Description
Light, fluffy, and colorful cake infused with real cotton candy in both the batter and buttercream, delivering a nostalgic spun-sugar flavor perfect for celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup cotton candy, chopped into small pieces
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for buttercream)
- ½ cup cotton candy, chopped into small pieces (for buttercream)
- Pink food coloring (optional)
- Cotton candy (for topping)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans; optionally line bottoms with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Gently fold in chopped cotton candy until incorporated.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans; smooth tops and bake 25–30 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- For buttercream: beat softened butter until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar, beating well after each addition.
- Add heavy cream and vanilla extract; beat until light and fluffy.
- Gently fold in chopped cotton candy; add pink food coloring if desired.
- Place one cake layer on serving plate; spread with buttercream.
- Top with second layer; frost top and sides with remaining buttercream.
- Decorate with tufts of cotton candy and sprinkles just before serving.
Notes
Use fresh cotton candy for best texture. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. Add cotton candy decorations just before serving to prevent melting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 80mg