Cotton Candy Cake – Fluffy Layers

A light, whimsical, cotton-candy–flavored cake with soft pastel layers and fluffy frosting. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or whenever you want a fun, colorful dessert that melts in your mouth.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Features incredibly soft, fluffy cake layers
• Delicious cotton-candy flavor without being overly sweet
• Beautiful pastel colors that make the cake stunning
• Easy to customize with sprinkles, color variations, or fun toppings
• Great for parties, kids’ events, or a show-stopper dessert

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1–2 tsp cotton candy flavoring (adjust to taste)
• Pink and blue gel food coloring

For the Frosting

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2–4 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cotton candy flavoring (optional)
• Pink and blue gel coloring

Optional Decorations

• Sprinkles
• Cotton candy (add only right before serving)
• Edible glitter

Instructions

1. Prep the Cake Batter
   • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Grease and line two or three 8-inch cake pans.
   • In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
   • In another large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
   • Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
   • Add vanilla and cotton candy flavoring.
   • Mix in the dry ingredients and milk alternately until smooth.
2. Color & Bake
   • Divide batter evenly into 2 or 3 bowls depending on how many color layers you want.
   • Tint each bowl lightly pink, blue, or swirl the two colors.
   • Pour into pans and smooth the tops.
   • Bake 22–26 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
   • Cool completely before frosting.
3. Make the Frosting
   • Beat butter until creamy.
   • Add powdered sugar a cup at a time.
   • Add vanilla, cream, and optional cotton candy flavor.
   • Separate frosting into two bowls and tint pink and blue (or leave white).
4. Assemble the Cake
   • Level cake layers if needed.
   • Spread frosting between layers, alternating colors for a cotton-candy look.
   • Frost outside of the cake using swirls, ombré, or smooth finish.
   • Decorate with sprinkles or add cotton candy just before serving.

You Must Know

• Cotton candy melts quickly — add as a topping right before serving.
• Gel food coloring works best for vibrant pastel shades.
• Make sure cakes are fully cooled before assembling to avoid melting frosting.
• Leveling the cakes ensures a clean, even look.

Pro Tips

• Freeze cake layers for 20 minutes before frosting for easier assembly.
• Add a small drop of almond extract for a carnival-style sweetness (optional).
• Create a cotton-candy swirl effect by dragging a spatula lightly through pink and blue frosting.
• For extra height, bake three thin layers instead of two thicker ones.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Use cake flour instead of all-purpose for an even softer texture.
• Substitute milk with buttermilk for extra moist layers.
• If you can’t find cotton candy flavoring, use vanilla + a touch of almond.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with vanilla ice cream for a birthday-party vibe.
• Top slices with fresh cotton candy for dramatic presentation.
• Pair with a simple glass of milk or fruit punch.

Storage Tips

• Store cake (without cotton candy topping) in the fridge up to 3 days.
• Bring to room temperature before serving for best texture.
• Freeze unfrosted cake layers up to 2 months, well wrapped.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make this as cupcakes?
Yes! Bake 15–18 minutes and swirl the frosting on top.

→ My cake layers turned dense — what happened?
Overmixing can deflate batter. Mix until just combined.

→ Can I reduce the sweetness?
Use less frosting between layers and a thinner outer coat.

→ Does the cotton candy topping stay fresh?
No — add it right before serving, or it will melt.

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