Description
This pastel layer cake recipe combines soft, colorful cake layers with creamy buttercream frosting to create a visually stunning and delicious dessert. Perfect for celebrations like birthdays, weddings, or baby showers, this recipe ensures a flavorful and elegant centerpiece for any festive occasion.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
Gel food coloring (pink, yellow, blue, green)
For the Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons heavy cream
Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour four 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly into four bowls. Add different colors of gel food coloring to each bowl to achieve pastel shades.
- Pour each colored batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- For the Buttercream Frosting:
- Beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
- Add the vanilla extract and pinch of salt. Gradually add the heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Assemble the Cake: Once the cakes have cooled completely, stack the layers, spreading a thin layer of frosting between each pastel layer. Frost the entire cake with the remaining buttercream.
Notes
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Kcal: 350 kcal | Servings: 8 servings.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (out of 8 servings)
- Calories: 350 kcal per serving
Keywords: Pastel Layer Cake, Layer Cake, Birthday Cake, Celebration Cake, Buttercream Frosting