cold whites just won’t stretch and hold volume properly, leading to a denser cake base.

Also, make sure your butter for both the cake and the frosting is softened but still slightly cool; if it gets greasy or melty, your creamed mixture will deflate, and you’ll lose that crucial structure needed for a beautiful layer cake.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Pink Champagne Cake

I know not everyone wants to break open a bottle of bubbly just to bake a cake, and that is totally fine! If you need to make an alcohol-free version of this Pink Champagne Cake, you absolutely can. The note in the recipe suggests swapping the champagne for sparkling white grape juice.

It will slightly alter the flavor profile—you lose that hint of dryness—but the carbonation mimics what the real champagne does for the texture, which is really what we need! Just remember, make sure whatever you use is chilled, even the juice, before adding it to the batter.

One other thing: about that pink food coloring. I recommend gel coloring if you can find it. A single drop of gel color gives you a richer pink without adding too much extra liquid to your delicate batter, which helps keep the cake light!

Storing and Serving Your Pink Champagne Cake

Once you’ve put all that effort into this beautiful Pink Champagne Cake, you want to make sure it stays perfect for the party. Because this cake uses a buttercream frosting that has butter and a bit of liquid in it, I usually keep it covered loosely on the counter for serving day, provided your kitchen isn’t super warm. The ambient temperature lets the buttercream stay soft and creamy—nobody likes hard, cold cake!

If you need to store it for more than a day, pop it into an airtight container in the fridge. Just remember to take it out about an hour before serving; this lets the cake layers relax and the flavor come back to life. No one likes chilled frosting!

A slice of moist Pink Champagne Cake with delicate pink frosting and piped details on the side.

Make-Ahead Options

You can totally make the layers ahead of time if you’re planning a big baking day! Bake those three layers, let them cool completely, and then wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap. I mean *tightly*—you don’t want any dry edges forming. These wrapped layers can stay perfectly fresh at room temperature for a full two days, or you can freeze them like that for up to a month. If you freeze them, just thaw them on the counter (still wrapped!) before you start making that dreamy champagne frosting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pink Champagne Cake

I get so many questions whenever I post pictures of this gorgeous Pink Champagne Cake on social media! It’s one of those recipes that just seems intimidating, but I promise it’s not. Here are some of the things folks ask me most often when they are planning their own festive bake.

If you are looking for some other easy baking inspiration, check out some quick tips right here—though you won’t find a cake quite as celebratory as this one!

Can I use sparkling cider instead of champagne?

Yes, you absolutely can! If you need an alcohol-free version of this Champagne Cake, sparkling white grape juice is your best stand-in. It gives you that lovely carbonation needed for texture. Just know that the flavor will be noticeably sweeter and grape-forward compared to the dry, crisp complexity that actual champagne brings to the crumb.

How do I get the pink color so bright?

I touched on this a little earlier, but it bears repeating if you want a truly vibrant pink cake! Liquid food coloring is okay, but it adds more liquid to the batter, which we are trying to avoid. If you want that deep, gorgeous blush without diluting your careful measurements, use a high-quality gel food coloring. One tiny drop goes a long way, giving you fantastic color saturation!

Estimated Nutritional Breakdown for Pink Champagne Cake

Now, listen, I bake for joy and celebration, not for a science lab! So when it comes to the numbers, take these figures with a big grain of salt. I plugged everything into a standard calculator based on the ingredients list, but remember that how much frosting you pile on, or what brand of champagne you used, can change things instantly! These are just general estimates for one slice based on dividing the whole recipe by 12 servings.

If you are really counting macros, you might want to weigh your slices! But for most of us who are just enjoying a beautiful piece of Pink Champagne Cake, this gives you a good ballpark idea:

  • Calories: Around 450 per slice (Wow, that’s a party!)
  • Fat: Roughly 18 grams
  • Carbohydrates: That’s where most of the energy is, around 65 grams
  • Protein: A small boost, about 5 grams

It’s rich, it’s buttery, and it’s definitely a treat! Enjoy every single bite because you deserve a celebration bake this good.

Share Your Pink Champagne Cake Creations

That’s it! You’ve made it through the whole recipe, and now you have this absolutely breathtaking, light, and bubbly Pink Champagne Cake sitting on your counter. I genuinely hope this recipe brings as much joy to your celebrations as it brings to mine.

But here’s the thing—baking is always better when shared! I absolutely live to see what you all create in your kitchens. Did you go light pink or deep magenta? Did you add sprinkles to the frosting? Don’t be shy!

Please come back and leave a rating below. It helps other bakers know this recipe is the real deal, and I read every single comment. Hearing about your milestones is the best part of this whole process.

If you’re looking for more behind-the-scenes thoughts from me about my baking adventures, you can always check out my About Me page!

And when you post pictures of your incredible finished cake on social media, please tag me! I want to shout your beautiful baking from the rooftops whenever I can. Happy celebrating, friends!

A close-up of a slice of Pink Champagne Cake, showing three layers of light cake and pink frosting.

Pink Champagne Cake

This recipe makes a light, pink cake flavored with champagne. It is suitable for celebrations.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour Sifted
  • 1 1/2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter Softened
  • 4 large Egg whites At room temperature
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Pink Champagne Dry, chilled
  • 1 drop Pink food coloring Gel or liquid
For the Frosting
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter Softened
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar Sifted
  • 1/4 cup Pink Champagne
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Cake pans (three 8-inch)

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add the softened butter to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg whites, vanilla extract, pink champagne, and food coloring.
  5. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely. Allow the cakes to cool for at least 60 minutes before frosting.
  8. To make the frosting, beat the softened butter in a bowl until creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, alternating with the pink champagne and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
  9. Assemble the cake by placing one layer on a serving plate. Spread with frosting, top with the next layer, and repeat. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake.

Notes

You can substitute sparkling white grape juice for the champagne if you prefer a non-alcoholic version, though the flavor will change slightly.

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