Today I’m celebrating Sugar Spun Run’s 4th (un)Birthday* with nothing other than the BEST Birthday Cake Recipe. A classic, soft, and fluffy vanilla yellow cake loaded with colorful sprinkles and frosted with my favorite chocolate cream cheese frosting (though I include other possible frosting substitutions)!
Today marks 4 years of Sugar Spun Run, and we are celebrating with Birthday Cake!
This is a soft, fluffy, moist (sorry), yellow/vanilla birthday cake speckled with colorful sprinkles and covered with a thiiiick coating of chocolate frosting. It’s not the same as my vanilla cake recipe (though I’m dying to hear if you like it as much as that one!), it’s actually an adaptation of my vanilla cupcakes, and it’s so good.
I desperately wanted to share this one on Zach’s birthday a few weeks ago, but he insisted on my chocolate cake instead, probably because he knew it would be pointless for me to try to sneak any sprinkles in there.
This is a classic and uncomplicated 3 layer homemade Birthday cake recipe that’s surprisingly simple to make. Let’s get started.
Let’s Talk Birthday Cake Sprinkles
The sprinkles that you see in my pictures are pastel candy quins — flat, disc-like sprinkles. If you’re wondering, these are the exact sprinkles that I use (affiliate). However, classic colorful sprinkles or “jimmies” will work just as well in this recipe.
One thing I do not recommend is using non-pareils; the tiny colored ball-shaped sprinkles. These are unfortunately likely to bleed through your cake, turning it an ugly gray color.
Tips for the Best Birthday Cake
Avoid over- or under-mixing
With most cake, cupcake, or muffin batters, mixing can make or break the ultimate texture of your baked good. It’s important that you stir well enough that all ingredients are completely combined, but don’t stir too much or your cake will be dense and dry.
For best results, use a spatula to frequently scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, that way you don’t have any pockets of un-creamed butter or un-mixed flour. Using all room temperature ingredients will also encourage your birthday cake batter to combine properly.
Alternating adding your dry ingredients and your buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute) to the batter will ensure that everything combines better than if you were to add either of these ingredients all at once. When stirring in your dry ingredients and buttermilk, make sure you do this step by hand, using a spoon or spatula, and not using an electric mixer. An electric mixer is much more likely to over-work your batter, leaving you with a dense/dry crumb.
Always avoid over-baking
A cake that’s been in the oven for even a minute or two too long runs the risk of being dry and crumbly. For best results, check your cake a minute or two before it’s supposed to be done. The cake should spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center should ideally come out with a few moist crumbs. If it comes out clean, it’s definitely done, get it out of the oven ASAP.
Over-baking can also happen if your oven runs too hot. I’ve never owned an oven that ran at the temperature that it said it was, it’s always either been too hot or too cold. To make sure I’m always baking at the proper temperature, I keep two inexpensive oven thermometers (affiliate) in my oven at all times. If your oven is even just five or ten degrees too hot, it can dry out your cake before it’s even supposed to be close to finished.
Birthday Cake Tips, Continued
All-Purpose Flour vs Cake Flour
I tested this birthday cake recipe using equal amounts of all purpose flour and cake flour and was satisfied with it both ways. Using cake flour will give the cake a slightly lighter, softer texture.
When measuring your flour, make sure that you never pack it into a measuring cup. Stir the flour, then use a large spoon to spoon it into a measuring cup before leveling it off with a straight edge (like a knife). For best results, use a kitchen scale and weigh your ingredients, it’s easier, produces fewer dishes, and guarantees accurate results. This is the kitchen scale I use (affiliate, I promise I didn’t mean for this birthday cake post to be a bunch of Amazon links but look what’s happened).
Frosting Options:
I used my chocolate cream cheese frosting to cover this birthday cake. It’s been my frosting of choice ever since I was a kid. However, if you’re not a fan of chocolate or cream cheese, I have plenty of other options for you:
All of the alternative frostings listed above were designed for 2-layer cakes. If you’d like to use one for today’s recipe, just be sure to increase the frosting recipe by 50% so that you have enough to cover this entire 3-layer cake.
