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Cotton Candy Cake

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This cotton candy cake is a soft, pastel-hued dessert infused with the nostalgic sweetness of cotton candy flavor. With fluffy cake layers, creamy frosting, and a playful swirl of pink and blue, it’s the perfect show-stopping centerpiece for birthdays, parties, and special celebrations.

  • Author: Julia
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (plus cooling)
  • Yield: 12 slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 ¾ cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1 ½ tsp cotton candy flavoring extract

Pink and blue gel food coloring (optional)

For the Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

3–4 tbsp heavy cream or milk

1 tsp cotton candy flavoring extract

Pink and blue gel food coloring (optional)

For Decoration:

Fresh cotton candy for topping (add just before serving)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in cotton candy flavoring.

Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.

(Optional) Divide batter into two bowls. Tint one pink and one blue, then spoon alternating dollops into pans. Swirl gently with a knife.

Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in cream and cotton candy flavoring. Divide and tint if desired.

Frost cooled cakes, stack layers, and decorate with pastel swirls.

Just before serving, add tufts of fresh cotton candy on top.

Notes

For cupcakes, bake 18–20 minutes.

Add rainbow sprinkles between layers for extra fun.

For a tangy twist, replace half the butter in frosting with cream cheese.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameals.com/cotton-candy-cake/