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Whimsical Rainbow Ruffle Cotton Candy Cake

A magical pastel rainbow cake featuring beautiful cascading buttercream ruffles and a towering cloud of pink cotton candy. Perfect for whimsical parties and birthdays!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 850
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Vanilla Cake Base
  • 2.5 cups cake flour spooned and leveled
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 0.25 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup whole milk room temperature
  • 4 large egg whites room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Buttercream & Decoration
  • 3 cups unsalted butter room temperature
  • 8 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 0.33 cup heavy cream
  • Gel food coloring pink, peach, yellow, green, blue, lavender
  • 1 bag pink cotton candy
  • pastel sprinkles for garnish

Equipment

  • 3 6-inch Cake Pans
  • Stand Mixer
  • Piping bags
  • Wilton 104 or 127 Petal Tip

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 6-inch cake pans.
  2. Mix dry cake ingredients. Beat butter, oil, and sugar until fluffy. Add egg whites and vanilla. Alternately mix in dry ingredients and milk.
  3. Divide batter and bake 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely.
  4. Beat 3 cups of butter for frosting until pale. Gradually add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
  5. Stack cooled cakes, filling with uncolored frosting. Apply a crumb coat and chill for 30 minutes.
  6. Divide remaining frosting and tint into pastel rainbow colors.
  7. Using a petal tip (wide end against the cake), pipe horizontal ruffles starting from the bottom, working your way up layer by layer, color by color.
  8. Right before serving, garnish with sprinkles and top the cake with a large, fluffy cloud of pink cotton candy.

Notes

Do not add the cotton candy until exactly when you are ready to serve, as it will melt quickly upon contact with air and moisture.