Cotton Candy Cake (Printable)
A fluffy pastel layer cake infused with cotton candy flavor and topped with billowy buttercream.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake Batter
01 - 2½ cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 2½ tsp baking powder
03 - ½ tsp salt
04 - ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tbsp cotton candy flavoring
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 1¼ cups (300 ml) whole milk, room temperature
10 - Pink and blue food coloring, as desired
→ Cotton Candy Buttercream
11 - 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
12 - 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1½ tsp cotton candy flavoring
14 - 2–3 tbsp whole milk or cream
15 - Pink and blue food coloring, as desired
→ Decoration
16 - Fresh cotton candy, to garnish
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3–4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the cotton candy flavoring and vanilla extract until evenly combined.
05 - With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the whole milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
06 - Divide the batter evenly into two bowls. Tint one portion pink and the other blue using food coloring. Drop spoonfuls of each color alternately into the prepared cake pans for a marbled effect, then swirl gently with a skewer or knife.
07 - Bake for 25–28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each layer comes out clean.
08 - Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar on low speed. Mix in the cotton candy flavoring and milk until the buttercream is smooth and fluffy. Divide the frosting and tint one portion pink and the other blue as desired.
10 - Layer and frost the cooled cake with the buttercream, swirling pink and blue together for a cotton candy effect.
11 - Just before serving, crown the cake with fluffy pieces of fresh cotton candy. Serve immediately to prevent the cotton candy from dissolving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marbled pink and blue batter looks absolutely magical before it even goes in the oven.
- Cotton candy flavoring gives the cake a sweet whimsical taste that surprises everyone at the first bite.
- The buttercream is surprisingly easy to swirl into a dreamy pastel finish.
02 -
- Cotton candy dissolves on contact with moisture, so never place it on the cake until the exact moment you are ready to serve.
- Room temperature ingredients blend far more smoothly than cold ones, and cold batter can cause the marbling to look streaky instead of swirled.
03 -
- Chill your cake layers in the fridge for 15 minutes before frosting and the crumb coat will go on without tearing.
- A lazy susan or turntable makes frosting so much easier and gives you those smooth professional looking sides.