Festive Colorful Vanilla Cake (Printable View)
A celebration-worthy vanilla layer cake dotted with vibrant rainbow sprinkles and topped with creamy buttercream frosting.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
09 - 3/4 cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies)
→ Buttercream Frosting
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
13 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Extra sprinkles for decoration
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles with a spatula, being careful not to overmix or the colors may bleed.
07 - Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Smooth the tops and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool layers in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until light, fluffy, and spreadable.
10 - Once cake layers are completely cool, frost the top of one layer, place the second layer on top, and cover the cake with remaining frosting. Decorate with extra sprinkles.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sprinkles stay suspended in the batter creating tiny bursts of color in every single bite
- That perfect birthday cake flavor that takes you straight back to childhood celebrations
- The buttercream is forgiving enough for beginners but impressive enough for company
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients aren't just a suggestion, they're the difference between a tender cake and a dense one
- Overfolding the sprinkles can make them bleed color, so gently fold just until they're distributed
- The cake must be completely cool before frosting or your buttercream will melt right off
03 -
- Freeze unfrosted cake layers for up to three months wrapped in plastic and foil
- Add a teaspoon of almond extract for that famous bakery flavor everyone tries to identify