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Wild One Birthday Cake

Wild One Birthday Cake Recipe

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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/4 cup whole milk or heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Gel food colors (green, brown, yellow, black)

Method
 

  1. Beat butter, oil, and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt separately. Add dry mixture alternately with buttermilk, starting and ending with dry. Fold in sprinkles.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round pans, line with parchment. Divide batter, smooth tops. Bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
  3. For the buttercream, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Tint as desired.
  4. Level cakes if needed. Spread filling between layers, then apply a thin crumb coat with green frosting. Chill 15 minutes.
  5. Spread a final green coat. Pipe or smear animal prints with brown, yellow, and dark brown frosting. Decorate with toy animals and a candle.

Notes

If the frosting feels too soft during decorating, pop the cake back in the fridge for 10 minutes. For a neater finish, use an offset spatula dipped in hot water and wiped dry to smooth the final coat. The cake is easiest to slice when it’s at cool room temperature.