A birthday is a special occasion and nothing makes it more memorable than a beautifully baked birthday cake. Whether you’re celebrating with a large party or an intimate gathering a homemade birthday cake adds a personal touch that store bought cakes simply can’t match. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a delicious moist and visually stunning birthday cake from scratch. Follow these steps and you’ll have a cake that looks as good as it tastes.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients and Equipment
- Preparing the Cake Batter
- Baking the Cake
- Making the Frosting
- Assembling and Decorating the Cake
- Tips for a Perfect Birthday Cake
- Variations and Alternatives
Baking a birthday cake is a wonderful way to show someone you care. This recipe is designed to be easy to follow even for those who may not be experienced bakers. With detailed instructions and helpful tips you’ll be able to create a cake that not only tastes amazing but also looks professional.
1. Ingredients and Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk room temperature
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 cups (500g) powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Equipment
- Two 9 inch round cake pans
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spatula
- Cake turntable (optional)
- Offset spatula or cake knife
- Piping bags and tips (optional)
- Cooling rack
2. Preparing the Cake Batter
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl sift together the flour baking powder and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy about 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the granulated sugar beating until light and fluffy about 3 to 5 minutes.
Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
With the mixer on low speed add the dry ingredients in three parts alternating with the milk beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined being careful not to overmix.
Divide and Smooth the Batter
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Use a spatula to smooth the tops.
3. Baking the Cake
Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Cool
Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes then turn them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. This step is crucial to prevent the frosting from melting when applied.
4. Making the Frosting
Beat the Butter
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter on medium speed until creamy about 1 to 2 minutes.
Add Powdered Sugar
Gradually add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time beating on low speed until incorporated. Once all the sugar is added increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy about 3 minutes.
Add Cream and Vanilla
Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract beating on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick add more cream 1 tablespoon at a time. If it’s too thin add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time.
Color the Frosting (Optional)
If you want to add color to your frosting divide it into separate bowls and mix in a few drops of food coloring until the desired shades are achieved.
5. Assembling and Decorating the Cake
Level the Cakes
If the cakes have domed tops use a serrated knife to level them. This will make stacking and decorating easier.
Apply the Crumb Coat
Place one cake layer on your serving plate or a cake turntable. Spread a thin layer of frosting over the top. Place the second layer on top and cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting (the crumb coat). This helps to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate the cake for 15 to 30 minutes to set the crumb coat.
Frost the Cake
Apply a thicker layer of frosting over the crumb coat using an offset spatula or cake knife to smooth the top and sides.
Decorate
Now comes the fun part! You can use piping bags and tips to create decorative borders flowers or other designs. If you’re new to cake decorating simple swirls or rosettes can add a beautiful touch. You can also add sprinkles edible glitter or other decorations to make the cake festive.
6. Tips for a Perfect Birthday Cake
- Room Temperature Ingredients:
- Ensure all your ingredients (butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature. This helps them combine more smoothly resulting in a better texture.
- Measuring Flour:
- Spoon and level the flour rather than scooping it directly from the bag. This prevents the flour from becoming packed and ensures accurate measurement.
- Don’t Overmix:
- Overmixing the batter can lead to a dense cake. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
- Cool Completely:
- Make sure the cakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Smooth Frosting:
- For a professional looking finish use a bench scraper or an offset spatula to smooth the frosting.
7. Variations and Alternatives
Chocolate Birthday Cake
Replace 1/2 cup of the flour with 1/2 cup of cocoa powder to make a chocolate cake. Follow the same steps as above.
Gluten-Free Birthday Cake
Use a gluten free all purpose flour blend in place of the regular flour. Ensure all other ingredients (like baking powder) are gluten-free.
Vegan Birthday Cake
For a vegan cake replace the butter with a vegan margarine the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg) and the milk with a plant based milk like almond or soy.
Funfetti Birthday Cake
Add 1/2 cup of rainbow sprinkles to the batter for a funfetti cake. Gently fold the sprinkles into the batter before dividing it between the cake pans.
Different Frosting Flavors
Experiment with different frosting flavors by adding extracts or other ingredients. For example add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the frosting for chocolate buttercream or replace the vanilla extract with almond extract for a different flavor.
Baking a birthday cake from scratch is a labor of love that results in a delicious and personalized treat. By following these detailed steps you’ll be able to create a cake that not only tastes amazing but also looks beautiful. Whether you stick to the classic recipe or try one of the variations the recipient is sure to feel special and appreciated.
Enjoy the process and happy baking! Your homemade birthday cake is sure to be a hit at any celebration.
