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Perfect Watercolor Buttercream Spring Birthday Cake

watercolor buttercream spring birthday cake - featured image
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A light, buttery cake decorated with a simple yet stunning watercolor buttercream technique, perfect for spring birthdays and easy enough for home bakers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2–4 tablespoons (30-60ml) heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • Gel food coloring in pastel shades (pink, blue, lavender, green)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside.
  3. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients; mix gently until combined.
  6. Stir in vanilla extract.
  7. Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. Beat softened butter for buttercream until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed to avoid dust clouds.
  10. Add heavy cream and vanilla extract; beat on high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
  11. Divide buttercream into small bowls and tint each with different pastel gel colors.
  12. Place one cake layer on a board or plate. Spread an even layer of buttercream, then stack next layer.
  13. Apply a thin crumb coat around the cake and chill for 20-30 minutes.
  14. Spread a thin layer of plain buttercream over the cake.
  15. Using a food-safe brush, dab or swipe colored buttercream onto the cake surface to create a watercolor effect, blending softly.
  16. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes to set buttercream. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use European-style butter for silkier buttercream. Let butter and eggs come to room temperature before mixing. Use gel food coloring for best results. Chill cake between crumb coat and final decoration to help frosting hold shape. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend and ensure baking powder is gluten-free. For vegan, use dairy-free butter and coconut cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: watercolor buttercream cake, spring birthday cake, pastel cake, easy decorated cake, buttercream frosting, simple cake recipe

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/perfect-watercolor-buttercream-spring-birthday-cake-easy-step-by-step-tutorial/