Print

Best Classic Birthday Cake with Easy Sprinkle Buttercream

classic birthday cake - featured image
Print Recipe

This classic birthday cake features a tender, moist vanilla crumb and a cheerful rainbow sprinkle buttercream. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing recipe that comes together in about an hour with basic pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • For the Sprinkle Buttercream:
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3–4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies), plus more for decorating

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, line bottoms with parchment paper, and grease the paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
  5. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately, starting and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
  6. Add oil and vanilla; mix on low for 10 seconds. Fold batter a few times with a spatula.
  7. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans (about 700g each). Bake for 28-32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  8. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Remove parchment and cool completely.
  9. For buttercream: Beat softened butter until smooth. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium-high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Fold in sprinkles.
  10. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread about 1 cup buttercream on top. Add second layer. Apply a thin crumb coat, refrigerate 15 minutes, then frost with remaining buttercream. Decorate with extra sprinkles.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients are crucial for proper emulsification. Don’t overmix the batter once flour is added. Chill the cake before final frosting for a smoother finish. For clean slices, chill the cake for 20 minutes before cutting.

Nutrition

Keywords: birthday cake, vanilla cake, sprinkle buttercream, classic cake, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/best-classic-birthday-cake-with-easy-sprinkle-buttercream/