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Cotton Candy Layer Cake

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A whimsical and colorful layer cake that captures the sweet essence of cotton candy, perfect for celebrations and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg whites
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • Pink and blue food coloring
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (for buttercream)
  • 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2–3 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup reserved buttercream (for filling)
  • 1 tsp extra cotton candy flavoring (optional)
  • Extra food coloring for vibrant swirls (optional)
  • Edible glitter or small tufts of cotton candy (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
  4. Add Egg Whites: Add the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk, mixing just until combined.
  6. Divide the Batter: Divide the batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one uncolored, tint one with pink, and the last with blue food coloring.
  7. Bake: Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto wire racks.
  8. Make the Buttercream: Beat the remaining butter until smooth, then gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, milk, cotton candy flavoring, and pinch of salt; beat until smooth.
  9. Prepare the Filling: Reserve 1/2 cup of buttercream, tint the remaining with pink and blue food coloring.
  10. Create the Filling: Mix the reserved buttercream with more cotton candy flavoring if desired, swirl the pink and blue together.
  11. Assemble the Cake: Layer the uncolored cake, spread with the marbled filling, add the pink layer, repeat, and top with the blue layer.
  12. Frost the Cake: Apply a crumb coat with plain buttercream, chill for 20 minutes, then apply the final pastel frosting layer.
  13. Decorate: Add pink swirls and edible decorations before serving.

Notes

Remember to bring your butter and eggs to room temperature for the best results. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://us.recipesfood.org/cotton-candy-layer-cake/

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