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Easy Fluffy Cotton Candy Cake for Magical Birthdays

Close-up of a slice of cotton candy cake showing layers of white cake, pink filling, and marbled pink/blue frosting, topped with swirls and real cotton candy.
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Make a whimsical, sweet, and fluffy cotton candy cake with pastel pink and blue swirls. This easy recipe delivers a showstopper dessert perfect for any celebration.

Ingredients

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  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring extract
  • Pink and blue gel food coloring
  • For the Frosting: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring extract
  • 2–4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Pink and blue gel food coloring
  • For Decoration: 1 cup real cotton candy floss (pink and blue)
  • Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and cotton candy flavoring extract.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide the batter evenly into three separate bowls. Leave one bowl white. Add a few drops of pink gel coloring to the second bowl and mix until you achieve a light pink color. Add blue gel coloring to the third bowl and mix until you achieve a light blue color.
  6. Spoon alternating dollops of the white, pink, and blue batters randomly into the prepared cake pans. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the colors together once or twice to create a marbled, pastel effect. Do not overmix the colors.
  7. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare the frosting: Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined. Add vanilla extract, cotton candy flavoring extract, and heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  10. Divide the frosting into two bowls. Color one bowl light pink and the other light blue using gel coloring.
  11. Once cakes are completely cool, place one layer on your serving plate. Spread a thin layer of white frosting (or one of the pastel colors) over the top. Place the second layer on top.
  12. Frost the entire cake with a thin crumb coat of white frosting and chill for 15 minutes.
  13. Apply the final layer of frosting. For a whimsical look, alternate spreading the pink and blue frosting around the sides and top of the cake, swirling gently with an offset spatula to blend the pastel colors.
  14. Immediately before serving, gently press or drape small tufts of real cotton candy floss onto the top and sides of the cake. Add sprinkles if desired.

Notes

  • For the best pastel swirl effect, use gel food coloring instead of liquid coloring, as it adds less moisture to the batter.
  • Apply the real cotton candy floss right before serving, as it dissolves quickly, especially in humid environments.
  • You can substitute the cotton candy flavoring extract with a clear cotton candy syrup if you prefer a stronger flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/cotton-candy-cake-recipe-fluffy-magical/