Bring the magic of the carnival straight to your dessert table with this whimsical Cotton Candy Cake. Featuring beautiful pastel pink and blue layers, this cake combines the light, sweet flavor of spun sugar with a moist, tender crumb. It is the ultimate showstopper for children’s birthdays, baby showers, or any summer party. Frosted with a fluffy cotton candy buttercream and garnished with actual cotton candy, this cake is as visually stunning as it is delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons cotton candy flavoring extract
- Pink and blue gel food coloring
- For the Buttercream: 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (softened), 5 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the cotton candy flavoring.
- Combine Batter: Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined.
- Color the Layers: Divide the batter equally into two bowls. Stir a drop of pink gel food coloring into one bowl, and a drop of blue gel food coloring into the other, mixing until you get vibrant pastel colors.
- Bake: Pour the batters into the prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frost and Decorate: Make the buttercream by beating butter, then slowly adding powdered sugar, cream, and flavoring until fluffy. Divide the frosting, coloring half pink and half blue. Frost the cake layers, creating a marbled pink and blue outer layer. Garnish with a crown of fresh cotton candy just before serving.
Tips and Notes
- Garnish at the Last Minute: Real cotton candy melts quickly when exposed to moisture in the air or frosting. Always place the cotton candy topper on the cake right before presenting and slicing it.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Liquid food coloring can water down the batter and won’t produce the same vibrant pastel shades as gel food coloring.
