Pastel Snowflake Cake

🧾 Ingredients

🧁 For the Vanilla Cake (3 x 6-inch or 2 x 8-inch layers):

• 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tsp almond + 1 tsp vanilla)
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk or buttermilk
• Optional: a few drops of pastel food coloring (blue, purple, or pink)

🌈 For the Pastel Buttercream:

• 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
• 2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
• Gel food coloring: pastel pink, blue, lavender
• Edible glitter, white nonpareils, sanding sugar

❄️ For the Snowflake Decorations:

• White fondant or gum paste
• Snowflake cookie cutter or plunger cutter
• Edible glitter or shimmer dust
• OR: Pipe royal icing snowflakes and freeze until firm

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line your cake pans.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla/almond extract.
5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture.
6. (Optional) Divide batter into bowls and tint with pastel gel food coloring.
7. Bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool completely before assembling.

2. Make the Buttercream:

1. Beat butter until smooth and fluffy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar.
3. Mix in vanilla and cream until silky and spreadable.
4. Divide into 2–3 bowls and tint each with a different pastel color.

3. Decorate:

1. Fill and stack your cake layers with buttercream.
2. For an ombré or swirled look, apply different pastel colors to the sides of the cake in blobs and smooth with a cake scraper.
3. Pipe rosettes or snowflake bursts on top using star or round tips.

4. Add Snowflake Decorations:

• Roll fondant/gum paste and cut snowflakes. Dust with shimmer powder or brush lightly with water and dip in edible glitter.
• OR pipe snowflakes with royal icing onto parchment and freeze before placing on the cake.
• Arrange snowflakes on the sides and top, layering some with dots of buttercream for dimension.

✨ Optional Additions:

• Mini marshmallows or coconut flakes around the base for a snow-like effect
• White chocolate ganache drip tinted with pastel coloring
• Snow globe topper with clear isomalt dome or plastic ornament

❄️ Serving Tips:

• Keep cake chilled if not serving immediately. Bring to room temp 30 minutes before slicing.
• Great for winter weddings, baby showers, or Frozen parties.