Purple Buttercream Birthday Cake with Butterflies
This enchanting cake features tender layers and vibrant purple buttercream, perfect for celebrating special moments with loved ones.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- purple food coloring add to achieve desired shade
- 1 pinch salt
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- vanilla extract to taste
- purple food coloring to reach desired shade
For Decoration
- fondant or edible paper for butterfly decorations
- edible glitter for decorating butterflies
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your cake pans generously.
- Combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, creaming together until fluffy and pale.
- Gradually add eggs, beating well to create a rich, airy mixture.
- Sift cake flour and salt into the bowl, gently folding them into the wet ingredients.
- Add purple food coloring and mix until the batter reaches a beautiful lavender shade.
- Pour in whole milk, mixing until you have a luscious, pourable consistency.
- Divide the batter evenly between your prepared pans.
Baking
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the cakes bake, prepare your buttercream by creaming together softened butter and powdered sugar until silky.
- Add heavy cream and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth, and adjust the color to your desired shade of purple.
Assembly
- After the cake layers cool completely, spread buttercream generously between each layer.
- Cover the exterior of the cake with a final coat of frosting, smoothing it out beautifully.
- For decoration, create butterfly shapes using fondant or edible paper, dust them with edible glitter, and allow them to dry before placing on the cake.
Notes
For a healthier option, consider substituting whole wheat flour for cake flour. To make a chocolate version, replace half of the flour with cocoa powder.