Spring Birthday Cake Pastel (Printable)

Tender vanilla cake with creamy pastel floral buttercream, ideal for festive spring birthday gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Buttercream

09 - 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Gel food coloring in pink, yellow, lavender, green, and blue

→ Decoration

15 - Edible flower petals
16 - Sprinkles

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined without overmixing.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans and smooth the tops.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
08 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy and smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
10 - Divide buttercream into separate bowls and tint each with desired pastel gel food coloring.
11 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread buttercream on top, and repeat with remaining layers.
12 - Apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream over the entire cake and chill for 20 minutes.
13 - Decorate the cake with pastel buttercreams using piping bags fitted with various tips to create floral designs. Garnish with edible petals or sprinkles if desired.
14 - Chill for 15 to 20 minutes before serving to set the buttercream.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Classic vanilla flavor that appeals to all ages and tastes
  • Stunning pastel floral decoration that's perfect for spring birthdays
  • Tender, moist cake layers with smooth, creamy buttercream
  • Customizable colors to match any party theme or celebration
  • Medium difficulty level makes it achievable for home bakers
  • Feeds a crowd with 12 generous servings
02 -
  • Use gel food coloring instead of liquid to achieve vibrant pastels without thinning the buttercream
  • Practice your piping technique on parchment paper before decorating the actual cake
  • Keep your piping bags in the refrigerator between use to prevent the buttercream from becoming too soft
  • Use a turntable when frosting and decorating for smoother, more professional results
  • Invest in quality piping tips—petal tips create beautiful flowers while leaf tips add realistic greenery
  • If the buttercream becomes too soft while decorating, pop the whole cake in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up
Go back