Baking pink cakes is a fun way to add a touch of color to your baking! Here’s a basic recipe for a pink vanilla cake, along with some tips on achieving that perfect shade:
Pink Vanilla Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Red or pink food coloring (gel or liquid)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Color the Batter:
- Add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to the batter and mix until you reach your desired shade of pink. Start with a few drops and add more if needed. Gel food coloring is more concentrated than liquid food coloring, so you might need less.
- Pour and Bake:
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Frost:
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Suggestions:
Pink Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring
- Cream Butter:
- Beat the butter until creamy.
- Add Sugar and Cream:
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Add the cream or milk as needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Add Vanilla and Color:
- Mix in the vanilla extract and add pink food coloring to achieve your desired shade. Beat until well combined.
- Frost Cake:
- Once the cakes are completely cooled, frost them with the pink buttercream. Decorate as desired!
Feel free to get creative with decorations, and you’ll have a beautiful pink cake to enjoy!
