Cotton Candy Cake Fluffy Layers

This showstopper cotton candy cake is pure celebration with every bite from its pastel swirl exterior to the cloudlike cotton candy topping and dreamy flavor. It is perfect when you want something both beautiful and whimsical for birthdays or special occasions. Each step in the recipe creates fun inside and out and it always draws a crowd.

I first made this for my youngest’s birthday who is cotton candy obsessed everyone at the party was asking for seconds and the cake was gone before I could blink

Ingredients

• Cake flour: use for a light feathery crumb DIY version works just as well as store bought
• Baking powder and baking soda: provide the perfect fluffy lift every time
• Butter: brings richness use real unsalted and keep it room temperature for best results
• Granulated sugar: sweetens and helps create a tender cake
• Egg whites: make the cake pure white and help the texture stay light
• Vegetable oil: keeps each layer extra moist
• Cotton candy flavoring: key for the carnival flair Amoretti brand is excellent
• Buttermilk: softens crumb and adds subtle tang use full fat and let it come to room temperature
• Pink and blue food coloring gel: for bold color that will not fade as much while baking
• For the buttercream: more unsalted butter for silkiness powdered sugar for fluffiness and more cotton candy flavoring plus blue and purple food gels for the watercolor effect
• Cotton candy for topping: tear fresh so it stays fluffy

• Butter: go for real unsalted not margarine and make sure your eggs are fresh for the sturdiest layers

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Pans and Oven:

Begin by preheating your oven to the right temperature and prepping the cake pans with parchment at the bottom and baking spray along the sides This makes the cakes easy to unmold and prevents sticking

Mix Dry Ingredients:

Whisk together flour baking powder baking soda and salt in a medium bowl This step ensures even rise and a perfect crumb

Cream Butter and Sugar:

Beat the butter by itself first until very creamy Then add sugar and keep beating until it turns very light and fluffy This is crucial for a soft cake structure so do not rush it

Incorporate Eggs and Oil:

On low speed add in egg whites one by one mixing gently so you keep the air in the mixture Add oil and the cotton candy flavor and boost the mixer to high for an extra minute for an ultra smooth base

Combine Wet and Dry:

With the mixer off dump all dry ingredients in at once and mix on low so you do not overwork the gluten Slowly pour in the buttermilk until just combined Your batter will look a bit runny but that is perfect for this cake

Color the Batter:

Separate the batter equally into two bowls Add a drop of pink gel color to one and blue to the other Stir just to blend The blue will appear almost purple which is ideal for that watercolor look

Layer with Color:

Scoop alternating colors into prepared pans using a half cup at a time The pattern does not need to be perfect and the randomness is what gives the cake its playful interior

Bake and Cool:

Bake the layers until just set and a toothpick comes out mostly clean This usually takes a half hour Let cakes rest briefly in the pans then fully cool on racks to avoid gummy texture

Make the Buttercream:

Beat butter until just about white in color This takes patience and gives the silkiest result Slowly add powdered sugar on low then add milk and salt Keep going until totally smooth If making pastel frosting set aside a cup of the buttercream for mixing with blue and purple gels The rest gets flavored with cotton candy and tinted naturally pink

Assemble Cake:

Trim cake tops so layers are flat Spread a thick layer of buttercream over each and stack when ready Crumb coat whole cake and chill until stable Divide the reserved buttercream and tint one bowl purple and the other blue Use all three pink purple blue shades to create a watercolor effect across the cake Chill to set When ready finish with piped buttercream swirls around the top edge and place big tufts of cotton candy right before serving for ultimate magic

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My favorite part is adding the cotton candy on top it always makes my kids gasp and cheer Decorating this cake became our pre party tradition and now everyone likes to help swirl the pastel colors together

Storage Tips

You can bake the cake layers up to two days ahead wrap tightly and keep at room temperature If freezing double wrap to prevent freezer burn Thaw completely before assembling
Buttercream keeps in the fridge two weeks Store in an airtight tub and rewhip before using so it becomes fluffy again
Cotton candy does not last on the cake Add it just before serving or it will wilt from the frosting’s moisture

Ingredient Substitutions

If you cannot find cake flour make your own by removing two tablespoons of flour from each cup of all purpose flour and replacing with cornstarch
No buttermilk Use a mix of whole milk with a spoonful of vinegar stirred in and let rest a few minutes
If you cannot get cotton candy flavoring try a mix of vanilla and almond extracts but you will miss the signature taste

Serving Suggestions

This cake is ideal for birthdays baby showers or any event calling for a showpiece Thin slices go a long way as it is rich and tall
Add extra pastel candies or edible sprinkles if you want to lean into the celebration theme
Serve with pastel colored drinks or homemade lemonade for a fun carnival inspired spread

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A Touch of History

Cotton candy was originally invented by a candy maker and a dentist at the turn of the 20th century It wowed crowds at the 1904 Worlds Fair and became a fairground favorite This cake brings that iconic fair nostalgia to your own kitchen in a modern whimsical way

Recipe FAQs

→ What gives the cake its cotton candy flavor?

This cake uses Amoretti Natural Cotton Candy Artisan Flavor to achieve a distinct, nostalgic sweetness throughout the batter and buttercream.

→ How do I get vibrant pastel colors in the cake layers?

Divide the batter into separate bowls and tint each with a drop of pink or blue food color gel, then alternate spoonfuls into the pans for a watercolor effect.

→ Can I make the cake or buttercream ahead?

Cake layers and buttercream can be made in advance and safely refrigerated (or frozen, in the case of cake), but assemble close to serving for freshness.

→ When should I add the cotton candy on top?

Cotton candy should be used as a topping right before displaying or serving, as it tends to shrink and lose shape after about an hour.

→ What type of flour is best for this cake?

Sifted cake flour ensures an extra-light crumb. Homemade cake flour using all-purpose flour and cornstarch can also be substituted.

→ How do I achieve the swirl effect with the frosting?

Reserve portions of buttercream and tint them in pastel shades. Use small spatulas to blend colors in a watercolor style around the cake’s exterior.