Description
Butterfly Garden Cake is a soft and fluffy vanilla layer cake, beautifully frosted with pastel buttercream and decorated with edible butterflies, flowers, and greenery. Designed to mimic a blooming garden in spring, it’s both a feast for the eyes and a delight for the taste buds.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Optional: pastel food coloring for tinted layers
- For the Buttercream:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2–4 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- Gel food coloring in pastel shades (lavender, mint, blush pink, sky blue, etc.)
- For Decoration:
- Edible wafer paper butterflies or pre-made sugar butterflies
- Edible flowers (like pansies, violas, chamomile)
- Fresh herbs (mint, thyme, rosemary sprigs)
- Gold leaf or pearl sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk. Mix until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly and tint each layer with pastel colors if desired.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Make the Buttercream:
- Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream.
- Divide into bowls and tint with gel colors for desired palette.
- Assemble the Cake:
- Layer cake rounds with buttercream between each.
- Apply a smooth outer layer or an ombré effect with pastel buttercream.
- Decorate with edible butterflies, flowers, and fresh herbs to create a garden look.
Notes
- Use floral tape or inserts if placing fresh herbs or non-edible decor into the cake.
- Chill the cake for 20 minutes before decorating for cleaner frosting work.
- Store covered in the fridge and serve at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Calories: ~530
- Sugar: ~50g
- Sodium: ~190mg
- Fat: ~27g
- Saturated Fat: ~17g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~8g
- Trans Fat: ~0.5g
- Carbohydrates: ~65g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Protein: ~5g
- Cholesterol: ~95mg
