This cake is light, buttery, and adorned with delicate edible flowers, soft pastel frosting, and a rustic-yet-romantic design. Perfect for garden parties, bridal showers, or just because you want a little fairytale moment with your tea.
🛒 What You’ll Need
Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring (soft pastels)
Decoration:
- Edible flowers (like pansies, violas, chamomile)
- Fresh berries (optional)
👩🍳 Pro Tips
- Use pressed edible flowers for a delicate vintage look.
- Chill your cake before decorating so the frosting goes on smooth.
- For a more rustic feel, opt for a naked cake style.
- Choose soft pastel colors for that gentle cottagecore vibe.
- Add a hint of lavender extract to the frosting for a floral twist.
🧰 Tools You’ll Need
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- 2 round 8-inch cake pans
- Offset spatula
- Cooling rack
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups & spoons
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Swap vanilla extract for almond extract for a nutty flavor.
- Use a lemon sponge instead for a citrusy cottage feel.
- Decorate with sugared fruit instead of flowers.
👩🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Prep & Mix Dry Ingredients
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line cake pans. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
tep 3: Combine Wet & Dry
Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 parts, alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry. Mix until just combined.
Step 4: Bake
Divide batter between pans, smoothing the tops. Bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a rack.
Step 5: Make Frosting
Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Tint with pastel food coloring of your choice.
Step 6: Assemble & Decorate
Place one cake layer on a stand, frost the top, then place the second layer. Frost the outside and top. Decorate with edible flowers and berries.
🧊 Leftovers & Storage
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days (bring to room temp before serving).
- Freeze unfrosted cake layers for up to 2 months.
💬 Final Thoughts
This Cottagecore Cake is more than dessert—it’s an experience. Every slice feels like a walk through a blooming meadow, with gentle colors, floral notes, and rustic beauty. Perfect for slow afternoons and heartfelt gatherings.
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