Chic Black-and-White Birthday Cake
This beautifully frosted homemade cake, perfect for special occasions, is simple to make and delivers a touch of elegance to any celebration.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1.75 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk (or buttermilk for richer flavor)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- black gel food coloring (for accents)
Instructions
Preparation
- Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Mix in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add dry mixture and milk, starting and ending with flour, until batter is smooth.
Baking
- Divide batter into pans and bake for 28–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Frosting and Decoration
- Beat butter until creamy, gradually add powdered sugar, then cream and vanilla. Whip until fluffy.
- Stack cooled cake layers with frosting in between. Cover entire cake with a smooth buttercream layer.
- Pipe swirls on top and base. Tint a small amount of frosting black and pipe tiny hearts + lettering. Add black ribbons for a chic finish.
Notes
Keep cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for 5 days. You can also bake cake layers a day in advance, wrap in plastic, and frost the next day for easy assembly. For different themes, swap black decorations for gold sprinkles, pink hearts, or edible glitter. Pair with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for extra indulgence.