Alright, now that we’ve covered our Birthday Cake basics, I need to thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sticking with me over these past four years (or even if you’re new, thank you for finding me and for staying!!)!! Thank you so much to everyone who reads these posts, comments, shares them on social media or Pinterest, or watches me on YouTube. Thanks to you, Sugar Spun Run isn’t just a hobby, it’s my job (which is just the craziest thing in the world to say), and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Enjoy. 💜Sam
*You can check out my previous (un)Birthday celebrations (and learn why I call it an “Unbirthday”) in my Funfetti Cake Recipe and in last year’s Cookie Dough Pops post.
Birthday Cake Recipe
Ingredients
BIRTHDAY CAKE
- 1 cup (265 g) + 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour (may substitute 500g cake flour)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 cups (475 ml) buttermilk¹ room temperature preferred
- ½ cup colorful sprinkles²
CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING³
- ¾ cup (175 g) unsalted butter softened
- 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 ¼ cups (656 g) powdered sugar 656g
- ¾ cup (90 g) natural cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and grease and flour the sides and bottom of three 8” or 9” baking pans. For extra security I also recommend lining the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper cut to fit the bottom of the pan.
- Add butter to the bowl of a stand mixer or to a large bowl. Use a paddle attachment on your stand mixer or an electric mixer to beat until smooth.1 cup (265 g) + 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add sugar and beat until well-combined.3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.3 large eggs
- Stir in vanilla extract.1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- Using a spoon or spatula (but NOT the electric mixer any longer) add about a fourth of the flour mixture (no need to measure, just eyeball it) to the butter mixture and stir until just combined.
- Now add approximately ⅓ of the buttermilk and stir again until combined. Repeat alternating adding flour mixture and buttermilk until all ingredients are completely combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.2 cups (475 ml) buttermilk¹
- Stir in sprinkles.½ cup colorful sprinkles²
- Evenly divide batter into prepared pan. Transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake for about 28 minutes if using 9” pans and 32-34 minutes if using 8” pans, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes then run a knife around the edge of the pan and carefully invert each layer onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting. While cakes are cooling, prepare frosting.
CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- You will need a large bowl, this recipe makes a lot of frosting to cover all three layers of cake!
- Combine butter and cream cheese in your stand mixer or in a large bowl with electric mixer and beat until creamy and well-combined.¾ cup (175 g) unsalted butter, 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese
- Stir in vanilla extract and salt.1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gradually, with mixer on low-speed, add powdered sugar (check out my video below the recipe for tips on doing this without making a giant mess of your kitchen!). Once all sugar has been added, stir in cocoa powder. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so that all ingredients are well-incorporated.5 ¼ cups (656 g) powdered sugar 656g, ¾ cup (90 g) natural cocoa powder
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase anything through these links I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please view the disclosure policy for more information.
Honey D.
Perfect recipe! All ingredients I had in my pantry. The cake tasted sorta like corn bread (with sprinkles!). And the cream cheese icing was reminiscent of a ding-dong. I made this for my little sister’s half birthday (turned one and a half), and she absolutely loved it. Just one question… do you know how long the cake keeps in the refrigerator for?
Thank You,
Honey
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Honey! I hope that your little sister enjoyed her 1/2 birthday cake too. If well wrapped or stored in an airtight container, the cake will last up to one week in the refrigerator. 🙂
Renea
I love the cake just wondering if you could make Cup cakes with recipe?
Sam
Hi Renea! You can certainly make this cake into cupcakes. Bake them at 350 for 17-18 minutes. 🙂
Tinessha
I don’t have a stand up mixer nor a paddle attachment. Is this the wrong recipe for me? I’m sorry I had to do this question again I notice that my email was incorrect.
