healthy princess birthday cake
This princess birthday cake is a soft, buttery celebration cake layered with love, nostalgia, and a swirl of magic. Perfect for baby’s first birthday, little girls' princess parties, or any celebration that deserves a sweet, sparkling centerpiece.
Equipment
- 8 or 9-inch Round Cake Pans
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Cooling Rack
- Piping bag (optional)
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs separated
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 2 pinches salt divided
- 1 cup milk room temperature
- optional food coloring pink, lavender, or mint
Frosting & Decoration
- buttercream frosting for decorating
- sprinkles, edible pearls, or fresh berries for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch or two 9-inch round pans. Line a 6-inch pan if making a smash cake.
- Cream butter and sugar for 4–5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and one pinch of salt. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk into the batter. Mix until just smooth.
- In a clean bowl, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. Gently fold into the batter.
- Divide batter and add optional coloring if desired. Pour into prepared pans and bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
- Frost with a crumb coat, then add a final layer of buttercream. Decorate with piping, sprinkles, pearls, or berries as desired.
Notes
You can substitute part of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour for a heartier texture. Greek yogurt can also be used in place of some butter.
For a 'berry first birthday,' use whipped cream and berries instead of heavy frosting.