Cotton Candy Cake

Cotton Candy Cake is a dreamy, whimsical dessert with a sweet and light flavor, reminiscent of the classic carnival treat! This cake is fluffy, colorful, and perfect for any fun occasion. Here’s how to make it:

Cotton Candy Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 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 egg whites
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole milk
• Pink and blue food coloring
• ½ tsp cotton candy extract (optional, for an extra cotton candy flavor)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:

   • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugar:

   • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
   • Add the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, mix in the vanilla extract.

4. Add the Dry Ingredients and Milk:

   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the whole milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, but be careful not to overmix.
   • If you’re using cotton candy extract, add it now and stir to combine.

5. Color the Batter:

   • Divide the batter evenly between two bowls.
   • Add a few drops of pink food coloring to one bowl and a few drops of blue food coloring to the other. Stir each bowl to achieve your desired color intensity.

6. Layer the Cake Batter:

   • Begin by adding a spoonful of one color into the center of the cake pan. Then add a spoonful of the other color on top, continuing this process until both batters are in the pans. You’ll end up with a “marbled” effect as the colors blend naturally.
   • Gently swirl the batter using a knife or skewer to create a tie-dye effect, but don’t overmix — you want to keep the distinct color layers.

7. Bake the Cake:

   • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   • Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Frosting the Cake:

   • You can frost this cake with a simple buttercream or cream cheese frosting. For a cotton candy touch, you can add cotton candy flavoring to the frosting as well.
   • Frost the cake generously once it has completely cooled, and if you like, use extra food coloring to match the cotton candy theme.

9. Serve and Enjoy:

   • After frosting, you can garnish the cake with cotton candy on top for a fun and playful look, or sprinkle some colorful sprinkles for extra flair.

Tips:

• Cotton Candy Extract: This is optional but will give your cake an authentic cotton candy flavor. You can find it at specialty stores or online.
• Frosting Ideas: If you want to keep the cotton candy theme, use pink and blue buttercream frosting for a layered look, or add edible glitter for a sparkly effect.
• Make Ahead: The cakes can be baked a day ahead. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap to keep them fresh, and frost before serving.

This Cotton Candy Cake will be a showstopper at any party or special occasion with its sweet flavors and fun, colorful appearance! Enjoy making it, and let me know how it turns out! 🎉🍰