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Tinesha! No. It is fine to use a hand mixer for this recipe if that is what you have on hand. You just want to be careful not to over mix the batter. I hope that you enjoy the birthday cake. 🙂
Nancy
Oh this recipe was the first in my Christmas professional mixer and for my granddaughter’s first birthday celebration! It was a hit! Cake has a perfect moist crumb and the icing perfectly just enough not to overwhelm the delicious yellow cake! And SURPRISE sprinkle inside to the delight of my other four grands ages 6, 5, 3, and 3!!!! Thank you!!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the cake was such a hit, Nancy! Thank you for trying my recipe. I hope that your granddaughter had an amazing birthday celebration. 🙂
Clara
This recipe for some reason will NOT work for me. I’ve used the other confetti cake recipe from this website and it turned out just fine. From the looks of it, the baking powder/baking soda is off. Too much of one of them or both of them. Made it several times and am a very experienced baker. Bummer. 🙁
Sam
I’m very sorry to hear this, Clara! What was the result that you had/what was wrong about it? I just made it last night and it turned out great so I’m hoping I can maybe help troublehsoot.
Lexi
Have you ever made this (or any of your other cakes) recipe using a bundt pan? Or do you have a good bundt recipe to share?
Lizzie Lee
Sam, thank you very much for answering my emails with questions on your birthday cake recipe. All of your suggestions was used and greatly appreciated. The cake was the hit of the party. It not only looked good, but tasted great! Many thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful, Lizzie! I am so glad that everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
BoyMom
I have six little boys and have struggled to make birthday cakes since my first was born. I found this recipe and tested it one afternoon and my boys went crazy over how delicious it was! Now I can make homemade birthday cakes and they don’t ask for a store-bought cake instead. Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much. I am so happy that you and your boys both loved the birthday cake recipe. I hope that you use it for years to come. Enjoy! 🙂
Nadia Fuller
Absolutly delicious!! Will now be using this recipe as my go to vanilla cake and sharing with everyone. Thank you !
Sam
I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you for commenting, Nadia!! 🙂
Faz
This looks amazing! Any idea how I should change it if I want to only make two layers?
Sam
Just reduce all of the ingredients by 1/3. 🙂
Kari
Hi! I have 3 7” round cake pans I’m using for my son’s birthday cake. How can I adjust the recipe or bake time to fit these sized pans? Thanks!!
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Kari! I haven’t tried it with those pan sizes. My best guess would be to bake it as indicated but cut the recipe in half. The bake time would vary, so just keep an eye on it. I hope that you enjoy the birthday cake. 🙂
Lisa
Hi Sam. Can this recipe be used in a funnel cake pan? If so, how long does I it bake?
Sam
Hi Lisa! I’m not sure what you mean by a funnel cake pan, I’m sorry!
Rebecca
Hi Sam! Could I use this recipe in a 12×18 cake pan? And how long would I need to bake it for?
Sam
Hi Rebecca! To make it in a 12 x 18, you would need to increase the batter by at least 25%. I am not sure how long it would need to bake though.
Evelyn
Happy Anniversary Sam! Thank you for the worst cookies ever! My favorite😊 Have learned a lot from you! Thanks!
Sam
Thank you so much Evelyn, I appreciate it! 🙂
Mikaru86
Happy anniversary! Thank you for all the amazing recipes 🙂
Sam
Thank you! Hope you are doing well, hope to see a baking update from you sometime 🙂
Mikaru86
I’m doing great, thanks. I’ve just been really busy with work and gotten a bit lazy when it comes to taking pictures while baking. But I’ve been baking a lot of your recipes, so I really need to put together another feedback roundup some time 🙂
Sam
I always love seeing them! 🙂
Becky
Hi Sam
Would love to make these as cupcakes. Any advice?
Sam
Hi Becky! This recipe will work as cupcakes, don’t fill them more than 2/3 full and they’ll need to bake for about 17 minutes on 350F. This recipe is actually based off of my vanilla cupcake recipe if you want to check that one out instead.