Description

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!

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)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, or line them with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and cotton candy flavoring.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
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.
Pour the pink batter into one cake pan and the blue batter into the other.
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.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the milk, cotton candy flavoring, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy.
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.
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.
Place the blue-frosted layer on a serving plate, then top it with the pink-frosted layer.
Use a spatula to smooth the frosting on the sides and top of the cake, creating a marbled effect if desired.
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.

Notes

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.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: Varies depending on ingredients used
Sugar: Varies
Sodium: Varies
Fat: Varies depending on butter and milk used
Saturated Fat: Varies
Unsaturated Fat: Varies
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: Varies
Fiber: Varies
Protein: Varies
Cholesterol: Varies depending on butter and eggs used