Description
The Garden Flower Cake is a visually stunning and delicious dessert that combines soft, moist cake layers with intricate, colorful buttercream floral designs. Perfect for any occasion, this customizable recipe lets you create edible floral masterpieces that bring elegance and charm to your celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup unsalted butter or vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk or plant-based milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or plant-based milk
- Food coloring, natural or synthetic, as desired
Instructions
- Prepare the Batter: Combine 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and 1 cup milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, until the batter is smooth and pourable.
- Bake Your Layers: Divide the batter evenly into well-greased round cake pans. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake layers to cool completely before decorating.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: Whip 1 cup softened butter with 4 cups powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons milk until light and fluffy. Divide the frosting into several small bowls, then tint each with different food colorings to resemble garden flowers, such as pinks, purples, and yellows.
- Assemble and Crumb Coat: Place one cake layer on a stand or board, spread an even layer of frosting on top, then add the second cake layer. Apply a thin crumb coat over the entire cake to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to set the crumb coat.
- Pipe Your Garden Flowers: Using piping bags fitted with petal, star, and leaf tips, pipe detailed flowers and greenery all over the cake surface. Layer colors and shapes with gentle squeezing and swirling motions to create a vibrant garden floral effect.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smooth batter and frosting.
- Practice piping flower designs on parchment paper before decorating the cake.
- Adjust frosting consistency by adding milk if too stiff or powdered sugar if too soft.
- Chill the cake between crumb coating and flower piping for easier handling.
- Use high-quality food coloring for vibrant floral colors without affecting taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: flower cake, garden cake, floral cake, buttercream flowers, decorated cake, celebration cake