Go Back

Cotton Candy Cake

A delightful and vibrant cake that captures the nostalgic flavors of cotton candy with colorful layers, perfect for any celebration.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 58 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature Choose high-quality butter for the best flavor.
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg whites, at room temperature For fluffiness.
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract Use pure vanilla for a richer flavor.
  • 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1 drop pink food coloring
  • 1 drop blue food coloring
For the Frosting
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted To avoid lumps.
  • 2-3 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring A must-have for that authentic taste.
  • 1/2 cup buttercream (reserved from frosting for filling)
  • 1 tsp extra cotton candy flavoring Optional.
  • 1 drop extra food coloring for decoration

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this mix aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter and granulated sugar together until pale and fluffy, around 3-5 minutes.
  4. Gradually add egg whites, one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Alternate adding the dry mixture and milk into the butter mixture, starting with flour and ending with it. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Divide the batter into three bowls. Color one pink, one blue, and keep the last uncolored. Pour each batter into the prepared pans.
Baking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
Frosting
  1. For the frosting, beat the room-temperature butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in milk and cotton candy flavoring until light and fluffy.
  2. Reserve 1/2 cup of frosting for filling. Color the remaining frosting pink and blue as desired.
Assembly
  1. Spread a thin layer of reserved buttercream over the uncolored cake layer. Top with the pink layer, spread more filling, and stack the blue layer on top.
  2. Apply a crumb coat with plain buttercream and chill for about 20 minutes.
  3. Frost with colored buttercream and decorate as desired.

Notes

Ensure all dairy ingredients are at room temperature for best mixing results.