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A slice of a whimsical birthday cake with colorful confetti cake layers and white frosting topped with rainbow sprinkles.

Whimsical Birthday Cake

This recipe provides instructions for making a whimsical birthday cake suitable for a party.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 3 large Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Milk
For the Frosting
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup Milk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • Food coloring Assorted gel colors For whimsical effect

Equipment

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

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Divide the batter evenly between 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.
  8. To make the frosting, beat the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with the milk and vanilla extract. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
  9. Divide the frosting into several small bowls. Tint each portion with a different gel food coloring to achieve bright, whimsical colors.
  10. Once the cakes are cool, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a layer of frosting on top. Place the second layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake with the remaining colored frostings, mixing colors randomly for a whimsical look.

Notes

You can decorate the finished cake with sprinkles, edible glitter, or small candy decorations to enhance the whimsical theme.