A fluffy, pastel-colored layer cake with vibrant cotton candy buttercream, perfect for celebrations. Made with a simple cake mix hack, this whimsical dessert comes together in under an hour.
Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Servings
12 servings
Optional — the recipe works without them.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until smooth and lump-free. Divide batter into two bowls if coloring layers. Add a few drops of pink gel to one, blue to the other, mixing until pastel shades form.
Pour batter into prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Beat softened butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream, until smooth. Mix in vanilla, salt, and cotton candy syrup until the frosting is fluffy and lightly colored.
Level cakes if necessary. Place one layer on a serving plate, spread a generous amount of cotton candy buttercream. Top with the second layer and frost the sides and top evenly. For a whimsical finish, use a spatula to create soft swirls.
Used in this recipe: Electric Hand Mixer Wire Cooling Rack Offset Spatula (Amazon, affiliate links)
570 kcal
Calories