Description

These Pink Vanilla Cake Squares are a delightful and visually stunning treat perfect for any celebration. Moist vanilla cake layers are baked to perfection and topped with a creamy, fluffy pink vanilla frosting. Decorated with sugar pearls and heart-shaped sprinkles, these squares are as charming as they are delicious, guaranteed to impress your guests with their elegance and sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk

Frosting Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pink food coloring, to desired shade
Sugar pearls and heart-shaped sprinkles, for decoration

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Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the cake.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to combine evenly.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cake texture.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, thoroughly mixing after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the whole milk. Mix until all ingredients are just combined, avoiding over-mixing to keep the cake tender.
Pour Batter and Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is done.
Cool the Cake: Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before removing and slicing it into squares to prevent crumbling.
Prepare the Frosting: Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar while mixing continuously to achieve a smooth consistency.
Add Cream, Vanilla, and Coloring: Incorporate the heavy cream and vanilla extract into the frosting, then beat until fluffy. Mix in pink food coloring until you reach the desired shade of pink.
Decorate the Cake Squares: Spread or pipe a generous layer of the pink vanilla frosting over each cooled cake square. Use sugar pearls in varying sizes and heart-shaped sprinkles to decorate and add elegance and charm.
Create Texture with Piping (Optional): For extra texture and a professional finish, use a piping bag fitted with a star tip to create swirls or patterns on top of each frosted square.
Presentation: Arrange the decorated cake squares neatly on a white serving platter for a clean and inviting display, perfect for parties or special occasions.

Notes

Ensure the cake is completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
You can adjust the amount of pink food coloring depending on your preferred shade.
For a lighter frosting, adjust the heavy cream quantity slightly, but don’t add too much or it will become runny.
Sugar pearls and heart-shaped sprinkles can be found at specialty baking stores or online.
Make sure to use room temperature butter for both cake and frosting for better texture.
Store leftover cake squares in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.