Spring Funfetti Cake Pastel (Print page)

A light vanilla cake dotted with rainbow sprinkles, topped by vibrant pastel buttercream for joyful celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
10 - 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
11 - 2/3 cup rainbow sprinkles

→ Pastel Buttercream

12 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
13 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1/4 cup whole milk
15 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt
17 - Food coloring gels in pastel pink, blue, yellow, and purple

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and sour cream until combined.
06 - Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three parts, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
07 - Gently fold rainbow sprinkles into batter using a rubber spatula.
08 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth the tops.
09 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Beat butter until smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
12 - Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until fully incorporated.
13 - Add milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
14 - Divide buttercream into four bowls. Tint each portion with a different pastel food coloring gel.
15 - Dollop or pipe colored buttercream onto cooled cake layers. Swirl colors together to create a marbled pastel effect.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Soft, moist vanilla cake with a tender crumb that melts in your mouth
  • Rainbow sprinkles throughout add pops of color and fun texture
  • Pastel buttercream creates a stunning marbled finish perfect for spring
  • Easy to customize with different color combinations
  • Perfect celebration cake for Easter, baby showers, birthdays, and spring parties
  • Uses simple pantry ingredients with professional-looking results
02 -
  • Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more vibrant, true-to-tone pastels without thinning the buttercream
  • Sift powdered sugar before adding to buttercream to prevent lumps and achieve silky smoothness
  • Let cake layers cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding
  • For the marbled effect, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to gently swirl colors together
  • Check sprinkle labels for allergen information, especially if serving guests with nut or soy allergies
  • Store decorated cake in the refrigerator if your kitchen is warm, but bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving for best flavor and texture
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