Cotton Candy Cake Recipe

This Cotton Candy Cake is a whimsical, fun, and colorful dessert that brings the nostalgia of cotton candy to life in cake form! With a fluffy, light texture and a sweet cotton candy flavor, this cake is perfect for birthdays, parties, or any celebration that calls for something sweet and festive. The cotton candy flavor shines through with a vibrant pink and blue frosting, making it as delightful to look at as it is to eat!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Cotton Candy Cake is an exciting and playful twist on a traditional cake. The cake itself is light and fluffy, with a subtle cotton candy flavor that’s enhanced by the vibrant frosting. The combination of the soft cake and sweet frosting makes it a crowd-pleaser, and it’s sure to impress both kids and adults. Plus, the cotton candy topping gives it a fun, carnival-like vibe that’s perfect for any celebration!

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (available online or at specialty stores)

• 1 cup whole milk

• 1/4 teaspoon pink food coloring

• 1/4 teaspoon blue food coloring

For the Cotton Candy Frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons whole milk (or more, as needed)

• 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon pink food coloring

• 1/4 teaspoon blue food coloring

• Pinch of salt

For the Cotton Candy Garnish:

• Cotton candy (store-bought or homemade) for decorating (optional)

Directions

Make the Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, or line them with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and cotton candy flavoring.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

6. Divide the batter evenly between two bowls. Add the pink food coloring to one bowl and the blue food coloring to the other, stirring gently to combine.

7. Pour the pink batter into one cake pan and the blue batter into the other.

8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

Make the Cotton Candy Frosting:
9. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
10. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
11. Add the milk, cotton candy flavoring, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy.
12. Divide the frosting into two bowls. Add the pink food coloring to one bowl and the blue food coloring to the other. Mix each bowl of frosting until fully combined.
13. Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread a layer of pink frosting on top of the blue cake layer and a layer of blue frosting on top of the pink cake layer.

Assemble the Cake:
14. Place the blue-frosted layer on a serving plate, then top it with the pink-frosted layer.
15. Use a spatula to smooth the frosting on the sides and top of the cake, creating a marbled effect if desired.
16. If using cotton candy for decoration, top the cake with a generous amount of cotton candy just before serving for a fun and whimsical touch.

Servings and Timing
This recipe makes a 2-layer cake, serving about 12-14 people. Prep time is about 20 minutes, bake time is 25-30 minutes, and frosting and assembly takes about 15 minutes, so the total time is around 1 hour 15 minutes.

Variations
I like to:

• Add sprinkles to the frosting for extra fun and texture.

• Use a different flavoring, such as vanilla or strawberry, if you can’t find cotton candy flavoring.

• Fill the center of the cake with cotton candy or candy floss for an even more over-the-top effect.

Storage
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you’re using cotton candy as a garnish, it’s best to add it right before serving, as it can melt quickly.

FAQs

Can I make this cake in advance?
Yes! You can bake the cake layers in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days before frosting and assembling. The frosting can also be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; just rewhip it before using.

Can I use store-bought frosting?
While homemade frosting is ideal for this recipe, you can substitute store-bought frosting if you’re short on time. Just be sure to use a vanilla or buttercream variety, and add the cotton candy flavoring to make it more authentic.

Can I make this cake without food coloring?
Yes! The food coloring is mainly for aesthetic purposes, so you can skip it if you prefer a more neutral or pastel-colored cake. The cotton candy flavoring will still give it a fun taste.

Conclusion
This Cotton Candy Cake is a fun, playful, and vibrant treat that’s perfect for any celebration, especially kids’ birthdays or parties. The fluffy cake, sweet cotton candy flavor, and colorful frosting make it both delicious and visually stunning. Whether you serve it as a showstopper for a special occasion or just for fun, this cake will surely delight everyone who gets a taste!